Demand is proving to be high for places at Automechanika Birmingham, the UK’s first trade show for automotive supply chain and aftermarket companies, with more than a third of the exhibition space already booked.
The event, which will take place in June 2016 at the NEC in Birmingham, is a partnership between the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Messe Frankfurt, the company behind Automechanika, the world’s biggest automotive trade fair brand.
Automechanika Birmingham comes at a time of strength and growth for the UK automotive sector. Latest SMMT figures show that in 2014, the automotive manufacturing sector’s turnover was £69.5 billion, including an export value of £34.6 billion. Domestic suppliers increased sales to UK vehicle makers by 19% last year and significant potential remains. The Automotive Council values the scope for continued supplier growth at some £4 billion.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “It is the perfect time for British supply and aftermarket businesses to capitalise on the record growth in UK automotive, and expand their businesses with buyers both in the UK and abroad. Automechanika Birmingham will help them do exactly that.”
The event is expected to play host to around 250 exhibiting companies and 5,000 trade visitors in the NEC.