ACMA to bring Automechanika to India

ACMA, the apex body of the auto component industry in India, is to partner with Messe Frankfurt to organise ACMA Automechanika New Delhi.Automechanika is the leading global trade fair for automotive aftermarket products. The show will be held at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan in Halls 8, 9, 10 and 11 from February 7-10, 2013. Further, internationally, ACMA and Messe Frankfurt will promote participation of Indian automotive component manufacturers and other related companies at Automechanika’s global fairs, specifically at the key Frankfurt expo with a dedicated pavilion for ACMA members.

Member of Messe Frankfurt’s Executive Board, Detlef Braun said, after signing two declarations of intent on May 21: “In ACMA, we have found a partner, who will make our new Automechanika in New Delhi into a leading event for the sector in the region. Moreover, the association will help us to get our portfolio of Automechanika fairs better known among its members.”

Commenting on the initiative, ACMA president ArvindKapur said, “We will work closely with Messe Frankfurt to ensure significant presence of ACMA members at our pavilion at the various Automechanika shows. To begin with, this year the ACMA pavilion at Automechanika Frankfurt will showcase over 30 leading Indian auto component manufacturers. ACMA will also mobilise business delegations to Automechanika’s 12 worldwide fairs held in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa.”

Raj Manek, MD, Messe Frankfurt India, said: “ACMA and Automechanika will leverage each other to evolve ACMA Automechanika New Delhi into a leading international aftermarket show. Both parties will be responsible for promotion, organisation and management of the fair. ACMA will recruit its members, as well as canvass for trade visitors in India, while Messe Frankfurt India will be responsible for international exhibitor and visitor recruitment.”

GLOBAL IMPACT

Automechanika is the leading international trade fair for the automotive industry and has a worldwide presence.

• Buenos Aires

• Dubai

• Frankfurt

• Istanbul

• Johannesburg

• Kuala Lumpur

• Madrid

• Mexico City

• Moscow

• New Delhi

• St. Petersburg

• Shanghai

INTERVIEW ARVIND KAPUR, PRESIDENT – ACMA



ACMA has staged a coup of sorts partnering with Messe Frankfurt. What does this mean for ACMA members?

It will promote participation of Indian exhibitors in Automechanika exhibitions all over the world and give them higher visibility and reach.

At present, India does not have any major representation for the aftermarket; so the Automechanika shows will provide a platform for the Indian aftermarket. Currently, there is only a Partmart and Autocare exhibition in India linked to the aftermarket and ACMA is associated with it. Car sales, currently at 2.01 million, are slated to grow to five million by 2015 and two-wheelers to 18 million. Hence, there is a larger need for an aftermarket now than earlier.

Was this tie-up in the offing?

ACMA has been participating regularly in Automechanika shows for many years now and we have been interacting with Messe Frankfurt for some time and talking to them off and on about it. At present, the Indian auto component industry has larger capacities and better capabilities and is in a fairly good position to meet the competition in the overseas markets. So it was the right time to enter into a partnership with Messe Frankfurt.

ACMA-Automechanika will be held every alternate year and this is an aftermarket exhibition unlike Auto Expo.

How much additional revenue willAutomechanika trade shows help garner?

We have still not calculated that. But at Automechanika shows, global trade organisations visit the stalls and request exhibitors for newer components, which generates more business.

Will ACMA Automechanika help draw non-ACMA members? We hope so. But ACMA caters only to its members. Non-members will be approached by Automechanikaorganisers directly.

Will this tie-up boost exports and bring new markets on ACMA’s radar? Yes, it will give a big fillip to exports. At the Automechanika Frankfurt this September, there will be a large global participation including visitors from Asia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, America, Africa and other countries. This will help more penetration into these markets for ACMA members and step up the volume of component outsourcing from India. We have also done bookings for 30 Indian component makers at the ACMA pavilion but are running short of space.

Since Automechanika shows are world-class events, will they provide a learning experience for organising the Auto Expo that has drawn a lot of flak lately?

Automechanika is an aftermarket show for auto component makers. On the other hand, Auto Expo exhibitions are well organised but changes are required with the constraint being shortage of space at Pragati Maidan.

The exhibition ground is old and many of its buildings are being pulled down and restructuring will take time. So it is difficult to accommodate such a large presence of people. Pragati Maidan has lived its life and with the flow of people increasing every time, there is no point flogging it further.

Does this mean there will be an alternate site for ACMA Automechanika next year and for Auto Expo 2014?

There is no pressure but we are evaluating different options. The process for setting up a new convention centre/exhibition ground for the automotive industry has started and the Haryana government has suggested some sites in Gurgaon; the Confederation of Indian Industry is working on it currently.

Haryana will be more approachable for all stakeholders and the concerned site is near the airport with good connectivity, more roads are being built in the region and the Metro’s presence is also adding to the benefits. Another alternate site for a convention centre is in Noida which will be developed by a private party. Talks are also underway with the state government there but we prefer Gurgaon because of its various facilities.

When do you think the new convention centre/ expo ground will be ready?

It will take about two to three years but we want to finalise the proposal for the new location as soon as possible.

Have the industry associations also considered using the Formula 1 track in Greater Noida?

It is too far and garners footfalls more as a car racing track. However, it can be considered as an interim arrangement.

SHOBHA MATHUR