World's largest automotive aftermarket show Autotec Automechanika debuts in the region from May 17 to May 20

More than 150 companies and national pavilions from five countries including Germany, Turkey and Italy will be participating at Automechanika Gulf. Michael El Nayal, Managing Partner, Epoc Messe Frankfurt; Geoff Dickinson, Managing Partner, Epoc Messe Frankfurt; Pia Pacovsky, Member, Automotive Brand Protection Coalition Middle East (ACME) and Amanda Westerman, Group Exhibitions Manager, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, attended the conference.

Epoc Messe Frankfurt is a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt, the world's third largest fair organizer that conducts the Automechanika exhibitions in 10 countries across four continents. More than 500 major brands related to the automotive aftermarket industry such as DaimlerChrysler, Standox, DuPont, 3M, Bosch and AC Delco would be showcased at Automechanika Gulf.

With one of the highest per capita levels of car ownership in the world, the automotive aftermarket segment in the region is valued at over US$11 billion per year. Industry sources estimate that the Saudi market for automotive aftermarket parts, which reached sale figures of approximately US$655 million during 2001, excluding tires and OEM parts accounts for 46% of the Gulf market. Post-war Iraq is expected to open up huge opportunities for the automotive aftermarket sector as the reconstruction process begins in full swing. Besides the general automobile sector, various organisations involved in the rebuilding of Iraq would also require substantial equipment to operate in the hard terrains. Epoc Messe Frankfurt has already received an enquiry from the UN office in Iraq for specific automotive equipment that will be exhibited by various manufacturers during Autotec Automechanika Gulf.

'This region is the ideal venue for organizing Autotec Automechanika Gulf as it provides a gateway to an estimated customer base of 1.5 billion and strategic exhibitor access to the GCC states. The growing demand for original and quality spare parts as opposed to counterfeits has increased competition levels in the market. Moreover, international car manufacturers and auto spare parts suppliers are aggressively campaigning against fake automotive parts. Epoc Messe Frankfurt, will ensure that none of the exhibitors will be allowed to display counterfeit parts at Automechanika Gulf. The Automotive Brand Protection Coalition Middle East (ACME) which spearheads awareness programmes on counterfeit parts will be a key participant at the show,' said Michael El Nayal, Managing Partner, Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

'ACME, the first automotive manufacturers brand protection group in the world is very active in the Middle East and Levant. The UAE is home to one of the major transhipment hubs in the world. The emirate of Sharjah in particular is known to be one of the largest wholesale and retail markets for car parts in the Middle East. The main objective of ACME is to the raise awareness of consumers, traders and the government about the safety issues involved in the use of fake car parts and the threat they pose to the public. The anti-counterfeit stand by Epoc Messe Frankfurt will make Automechanika Gulf the only automotive aftermarket exhibition in the area where no fake parts or accessories will be on open display,' said Pia Pacovsky, Brand Protection, DaimlerChrysler Middle East, and an active member of ACME.

'With improved roads and maintenance facilities, on an average, vehicle lifetimes in the region have doubled to almost ten years during the last five years. With this increase in automobile life, the market for automotive aftermarket parts in the Middle East has grown dramatically. The rapid growth of the automotive aftermarket in the region and the fact that auto parts are consistently listed as one of the top ten re-exported commodities were some of underlying factors that have led to Automechanika Gulf being organised in Dubai for the very first time,' said Geoff Dickinson, Managing Partner, Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

Leading experts from the automotive aftermarket industry will also conduct presentations during this four-day event. Peter Rehberg, an expert in the automotive industry and the head of the ASA (German Federation of Manufacturers and Importers of Automobile Services Equipment) will focus on 'The future of the automotive aftermarket in the Middle East.' Pia Pacovsky, on the other hand, will speak on the 'Importance of brand protection in the automotive industry: Fighting the danger of counterfeit parts.'

Automechanika Gulf will showcase a complete range of automotive parts and spare parts, accessories, tyres, tuning and performance systems, in-car entertainment systems, garage equipment, tooling and petrol station equipment. The exhibition will also serve as a platform for leading manufacturers in the automotive aftermarket industry to showcase their innovations besides offering advice on brand protection and auto-repair to vehicle workshop dealers and customers.