'ACMA Automechanika New Delhi will extensively cover the automotive aftermarket through its six product categories.'

Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding Ltd, on the smart growth of India's leading automotive aftermarket trade fair - ACMA Automechanika New Delhi. An interview by Amit Panday.

This is the third ACMA Automechanika in Delhi. How has the event grown over the years in India?
Back in 2013, when we launched the platform, we knew it was going to be the driving force for the business of auto components and the aftermarket in India. Today, with the third edition, ACMA Automechanika in Delhi stands at 19,500 square metres (2013: 8,500 square metres) and has evolved into the largest gathering of professionals, academia, knowledge leaders and decision makers and a platform for the world to connect to the Indian aftermarket. 

The fair has distinctively marked a 28 percent increase in exhibitors and 25 percent increase in exhibition space. It will represent the latest auto components and automotive aftermarket expertise from 550 companies this year.

Through a collaborative effort of Messe Frankfurt’s extensive sales network as well as various regional industry associations, the international participation in the event has increased by 40 percent and the 2017 fair will house exhibitors from 17 countries. This includes China, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, and the USA with six dedicated pavilions. This also means more product showcases, new launches, and the right combination of domestic and international automotive expertise.

The milestones achieved by ACMA Automechanika in Delhi since 2013 are a reflection of the response from the show’s participants and of the trade success of the platform.

How does the India event compare with other global editions, specifically in the APAC region? What are the the strengths and also the areas for improvement?
The portfolio of Automechanika holds 17 events in 15 countries and each of these events is a success because of its unique market positioning. These platforms provide regional expertise and networking opportunities for industry players to expand their business in vibrant markets all over the world.

The Indian edition has grown substantially in all three editions but is still far away from the nearest competitive show — Automechanika Dubai. We have a long way to go in terms of increasing the internationality of the platform — both in terms of exhibitor and visitor participation in focused sectors.  

Is there any specific trend that you anticipate within the automotive industry that may impact the trade fair in the future?
Connected mobility is changing the dynamics globally, and in the domestic arena, the focus is shifting to safety and sustainability norms and digital payments for this sector. On the showfloor, this may lead to a change in the focus on the product categories and number of exhibitors in that segment.

Also as an industry platform, ACMA Automechanika New Delhi reflects these changing trends through its fringe programmes. One such example is the government‘s thrust on building a Digital India which is pushing India to become a cashless society. To prepare the sector for this transition, a two-day conference themed ‘Preparing Aftermarket for Digital Economy & Road Ahead’ is being organised alongside the fair. The conference will popularise the concept of e-commerce and m-wallets and expose the exhibiting companies, visiting distributors and retailers to new ways of expanding business and transactions.

Other trends that will affect the sector will be presented in the findings from ‘The Indian Aftermarket – Road Ahead’ study which will cover vehicle parc analysis, used car market, taxi market, e-tailing and other regulations.

How many exhibitor categories are going to be featured this year? Which among all exhibitor categories is expected to see maximum participation?
ACMA Automechanika New Delhi will extensively cover the automotive aftermarket through its six product categories — Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customising, Repair & Maintenance, Management & Digital Solutions and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning.

Among these, Parts & Components sees the maximum participation including market leaders such as Schaeffler India Automotive Aftermarket, Mansons International, Shriram Pistons & Rings as well as many new players like ACDelco India, Value Service and Mangal Industries (Amara Raja Group) among others in this segment.

Why is the Automotive Engineering Show being organised alongside the ACMA Automechanika event? What are the synergies across both the events in Delhi?
The strong presence of automotive majors has gained NCR its recognition as one of the country’s largest auto clusters. Having established itself as the prime sourcing hub for manufacturing professionals in the west and south of India through its Pune and Chennai editions, this was the obvious next step to tap the high-potential NCR cluster.

Also, the Automotive Engineering Show targets technologies for vehicle and the auto-component manufacturing industries whose decision makers are all under one roof during ACMA Automechanika in New Delhi.

Together, the platform will become the centre of business for the automotive manufacturers, auto-component and aftermarket players to collaborate and exchange technical know-how over three days. The synergies truly add to the value of both the fairs and can enhance business opportunities for both visitors and exhibitors.

How has the Automotive Engineering Show matured over the past three years?
Over the past three years, the show has seen intrinsic changes with an orientation towards becoming a knowledge platform for the industry. The profile was expanded to include almost every aspect of the vehicle and component manufacturing process.

Earlier, the show generally addressed shopfloor technologies, but we have now included the design and product development aspect, thus reaching out further and deeper into engineering service providers and software solutions. The test and measurement segment is added too, and also the paint shop was included.

In its introductory edition in New Delhi particularly, the Automotive Engineering Show will present a combination of meaningful user workshops, a series of highly insightful conference sessions and a compact exhibition area of automotive manufacturing solutions.

What kind of footfalls are you expecting this year?
It has always been important for us, as organisers, to maximise the reach of the event among the right segments. So the focus remains on attracting serious buyers and quality visitors with the necessary decision-making competence.

We are confident that the co-location of two premier shows for the industry will be a major draw for visitors and auto sector players. Together, the co-located platform will feature today what the industry will need tomorrow — in terms of viable aftermarket products and technical expertise which we assure will equitably drive up the visitor numbers.