FRANKFURT and SYDNEY – The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) will promote six key Automechanika trade fairs of strategic interest to Australian aftermarket businesses following the signing of an international cooperation agreement with Messe Frankfurt, the global operator of 13 major international automotive trade fairs.
 
Automechanika is one of the world’s leading trade fairs for the automotive industry. It is held every two years at the Messe Frankfurt fairground, and at other venues of exhibition affiliates and partners around the world. New events include New Delhi (introduced in February 2013 and to be next held in February 2015) and Kiev (the launch is planned for May 21-23, 2015).
 
The AAAA agreement with Messe Frankfurt was signed at the Automechanika Johannesburg trade fair on May 9, 2013, and commences immediately with the AAAA leading an Australian exhibitor delegation to the Automechanika Dubai event scheduled for June 11-13, 2013.
 
AAAA Executive Director Stuart Charity said this strategic partnership with the leading global automotive trade fair brand will deliver benefits to association members who exhibit or visit the Frankfurt, Dubai, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Moscow and New Delhi Automechanika trade fairs, while assisting Messe Frankfurt to significantly raise the profile of the Automechanika brand and key fairs in the Australian market.
 
"This agreement presents AAAA members with significant opportunities to more readily access expanding international markets," said Charity. "The Australian aftermarket now exports about $800 million worth of product a year. This agreement will increase international marketing opportunities and lower costs for innovative Australian aftermarket businesses. It will help more AAAA members open the door to growth through exports.
 
"The AAAA is delighted to work with the experienced and highly regarded Messe Frankfurt team," he added. "Automechanika Frankfurt is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of trade fairs for the aftermarket internationally and is the only truly global event for the automotive parts and accessories industry. We have led exhibitor and buyer delegations to a range of Automechanika fairs around the world for over 20 years and I have no hesitation in recommending these Automechanika events to both trade exhibitors and visitors alike. We are honored that this global group has recognized the value we have added in promoting Australian participation in Automechanika trade fairs. We are confident that closer collaboration through this agreement will deliver significant benefits to AAAA members and Messe Frankfurt.”
 
Automechanika Brand Manager Michael Johannes commented, “We have great potential for a successful collaboration and I am very happy we can intensify our international cooperation program. More than 40 international and national supporters assist us and our 13 Automechanika Fairs worldwide."
 
This international development follows the AAAA’s successful hosting of its 2013 Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo and Collision Repair Expo in Sydney recently.