Organized by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and CNAICO – China National Automotive Industry International Corporation, the show is held in high regard by the industry as the platform for international companies to tap into the China market, as well as for Chinese companies to expand their business from China to abroad.
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A record 13 overseas pavilions
Automechanika Shanghai covers the whole automobile industry chain including OE and aftermarket, as well as three main industry sectors: parts & components, repair & maintenance and accessories & tuning.
In order to meet the increasing needs from international companies to find quality dealers and distributors for exploring or expanding their business in China, Automechanika Shanghai has collaborated with domestic associations and organizations in more than 50 important automotive production and distribution bases in China to bring many dealers and distributors to visit the 2012 show to meet the 3,900 record breaking number of exhibitors. The show is well recognized by the industry and departments of vehicle procurement, R&D and quality control from more than 20 leading domestic car manufacturers including BYD, Cherry, Dongfeng, FAW, Great Wall, JAC and SAIC. They will visit the show to meet with current and potential suppliers.
Sarah Thevenet, International Manager for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT), working closely with the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), says, "Taking part in Automechanika Shanghai will help our members to find appropriate dealers and distributors in China and to market their company products and services, as well as making contacts and building relationships. China’s market will continue to outpace other global markets and Chinese customers will continue to increase their expectations and demand for quality vehicles and components, which members of SMMT are well-equipped to meet.”
In addition to the first ever UK pavilion organized by SMMT, several overseas pavilions have increased in size for the 2012 show. India has expanded its size by 75 percent, and Korea and Malaysia by more than 30 percent. In addition, Taiwan pavilions in the accessories & tuning hall (Hall W5) as well as the parts & components and repair & maintenance halls have expanded by 40 percent. Other overseas pavilions including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and USA will also make their appearance again at this year’s show. The Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association (TTVMA), which represents more than 2,000 member manufacturers and representatives from automobile, motorcycle, bicycles industries in Taiwan, is organizing the Taiwan pavilions at the show for the first time, together with the Importers & Exporters Association of Taipei.
Richard Wu, a Senior Specialist for the Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association says, “China’s per capita ownership of vehicles is still lower than the rest of the world but future car ownership will continue to grow and be driven by the needs of automotive parts repair and maintenance as well as accessories. The market in China has great potential and many members have participated with positive results at the show in the past editions. This year TTVMA is bringing more than 30 members to showcase a variety of innovative auto parts & component products including engine, brakes, steering systems, lights, mirrors and maintenance equipment.”
Local industry players benefit from East-West exchange platform
This year's edition of Automechanika Shanghai will also feature its largest number of Chinese pavilions supported by more than 50 trade organizations and industry associations. Xiamen is a production base for car mat and window film and the Xiamen Automotive Parts Trade Association (XMAPTA) represents more than 50 percent of accessories & tuning companies in Xiamen. They will be a first time pavilion organizer at the show.
Mr Liang Xiao, XMAPTA's Secretary-General says: "In order to narrow the world's high-tech gap, the association is building up relationships with companies in overseas countries and regions such as Taiwan, for technology exchange and communication, to speed up the cooperation with the mainland and overseas. That's why we are organising a first time pavilion at the show."
XMAPT believes that automotive market and industry trends in China as well as in Asia will focus on high-tech and brand products as well as services. Xiao adds, "We believe that low-tech enterprises will face difficulties in development and the association believes that local industry players could learn from the experience and advanced technologies of foreign counterparts and achieve a sustainable development by participating at Automechanika Shanghai.”
The China Commercial Vehicle Parts Market Federation (CCVP), a national non-profit organization for companies involved commercial vehicle parts production, sales and services in China, represents more than 200 leading member enterprises, assembly plants, dealers and associations from the auto parts industry. CCVPMF has supported the show since 2006 and more than 30 top member powertain companies with annual sales of RMB 1 billion will participate at the show this year.
Yan Li Xing, Executive Vice President for CCVP says, "Due to the globalization of the auto industry in China, Automechanika Shanghai, as an international trading platform, is an excellent marketing channel for members to further enhance the development of commercial vehicle parts & components brands in China by showcasing their new and quality products to the world and to promote exchange and cooperation between local and overseas companies."
Auto market is shifting to China
For Automechanika Shanghai 2012 there will be more than 3,900 exhibitors from around the world, such as first time exhibiting countries from Bulgaria, Egypt and Pakistan. The exhibition is more than 180,000 sqm including the addition of new halls N1-N4, which is an increase of 13 percent compared with last year’s show.
Xuecheng Ji, President for CNAICO says, "The fact that more developing countries are shifting their target market from Europe to China is why we have many new exhibitors at Automechanika Shanghai. They want to explore more business opportunities in this fast growing Chinese market at a show which is highly thought of within the industry.”
A report by Arthur D. Little, one of the world's oldest consulting firms predicts that by 2050, 70 percent of the world's population will be living in Asia. IMF economists have forecast that China's car fleet will be as big as the entire world car fleet today. As a result, the automotive industry's centre of gravity has started to shift from North America, Western Europe and Japan towards emerging markets.
Automechanika Shanghai is one of twelve Automechanika fairs held in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa. For further information about Automechanika Shanghai, please visit www.automechanika-shanghai.com / www.automechanika.com or email: [email protected]
