SMMT News

Industry buzzing after the launch of ”The Big 1”

08 May 2002 #SMMT News

On May 1, more than 250 movers and shakers from the automotive aftermarket, tyre industry and fleet business gathered at the NEC to hear details of auto1, destined to be the UK’s number one automotive business expo. A packed audience heard Christopher Macgowan, Chief Executive of SMMT, extol the virtues of B2B events against a backdrop of the largest CV Show to date.

‘There is a tremendous buzz around these shows and our aim is to create an event on the automotive calendar that simply cannot be missed. I am confident that the innovative new format of auto1 is a winning formula which will prove to be of great value to business visitors’, said Christopher.

auto1 is unique in comprising a number of specialist zones, each of particular interest to visitors from different business sectors. For example, accessory retailers can make straight for the Accessories or Tuning and Styling zones before looking for new business opportunities in others, such as Parts, IT and Business or Environmental.

This exciting new format is precisely what busy visitors need to maximise the value of their time at auto1,’ said Derrick Lawton, Chief Executive of A1 Motor Stores. He added, ‘The UK needs a single business meeting point, where new ideas can be exchanged to grow the value of the motoring marketplace and the format of auto1 is ideally suited to this.’

The formula obviously found favour with many people who attended the launch, as bookings were already being taken during the afternoon. Andy Lynch, Sales and Marketing Director of Signam, was first to sign up, saying ‘We have found that mixing business and consumer visitors does not work. It is all too easy to miss a key business contact whilst speaking to a guy who only wants one set of number plates. As a business only event, auto1 will deliver only real long term business contacts to my stand and that is what we are there for.’

Notes to Editors:


  1. The 2003 auto1 and InterTyre are fully supported by the ADF, A1MS, FER, FSG, GEA, IMI, IMPACT, NFDA, NTDA, RMI, SMMT and TIC.
  2. auto1 takes place at the NEC from 27 to 30 April 2003, so put it in your diary now.

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