Automechnika Dubai, the Middle East’s largest international trade show for the automotive aftermarket industry, which runs at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until Thursday (December 16) is unveiling a rapidly transforming sector where digitization is the new driver.
The 18th edition of the show, organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, has exhibitors from 47 countries and 12 national pavilions all demonstrating just how far the sector has come in its technological transformation and signaling more change ahead.
The show was opened Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) & and Commissioner General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being.
“Technology advances are impacting all segments of the industry and are in evidence across all the show’s six sectors,” explained Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Show Director of Automechanika Dubai.
“This represents a seismic shift in the regional industry, which is advancing rapidly in terms of service provision, product innovation and professional standards,” he added.
Automechanika Dubai features six sectors: tires and batteries; car wash, care and reconditioning, repair and maintenance; parts & components; electronics and systems as well as accessories and customization.
For the first time, the show will feature a comprehensive awards ceremony recognising excellence in products, services, personnel and training within the regional industry and a Tools and Skills Challenge – an action-packed live stage where workshop specialists can demonstrate their skills in tire changing, tire mounting and smart dent removal.
The scale of transformation impacting the sector has been summed up by Romanian show newcomer Wemzer Industries, which says the sector is now increasingly aware of its need to contribute to global ‘greener world’ endeavors.
With Wemzer now producing OEM specified standard ceramic and carbon-free products, the company’s Managing Director Amin Uz Zaman identified additive manufacturing, remanufacturing, e-commerce, hybrid and electric drive trains and mobility as a service as the new sector drivers.
“The automotive aftermarket is undergoing big disruption,” he said. “With electrification and digitisation driving change, we are reshaping the way customers, automotive suppliers, and industry stakeholders think of cars and driving and how business in the automotive aftermarket is conducted and value is created.”
Zaman said the massive penetration of internet connections and smartphones has driven the customer’s expectation for a seamless, comfortable, and most importantly a transparent shopping experience. “The automotive industry was probably delayed in embracing this transformation, but the pandemic accelerated the process and now we are witnessing a massive digitization of the industry.” he said.
With industry analysts forecasting the GCC’s automotive parts retail revenue will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8 percent to US$6.84 billion in 2025, there’s much at stake for industry players facing greater than ever competition. Keys to success are being outlined at the Automechanika Dubai Academy where experts are probing the industry’s region outlook, the impact of electrification within the GCC, digital trends, sector diversification and fourth industrial revolution outcomes.