The 14th Automechanika Shanghai, which took place from 28 November to 1 December 2018, has recorded a substantial rise in attendees compared to the previous show.
Serving as a platform for both local and international players from the automotive parts, accessories, equipment and service sectors, final figures suggest visitors at the show rose by 15 per cent since 2017, reaching a total of 150,568. As Asia’s largest automotive trade fair, organisers said they also received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants alike during the four-day period. The overall final figures for this year’s show reflect the continual growth across each aspect of the show:
- Visitors: 150,568 (2017: 130,928)
- Exhibitors: 6269 (2017: 6051)
The news comes after the fair expanded many of its themed zones and areas – the brand-new Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility area was able to shed light on the most interesting current and future developments of the industry, from digitalisation and alternative drivetrains to autonomous driving and new mobility services. Other areas that organisers said proved immensely popular amongst participants were the collection of dedicated zones scattered across the halls, including the debuting Chain Stores Zone and the Remanufacturing Zone, as well as the returning REIFEN (tyres) sector for the latest tyre, wheel and rim products.
This year, a total of 57 fringe programme events ran concurrently with the main show. Throughout the fairground, organisers said each event continued to receive high praise from industry experts who took part and presented their ideas and visions for the future of the industry. Many fringe events also debuted for the first time this year, such as the Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility Summit 2018 and the Automotive Aftermarket Summit 2018, both of which reflected the themes and trends across the showground.
Organisers have also marked an increase in international participation across the board. With 43 exhibiting countries and regions around the fairground, newcomers from Luxembourg joined the list of returning countries, along with the likes of the Czech Republic, Lebanon and Slovenia along with the other established overseas participants.
Overseas visitors also saw an increase of 22 per cent. Participants were particularly keen to express that this not only helped create new channels of communication for international buyers trading with Chinese firms, but also allowed for more business exchanges across other international exhibitors and buyers.