The 14th edition of Automechanika Shanghai, which took place Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, has recorded an unprecedented rise in attendees compared to the previous edition, show organizers have reported.
Serving as a platform for both local and international players from the automotive parts, accessories, equipment and service sectors, final figures for the show suggest visitor attendance increased 15 percent compared to the 2017 show – now reaching a total of 150,568. As Asia’s largest automotive trade fair, show organizers say they also received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants during the four-day period.
The overall final figures for this year’s show reflect the continual growth across each aspect of the show:
- Visitors: 150,568 (2017: 130,928)
- Exhibitors: 6,269 (2017: 6,051)
- Scale: 350,000 (2017: 340,000)
The news comes after the fair expanded many of its themed zones and areas. For example, the brand new Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility area was able to shed light on the most exciting current and future developments of the industry, from digitalization and alternative drives, to autonomous driving and new mobility services. Other areas that proved popular among participants were the collection of dedicated zones scattered across the halls, including the debuting Chain Stores Zone and the Remanufacturing Zone, as well as the returning REIFEN sector for the very latest tire, wheel and rim products.
This year, a total of 57 fringe program events ran concurrently with the main show. Throughout the fairground, each event continued to receive high praise from industry experts who took part and presented their ideas and visions for the future of the industry. Many new fringe events also were welcomed for the first time this year, such as the debuting Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility Summit 2018 and the Automotive Aftermarket Summit 2018, both of which reflected the themes and trends across the showground. What’s more, a lot of positive feedback came from those in attendance, as there equally was across the entire show floor.
Organizers for Automechanika Shanghai also noted an increase in international participation across the board. With 43 exhibiting countries and regions around the fairground, newcomers from Luxemburg joined the list of returning countries, along with the likes of the Czech Republic, Lebanon and Slovenia along with the other established overseas participants.
Overseas visitors saw an upswing of 22 percent. Participants reported that this not only helped create new channels of communication for international buyers trading with Chinese firms, but also allowed for more business exchanges across other international exhibitors and buyers.
