A number of automotive aftermarket trade shows, conferences and meetings are being canceled or postponed as the coronavirus continues to spread both domestically and internationally.
AASP/NJ announced it has decided to reschedule the NORTHEAST 2020 Automotive Services Show to Aug. 21-23, due to the coronavirus risk. The show was originally scheduled to take place March 20-22 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center of Secaucus, New Jersey.
In an email to exhibitors, AASP/NJ stated that amid coronavirus concerns throughout the tri-state area, and growing difficulty in attendees’ ability to attend the NORTHEAST show, it became inevitable to reschedule this year’s show dates for the safety and well-being of all parties involved in the show.
According to AASP/NJ, all current NORTHEAST 2020 booth agreements remain valid, and will be applied to the new dates of Aug. 21-23. AASP/NJ advised exhibitors to do the following:
• Contact any hotels they have booked rooms with to reschedule reservations.
• Contact MEC Exhibitor Services with any specific questions regarding booth orders at (201) 330-8227.
“We are truly sorry to have had to make this decision, but our top priority remains the safety of our attendees, exhibitors and supporters,” said AASP/NJ. “And based on these concerns as well as increasing feedback from our industry’s constituents, we trust that you will understand the need to reschedule.”
According to AMN sister publication BodyShop Business, the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) announced that its meeting April 8-9 in Jacksonville, Florida, will still take place. CIC’s announcement came yesterday, shortly after AASP/NJ announced it would be postponing the NORTHEAST Show.
Globally, a number of industry events have already been cancelled or postponed. The 2020 Gevena Motor Show, which was scheduled to take place this month, was canceled and many automakers that had planned to debut new vehicles at the show are now doing so via live streaming. Automechanika Istanbul, which was slated to take place in early April, also has been postponed to June 25-28.
In addition, Nexus International, which is hosting NEXUS Business Forum 2020 in Amsterdam on March 10, is providing access to the Forum via live streaming on YouTube for those attendees who cannot attend amid the growing international travel restrictions intended to contain the virus. Those interested can access the living streaming Forum here.
