ORLAND PARK, IL — Organizers for the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) are reporting record booth sales and pre-registered attendee counts, with just three weeks remaining before what will be the biggest and best AAPEX show yet.

AAPEX, which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 5 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, is the largest annual business-to-business event for the $250 billion automotive aftermarket industry. According to Bill Glasgow, AAPEX show manager, more than 1,900 exhibitors will display their wares during the action-packed week of activities.

“Everything people need to keep their cars on the road will be on display,” Glasgow said, noting that only a handful of booth space opportunities still exist. “The improvements made to AAPEX and the added value of AAPEX have certainly resulted in record levels of buyers attending the show – both domestically and internationally – and in terms of overall booth space used by companies from all over the world.”

Pre-registered attendance for AAPEX and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week reveals that the 2004 event should have a record number of attendees. In particular, more buyers have discovered the value of AAPEX as statistics show more than 5,500 buyers are registered compared to this time last year. Last year’s event drew more than 51,000 buyers — a record number for the event.

“It’s important that people remember how important our industry is to the country’s freedom of mobility, to the overall economy and to our high standard of life,” Glasgow added. “AAPEX represents the most important and largest industry event to what can be considered one of the most vital industries in the world.”

The significance of AAPEX continues to grow overseas as well, as approximately 860 of the exhibiting companies are international, representing 34 countries. Additionally, international buyer count is also up over 2003’s year-to-date figures even though 2004 is an Automechanika Frankfurt year, which generally lowers international visitor count.

AAPEX 2004 will debut a new heat transfer and mobile air conditioning products and parts section to go along with the trade show that already includes virtually every brand of replacement parts, the largest tool and equipment exhibit, suspension and front end products, engines, engine parts and fabricators, paint and body products, chemicals and lubricants and more.

As AAPEX has grown, show management has developed ways to improve navigation on the show floor. A revamped d