Auto aftermarket trade shows are like bridges, not only connecting companies of all sizes within the industry but also fostering business connections among people from different countries.
They resemble a grand family gathering, where everyone opens their hearts and freely engages in exchange.
At automotive aftermarket exhibitions, we can discover potential business partners or customers;
stay updated on the latest market trends and technologies, as well as understand customer preferences.
It is an opportunity to showcase our products to enhance our brand visibility;
and gain insights into our competitors’ strategies and information.
Currently, there is a wide variety of auto aftermarket trade shows around the world, and almost every country has its own.
But due to time and space constraints, it is not feasible to attend all of them.
To maximize efficiency and results, we tend to focus on a few well-known and large-scale auto aftermarket trade shows.
In this article, I will introduce some of the top auto aftermarket trade fairs to help you make the right choices that suit your needs.
Automechanika
Let’s start with Automechanika – it is the most well-known automotive aftermarket exposition globally organized by Messe Frankfurt.
Click to read the official introduction to Automechanika
There’re mainly 10 product segments when exhibiting:
- Accessories & Customizing
- Body & Paint
- Car Wash & Care & Detailing
- Connectivity & Autonomous Driving
- Diagnostics & Repair
- Electrics & Electronics
- Oil, lubricants & fuels
- Parts & Components
- Tires & Wheeles
We can find detailed product information for each division on the official website.
Automechanika attracts a global audience, including automotive professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and service providers.
It serves as a networking platform, facilitating business connections and partnerships.
Participants can explore the latest industry trends, exchange knowledge, and gain insights into the future of the automotive market.
The exhibition also hosts various seminars, workshops, and conferences, where experts share their expertise and discuss key industry challenges and opportunities.
Automechanika is not open to the public.
Visitors usually need to be registered industry participants or have a valid trade visitor pass to attend the fair.
This ensures that the exhibition remains focused on business networking, showcasing products, and facilitating B2B interactions rather than being a public event.
In recent years, with the rapid development of electric vehicles, Automechanika has also kept pace by adding exhibition areas related to new energy vehicles.
For example, in the upcoming Automechanika Shanghai 2023, which will be held on November 29, 2023, Hall 5.1 is E-mobility / Alternative Drive Systems & Fuels / Autonomous Driving.
Automechanika plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of the automotive industry.
Automechanika is also the largest automotive trade fair in the world.
It is held in various locations across different continents
As its self-description indicates, “Automechanika is present on four continents with more than a dozen events”.
There are Automechanika Frankfurt, Automechanika Shanghai, Automechanika Dubai, MIMS Automechanika Moscow, Expo Automechanika Buenos Aires, Automechanika Mexico City, Automechanika Johannesburg…
Each of these exhibitions is essentially the largest in its respective country or even includes the surrounding region.
Among them, the ones in Frankfurt, Shanghai, and Dubai are the most prominent.
Automechanika Frankfurt
This is the earliest Automechanika automotive expo and also its place of origin.
It takes place biennially in Frankfurt, Germany, and has a long history dating back to its inception in 1971.
The specific dates for each edition may vary, but it usually occurs in the early autumn months ( September in recent years ).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Automechanika Frankfurt, which was scheduled for 2020, was postponed and successfully held in 2022.
The next event will take place from September 10th to 14th, 2024.
This is the official website: https://automechanika.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
We can register for participation, stay updated with the latest exhibition news, and explore renowned exhibiting companies on it.
Automechanika Shanghai
Yes, Automechanika Shanghai is held in Shanghai, China.
It is a leading automotive trade show in Asia and is known for its vast scale and international reach.
Different from Frankfurt, Shanghai’s holding time is usually in late November or early December each year.
China’s remarkable economic development has captured global attention.
Automechanika Shanghai plays a crucial role in showcasing the country’s automotive aftermarket industry.
As the majority of exhibitors are Chinese companies, it serves as a significant window for the world to understand this sector in China.
For importers of automotive parts, it becomes a vital avenue to find suitable Chinese suppliers.
The face-to-face interactions foster trust and facilitate future collaborations, making it even more beneficial for long-term partnerships.
This is the official website: https://automechanika-shanghai.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html
It provides a registration channel for becoming an attendee, a journalist, and an exhibitor.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Automechanika Shanghai originally planned for 2021 was put off to February 15th to 18th, 2023.
It was also relocated and held in Shenzhen.
We were one of the exhibitors.
Despite the recent relaxation of pandemic-related measures, the footfall at the exhibition was still substantial, indicating a good turnout of attendees.
The following is our booth at that time.
As I mentioned above, the next Automechanika Shanghai will start from November 29th to December 2nd, lasting 4 days.
Welcome to visit us at 8.2N82 stand, to check our metal aftermarket parts for Tesla Model 3, Y, S & X and chat with me eye to eye.
Automechanika Dubai
Automechanika Dubai is the biggest trade fair for car aftermarkets and services in the Middle East and North Africa region.
It is held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where draws exhibitors and visitors from all over the world.
Officially disclosed, in 2022, the Dubai event achieved a remarkable milestone.
A total of 42,937 visitors from 145 countries came together with 1,145 exhibitors representing 53 countries.
There were also 20 official country pavilions in attendance.
This year (2023) is the 20th edition, which will take place for 3 days starting from October 2nd.
This is the official website: https://automechanika-dubai.ae.messefrankfurt.com/dubai/en.html
We can obtain other information about this exhibition from it.
Well, our introduction to Automechanika ends here.
You can search for the latest news about it in other regions on Google.
We recommend visiting their official websites for the most accurate information.
Now, let’s move on to other two important automotive aftermarket trade fairs located in the United States.
SEMA Show
The SEMA Show is short for Specialty Equipment Market Association Show.
SEMA
As the name suggests, the show is organized by Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
Founded in 1963, it has since become a worldwide prominent platform for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other professionals involved in the automotive aftermarket sector.
This is the official website of the SEMA organization: https://www.sema.org/
SEMA also conducts various market research studies, surveys, and reports on different aspects of the automotive aftermarket industry.
These analysis are free for members, non-members will be charged a certain fee.
We could explore details on the page below:
https://sites.sema.org/market-research/
SEMA Show is held yearly for 4 days in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
It is considered the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, attracting automotive professionals, enthusiasts, and industry leaders from around the globe.
Like Automechanika, the SEMA Show also includes various educational seminars, workshops, and networking events, apart from the exhibition.
On Wikipedia, we can learn about some stories of the association and exhibition. (click to jump and read)
The 2020 SEMA Show was canceled because of COVID-19.
This was the first-ever cancellation in its history.
We can read this article to experience the highlights of the 2022 SEMA Show.
“Highlights From the 2022 SEMA Show” By Mike Imlay from SEMA.
SEMA Show is also not open to the general public.
Attendees must provide credentials and proof of affiliation with the automotive industry to gain access to the exhibition.
Unlike Automechanika, SEMA Show is not free.
To attend the SEMA Show, individuals need to register and purchase a badge, which grants them access to the exhibition floor, educational seminars, and networking events.
The cost of attending the SEMA Show varies depending on the type of badge and the registration date.
Early bird registration typically offers discounted rates compared to last-minute registrations.
Additionally, SEMA members may receive certain benefits and discounts on registration fees.
Here are the fees for the 2023 SEMA Show:
- $40 Prior to Friday, June 30th
- $60 July 1 – September 29th
- $120 Beginning September 30th
The 2023 SEMA Show will begin on October 31st.
On this webpage, we can register and sign up, as well as the pricing and scheduling details: https://www.semashow.com/
In addition, we can also find out the companies that participated in the 2023 fair. https://www.semashow.com/participating-manufacturers
AAPEX
APPEX stands for Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo.
It is co-hosted by Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. (click to browse their official websites)
Auto Care Association
Established on July 1991, The Auto Care Association was previously known as the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) before changing its name in 2014.
It is a non-profit trade association.
We could view its history on Wikipedia: “Auto Care Association”
MEMA
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) is a trade association representing the biggest automotive and transportation parts manufacturing industry in the United States.
MEMA was formed in the year 1904.
The association is comprised of four divisions, each dedicated to specific segments of the industry: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), and Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA). (click to know more at Wikipedia)
Like SEMA, MEMA also carries out research and analysis to provide members with valuable insights into market trends, technology advancements, and industry challenges.
Most of the research findings are only accessible to MEMA members.
The APPEX and SEMA Show are like two brothers, often discussed or compared together by people.
Both take place annually, their venues are all located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
They open on the same day, but APPEX is one day shorter than SEMA Show, lasting for three days.
So 2023 APPEX will also start from October 31st.
And together, they create an exciting and comprehensive automotive industry week in Las Vegas.
The target audience of APPEX is similar to SEMA as well.
This is the official website link for registering for APPEX 2023
APPEX also has admission fees.
The charges vary depending on the time and role of the attendee.
The attendee badge has access to the Exhibit Hall floor at both AAPEX and the SEMA Show.
But the access to certain sessions may be restricted.
You can refer to this webpage to learn about the pricing details.
This page also provides answers to other questions that we may be interested in.
Let’s end here with the top world-famous trade fairs.
There are other influential shows like Automec and the Tokyo Auto Salon.
If you’re interested, please Google search and learn more about them on their respective official websites.
Again, welcome to meet us at our 8.2N82 booth at 2023 Automechanika Shanghai.
Feel free to visit our factory in Jiangsu Province ( near Shanghai ) if you have time.
