The UK’s must-attend automotive exhibition returns with a larger presence in 2019 before going biennial

Automechanika Birmingham is set to return to the NEC from 4 to 6 June 2019, with many major industry players signed up to exhibit.

Following hot on the heels of the 2018 event, which saw 86 percent of visitors having purchasing authority, next year’s event has attracted widespread support from across the UK automotive industry. It will be the last time the event runs before going biennial, alternating years with Automechanika Frankfurt.

Major suppliers committed to the 2019 event include:  Schaeffler, ZF, DENSO, Delphi Technologies, Valeo, Bosch, Hella, Bilstein Group, MANN + HUMMEL, NGK and Yuasa.

 

 

Automechanika Birmingham appoints Jack Halliday as new Event Director

Automechanika Birmingham has promoted Jack Halliday to the position of Event Director, just under a year before he joined the Messe Frankfurt UK subsidiary as Head of Sales.

As the event prepares to return to the NEC for the fourth time next year and with many major industry players signed up to exhibit, Halliday will oversee all event management at the UK’s leading exhibition for the automotive industry.

Automechanika Birmingham, the leading exhibition for the UK’s automotive industry, has re-appointed specialist PR agency Impression Communications to handle its UK PR for its 2019 event, 4-6 June, NEC.

Why every motor factor should attend Automechanika Birmingham

“We’re in a very competitive market, one that requires us to perform at our best every day. It’s an old saying, but we are only as good as our last delivery.

“The automotive aftermarket is a fast-changing sector and in addition to facing challenges from within the industry, we also have to ensure we are fully compliant with new legislation such as pensions, national living wage and GDPR.

 

Getting out what you put into Automechanika Birmingham

Autoparts UK is no stranger to trade events having ran one of the largest motor factor trade events in 2015 at its head office in Glasgow.

Operating out of a 60,000sqft warehouse and running a network of 12 branches, Autoparts UK is one of the most successful motor factors in the UK, with a number of awards confirming its status. 

“I was sceptical when first visiting Automechanika Birmingham in 2017,” says Vic Clarke of Autocentre Rushden. 

“It’s been a long time since we had a national show in the UK dedicated to the automotive trade and I was worried it wouldn’t cater for my business.”

Vic’s concerns soon evaporated when he saw the number of relevant suppliers at the event, but what really drew his attention was the array of keynote speakers.

Scotlands Ash Garage is an award-winning garage based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The company prides itself on providing a range of services to motorists throughout the area, operating with a team of five and three ramps, alongside a separate MOT bay.

Peter Welch, proprietor, talks openly about the future for independent garages: “The future is incredibly scary for small businesses like independent garages. With an array of threats and challenges, we have to continually look at ourselves and ensure we are the best we can be.”

Automechanika can reinvigorate accessory retailers, says Shortis

For Richard Shortis, managing director of Wilco Motor Spares, running a branch network of more than 42 retail sites brings with it its own set of challenges. 

With the demise of the high street well documented, Wilco continues to buck the trend and Richard puts of a lot of the company’s success down to the company’s close relationship with not only customers but also suppliers.