Autocare 2018, Australia’s premier automotive aftermarket industry convention, will be held on May 4 and 5 at the Sydney International Convention Centre. The organizers say the event will host an impressive schedule of keynote speakers, leading local and international industry executive identities and events.

The convention is an education, information and industry development-focused event that has been designed to address the latest developments, trends and issues facing the automotive aftermarket parts and service supply chain sector. The event organized by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) aims to leave no stone unturned to ensure that members involved in the automotive parts manufacturing, distribution, wholesale and retail sectors, along with industry service providers, gain the maximum benefits from taking part.

The convention is presented by Platinum sponsor Repco and Diamond Sponsor I-CAR, and is supported by a host of the industry’s most successful companies, including Brown and Watson International, Ryco / GUD Automotive, ASV Euro Car Parts and Pedders Suspension, together with more than 80 Silver and Bronze Autocare 2018 partners.

The AAAA has announced that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman, Rod Sims, will provide the opening keynote address at Autocare 2018. The ACCC chairman’s address will outline the major findings and recommendations from its market study into the new car retailing industry and its implications for the Australian automotive aftermarket industry.

Sims also will outline how the nation’s competition watchdog views our industry, the competitiveness of our sector and how ACCC monitors specific areas of anti-competitive and anti-consumer behaviors. Autocare 2018 visitors will find out what the ACCC intends to do to ensure that the independent aftermarket can have confidence in the future – a future that enables consumers to exercise choice of repairer and parts, a future in which fair and open competition is monitored and enforced.

The program of industry-leading speakers who will bring their vast supply chain sector expertise to Autocare 2018 represents an ensemble of global and local industry influencers, strategists, researchers and economists.

Aaron Lowe, United States-based Auto Care Association senior vice president of regulatory and government affairs, will be joined by Lesley Yates, AAAA’s senior manager of government relations and advocacy, to provide an update on the global “Right To Repair” campaign along with the impact of telematics and software-driven automotive components on the future of the auto care industry.

Saul Eslake, one of the nation’s best-known and trusted macroeconomists, will contribute his vast knowledge in monitoring, analyzing and predicting Australian economic trends at Autocare 2018. As a former chief economist for McIntosh Securities, National Mutual Funds Management, ANZ and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Eslake is well qualified to provide a highly accurate glimpse at our long-term economic future.

Autocare 2018’s roster of keynote speakers also includes one of Australia’s leading social commentators, Bernard Salt from The Demographics Group, who will provide his well-researched insights to assist attendees to ensure their businesses effectively connect with the customer of the future.

The AAAA has made a significant investment in consumer research, which will be presented for the first time at the convention by leading automotive market research firm TKP. Based on a customer insights survey of 1,500 Australian car owners, the findings will provide attendees with a complete understanding of the repair shop customer; how they decide which shop to visit; and what factors are critical to customer satisfaction, loyalty and recommendation. Research findings also include the importance of price relative to other considerations on which workshop customers select, views on fixed-price servicing, perceived differences between independent and dealer workshops and more.  

Nikki Gerling, automotive aftermarket general manager of Bosch Australia and New Zealand, will address the future of mobility in an address titled “Electrified. Connected. Automated.”

The Digital age of doing business will be covered by Bruce Morrison, managing director of MotorActive; Leon Saliba, the co-founder and CEO of Sparesbox; and Autoguru CEO Eden Shirley, addressing the entry of Amazon into the Australian market and how to effectively leverage online retail opportunities and digital intermediaries.

The future of the Australian automotive marketplace also will be a key topic addressed at Autocare 2018 by Steve Nuttall, the ACA head of automotive research, who will be joined by ACA Account Director Ben Selwyn.

Companies looking to gain efficiencies in their domestic and international supply chains will want to attend presentations by John Allen, director of horizon inventory, and Cameron Dodd, product development manager of the Auto Parts Group, on the topic “You’ve Got to Know When to Fold ‘em” and international trade and supply chain consultant Bill Cole on addressing the topic “Accessing Global Markets.”

According to Stuart Charity, executive director of the AAAA, the national body representing the $14 billion Australian automotive aftermarket industry, the scope and structure of Autocare 2018’s supply chain stream of presenters and keynote speakers has surpassed all expectations.

“The bumper Autocare 2018 schedule of keynote presentations and supply chain industry sector-focused speakers combines outstanding global and local expertise with specific focus on market research, customer trends and emerging technologies to ensure that our members will be able to learn from their experiences and gain the knowledge required to position their businesses to prosper into the future,” Charity said.

“The convention also includes a gala dinner, live training and technical demonstrations along with a special outdoor feature car display and a trade display featuring over 100 of our market-leading companies demonstrating the very latest in technologies and services. We anticipate over 3,000 automotive professionals will attend the combined two-day formal Convention Program, free trade display and onsite activities, making Autocare 2018 an education, networking and business development event that should not be missed,” he added.

Autocare 2018 will be held at the Sydney International Convention Centre on May 4-5, 2018.  Attendees are encouraged to register to attend the Supply Chain Stream of the event across both days at the early bird reduced cost of $440 per delegate, or you may select to attend one day of the convention at the cost of $275 per delegate for registrations made by midnight on March 15, 2018. Following that date the standard registration rates are $505 for two days and $320 for one day.

Full Autocare 2018 Convention event and program information, online registration, secure payment portal and accommodation booking service can be viewed at autocare.org.au.