• Aftermarket sector is set to take the spotlight at one of the largest aftermarket trade shows today.
• Despite economic pressure, sector is still performing well due to resilient demand for vehicle upkeep.
• SMMT to introduce brand new event, Meet the Van Accessories, on the final day of the show.

The UK’s £56.5bn aftermarket sector is set to take the spotlight at Automechanika Birmingham this week (3-5 June), one of the largest aftermarket trade shows. More than 550 leading brands, suppliers and stakeholders will come together to promote the strength, scale, and innovation of this vital contributor to the economy and growth. Spanning vehicle maintenance and repair, wholesale and retail of parts and accessories, its importance and contribution is significant.

There are more than 56,500 aftermarket businesses operating across the UK sector today, delivering £16.1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supporting 346,000 jobs. ¹ Having done much to ensure vital vehicles were kept on the road during the pandemic, business activity is now ahead of pre-Covid levels.  Despite broader economic pressures, UK households’ spending on spares and maintenance reached £21.6 billion last year, reflecting resilient demand for vehicle upkeep and mobility and the business opportunities that exist in the aftermarket. ²

To help deliver new business for companies across the entire automotive sector, from aftermarket to supply chain, SMMT’s Meet the Buyer event also returns to Automechanika Birmingham on 4 June. The annual event facilitates direct engagement between suppliers and major buyers, driving growth and supporting jobs. This year’s edition will feature a wide range of buyers including volume, luxury, commercial and off-highway vehicle manufacturers. Over 50 product types are being sought, from traditional parts and components through to next generation EV technologies. More than 200 companies have expressed interest in taking part and hundreds of meetings are expected to be delivered in an intense day.

In addition, SMMT will debut its Meet the Van Accessories event at the show, taking place on the last day. This provides a unique opportunity not only for Light Commercial Vehicle OEMs to meet van converters, but anyone that is interested in adding a piece of kit to their vans in the aftermarket – including racking and locks, as well as the chance to build business partnerships. Many LCV manufacturers have a Van Partner or Recognition scheme, so this event will be a platform to introduce not only van converters but also companies that produce van accessories to OEMs to join their scheme.

As one of the key events in the automotive calendar and taking place at a pivotal moment for an industry navigating significant uncertainty, Automechanika Birmingham is an unmissable event. Bringing together a broad spectrum of attendees, from OEMs to distributors, as well as more than 15,000 UK based senior leaders, the trade show creates an invaluable opportunity for networking and learning, as well as offering exclusive access to a variety of new product launches and a revamped Automotive Supply Chain Forum.