The world’s second largest Automechanika, the 2012 edition of Automechanika Shanghai is to be held from December 11-14 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The 4,000-odd exhibitors will occupy 180,000 square metres of space – up by 13 percent compared to 2011 – divided into five different categories – parts and systems, accessories and tuning, repair and maintenance, IT and management, and service station and car wash. The trade fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) and the China National Automotive Industry International Corporation.

A new visitor record is expected with more than 70,000 buyers attending the show. Buyers will include dealers, manufacturers, car maintenance service providers, auto refitters and tuners, private and official fleets, trade associations, government agencies, research institutions from 132 countries and regions.

To meet the increasing demand from international exhibitors, a new international zone in respective product halls will be set up. This year, the show will see new international groups from Romania, Russia and Tunisia. The accessories hall is expected to be twice the size of the one last year, housing 600 exhibitors. Launched first at the 2011 show, the remanufacturing pavilion and new energy zone are expected to be expanded further for this year’s edition.

India abroad

The Indian presence at the mega-event in Shanghai will see participation by the Automotive Components Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Delhi-based piston manufacturer Gould Automotive, Coimbatore-based Roots Industries and LGB & Bros, Rajkot-based SSV Valves and gaskets and steering components manufacturer Talbros Automotive Components among others.

Commenting on the expected record visitor number, Jason Cao, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “The show is gaining more strong support from leading international and local trade industry associations and government agencies from across the automotive spectrum.”

In addition to the show’s regular and popular fringe programme line-up, there are also many new events such as the Automotive Aftermarket Summit 2012, with its theme of ‘Innovating and Adjustment of the Service Mode’. This year’s show will see a new event called ‘New Energy Vehicles & Green Maintenance’ with its theme being “Opportunities and Challenges for Automobile Repair and Maintenance Industry.” Another major show highlight is the first ever NextGen Auto International Summit China. Developed as a thought leadership conference, it will focus on innovating strategies, technologies, services and applications that promise to help the automotive industry’s transition to a more sustainable, profitable future for OEMs, suppliers and service providers across the industry value chain.

KARTHIK H