Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., Greater China’s headquarters of the global leading trade fair organizer Messe Frankfurt GmbH, has acquired a major proportion of Beijing Traders-Link Plus International Exhibition Co. Ltd., organizer of the Automotive Maintenance & Repair Expo (AMR) in Beijing.
The agreement of the acquisition was signed on Nov. 10 in Shanghai between Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. and Beijing Traders-Link Plus International Exhibition Co. Ltd. In the partnership, both parties agreed to form a new joint venture company named Messe Frankfurt Traders-Link (Beijing) Co. Ltd., in which Messe Frankfurt will hold the majority interest. This acquisition is being strongly supported by industry associations such as the China Automotive Maintenance Equipment Industry Association (CAMEIA) and the China Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (CAMRA), who also are the co-organizers of Automotive Maintenance & Repair Expo (AMR).
Messe Frankfurt is present in 178 countries and hosts exhibitions and conferences in around 50 locations with its brands and brand families. The company has an extensive network and expertise in mobility and logistics sector, including the well-known Automechanika brand, which as 17 shows in 15 countries and 16 other automotive events worldwide.
This acquisition will allow Messe Frankfurt to enrich its maintenance and repair sector within its mobility portfolio, as well as its market share in Asia.
Stephan Buurma, member of the board of management of Messe Frankfurt Group, shared his view. “The Automechanika brand shows in Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi, as well as the CAPAS show in Chengdu, together cover all areas of the value chain to serve the flourishing aftermarket sector in Asia and in China in particular. The next step is to strengthen our presence in each of the industry’s sectors,” he said.
“Being the biggest automobile market in the world, China’s repair and maintenance market is growing eminently. This new acquisition provides fast access for our key customers in the automotive field to penetrate this booming market,” added Buurma.
Steven Wang, general manager of Beijing Traders-Link Plus International Exhibition Co. Ltd., said he believes the agreement comes at a good time for international key players to tap into the evolving repair and maintenance sector.
“With the recently passed Administrative Measures for Automobile Sales policy and the increase in out-of-warranty vehicles, the sector’s structure is expected to evolve from the domination of 4S, to multiple forms such as independent workshops and online platforms,” said Wang. “Despite the aftermarket being more competitive than ever, it unlocks unprecedented opportunities for distributors, end-users and stakeholders from the global repair and maintenance suppliers. I am certain that the move is mutually beneficial to both local and international industry counterparts.”
Wang also said that with the new acquisition, the organizer is projecting an increase in the 2018 show’s scale to 1,200 exhibitors and 60,000 visits.
Co-organizers of the show, the China Automotive Maintenance Equipment Industry Association (CAMEIA) and the China Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (CAMRA) expressed their optimism in the move. Xie Jiaju, chairman of CAMEIA said, “I am glad to see the presence of Messe Frankfurt in AMR. They are one of the world’s leading trade fair organizers with a strong international network and experience in the global automotive markets. With them on board, we can enhance the internationality of this long-established and the leading industry fair. It’s a win-win situation for our members and industry counterparts.”
Yan Bo, secretary general of CAMRA, added, “Both the show and the automotive market will profit hugely from the signing. It will tighten the relationship between the international markets and the local companies.”
Beijing Traders-Link Plus International Exhibition Co. Ltd. is the organizer of Auto Maintenance & Repair Expo (AMR), held every spring in Beijing, China. The company advocates its expertise and vitality, and implements its local and international networks to AMR. It has successfully made AMR into Asia’s biggest and one of the world’s top three trade fairs. In its latest edition in 2017, the show’s scale expanded to 110,000 square meters of exhibition space and attracted 1,139 exhibitors and 58,212 visits.
The show covers every aspect of the auto maintenance and repair sector including garage equipment, testing & diagnostic equipment and tools, coating, collision repair, car care and car wash, chain stores, training and software. The broad product spectrum attracts trade visitors such as 4S shops, car care shops, car manufacturers, chain stores, distributors & wholesalers, test stations, transportation companies, tire shops and workshops to source and look for business opportunities every year.
Automotive Maintenance & Repair Expo 2018 (AMR 2018) will be held from April 1-4 at the New China International Exhibition Centre (NCIEC). For more information, please visit amr-china.cn or e-mail [email protected].
For more information about Messe Frankfurt’s automotive fairs, visit automotive.messefrankfurt.com.
