52% of the attendees had a high decision-making capacity

On 2 April Motortec Automechanika Ibérica, International Trade Fair for Automotive Parts, Equipment and Service Suppliers, organised by IFEMA under licence from Messe Frankfurt, closed its doors with very satisfactory results. The attendees especially valued the high investment level of the trade fair participants as of the 39,965 trade visitors to Motortec Automechanika Ibérica, 76% had a very high (52%) or medium-high (24%) capacity to influence the purchase decisions or supplier policies of their firms. This professional profile facilitated the meeting of the event’s main objectives: To act as an effective business platform of the highest order and to generate new trade opportunities for participants.

At the same time, given the high level of international visitors, the event has confirmed their interest not only in the Iberian market but also in the rest of the countries participating. In this respect, of the 453 exhibiting companies, 30% were foreign, with a significant representation from Germany, Italy, France, Poland and of course Portugal, a logical area of influence for the trade fair.  For this reason, the Portuguese were also the most numerous among the international visitors: 12% of total visitors were foreign, and of these, 31% were from Portugal, as well as a relevant number of visitors from Germany, France and Italy. For their part, the attendance of Latin American professionals was also significant with 15% total visitors, with a strong representation from Argentina. 

Among the Spanish visitors, 70% came from outside Madrid, the region hosting the trade fair, confirming the interest in Motortec Atomechanika Ibércia by the whole national market, with a noteworthy presence of trade visitors from Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia and Castile and Leon.

In terms of activity segment, 45.34% of visitors were workshop professionals, followed by distribution, which in this case represented nearly 22% of the total.

Business as an objective
To encourage trade meetings among the aftermarket players from different areas, the trade fair organised, among other activities the Ist Latin American Aftermarket Business Group, which brought together representatives from 50 companies in the Spanish and Ibero-American markets in B2B meetings aimed at fostering new business opportunities between these industries. 

Along the same lines of stimulating business activity in the automotive equipment, components and services segments, Motortec Automechanika Ibérica developed an ambitious Buyers Programme to which it invited, by request of the exhibitors, 651 major national and international buyers, the majority of which linked to the large distribution channel.

Training and cutting-edge forum

Conscious of the importance of keeping up to date with the latest innovations in processes, products and technologies in the aftermarket sector, the organisers of Motortec Automechanika Ibérica promoted more than 140 activities during sessions, conferences and training boxes where participants were able to learn about market innovations and learn about new trends and protocols of action for improving workshop efficiency and management, among other aspects.

Motortec Automechanika Ibérica also showcased the research and development of new products and awarded the most avant-garde in the Innovation Gallery, where seven proposals from different categories were recognised in addition to the Professional Repair Award, selected by visitors, and the environmentally-friendly award for the most outstanding Contribution to the Environment.

Out of concern for the sector’s evolution the trade fair organisers also encouraged students related to the automotive sector to attend the event. For them, the trade fair acted as the ideal complement to their academic training and provided the perfect scenario to familiarise themselves with the tools they will be using in their daily future working lives.

Getting to the user

Another of the goals set by Motortec Automechanika Ibérica was to disseminate the importance of the aftermarket sector to end users. The idea was to raise awareness amongst drivers of good vehicle maintenance and the crucial effect it has on road safety and their pockets, at the same time as increasing workshop activity. In this respect, the trade fair together with the leading industry associations and companies, organised Aftermarket week, a proposal which was promoted through offers and other activities to encourage drivers to visit the workshop and create a bond of trust between the professional and the user. 

In this context, the 1st Popular Race Get down to your workshop, look after your car, look after yourself, was organised bringing together almost one thousand runners including workshop staff, professionals from other areas of the aftermarket sector and drivers, who ran 10 kilometres to promote road safety.

In all, Motortec Automechanika Ibérica achieved its aim of establishing itself as the aftermarket’s biggest event for professionals and end users alike. The meeting where business opportunities for the automotive equipment, component and services sectors were put into motion.