MEXICO CITY – The 14th edition of PAACE Automechanika Mexico, billed as "the most important trade show in Mexico and Central America for the automotive aftermarket," was held once again at the Centro Banamex July 18-20 in Mexico City. The event included 541 exhibitors from 20 countries and 19,763 visits from professionals from the automotive aftermarket industry. The visitors represented 34 countries and three continents.
The increase in the number of exhibitors in comparison to 2011 (474), the diversity of visiting countries and the growing interest in technical information created an atmosphere of optimism among the participants, event organizers said.
“The extraordinary quality of the event this year is indicative of the recovery of the industry in this region," said John Gallagher, president of Messe Frankfurt Inc. "A good trade show reflects what is happening in the market, and therefore we are optimistic about the future of the industry. On the same note, we are delighted to be the most important and widely represented business platform for the automotive industry in Mexico."
Close to 20,000 buyers and visitors specializing in the automotive aftermarket participated in PAACE Automechanika Mexico over the course of the three days. PAACE offered a wide range of products, services and innovation, as well as networking opportunities and the exchange of new market information. There were also training opportunities, provided at the Technical Seminar Program.
For the first time, the Technical Seminar Program included 50 educational sessions sponsored by exhibitors, with a record audience of more than 9,000 attendees.
"Our Technical Seminar Program is the largest concentrated educational program offered in the country for this sector," said Eugenio Carrillo, show director. "Participating companies are given a space to provide technical information to their product users, while they can concentrate on trade and networking efforts on the exhibition floor. Thus, we offer an added value to both companies and buyers, whose contributions in turn enhance the opportunities at PAACE Automechanika Mexico."
A special attraction during the event is the display of featured vehicles. This year, with the support of the National Auto Club Association of Mexico (ANACM), 108 vehicles were showcased, categorized as "Import," "Euro," "Racing" and "Classic." The vehicle display included both aesthetic and performance modifications and drew a large number of buyers of accessories and specialized equipment as well as tuning specialists.
The organizers of the event, APRA, MEMA, SEMA and Messe Frankfurt, also welcomed the sponsorship of the associations ARIDRA and ANDELLAC. With the support of ProMexico and the U.S. Commercial Service the show was enhanced by their contributions in promoting the event and bringing diverse buyer delegations to conduct business at the show.
The next Automechanika Mexico PAACE is to be held July 10 to 12, 2013. For more information, visit www.PAACEAutomechanika.com.
