The stature of Automechanika Johannesburg is growing not only locally, but also globally, as one of the shows in Messe Frankfurt’s portfolio. This year’s show, which takes place at Expo Centre, Nasrec, from September 27-30, will be the fifth Automechanika show to be staged in South Africa and is one of 16 in the world.

“Messe Frankfurt views its only Automechanika trade fair in Africa as increasingly important, not only for South Africa, but also for sub-Saharan Africa, as the need to keep existing pick-ups and trucks on the road becomes increasingly critical for business,” explains Konstantin von Vieregge, CEO of SA Shows Messe Frankfurt.

Automechanika Johannesburg 2017 will be co-located at the Expo Centre with three new, related shows: Futuroad Expo, an international truck, bus, and trailer show; Scalex Johannesburg, a trade fair for transport systems, infrastructure and logistics solutions; and REIFEN, a trade fair for the tyre industry.

“This four-shows-in-one concept is a huge boost for businesses operating in the automotive and transport environments,” says Philip Otto, Automechanika Johannesburg Show Director. “This event will now be a particularly attractive offering for businesspeople north of our borders, as we offer four, specialised exhibitions at one venue over four days.

“We already have more than 500 exhibitors confirmed for this year’s Automechanika Johannesburg and the co-located shows, and still have three months to go to increase this number.” The Futureroad Expo replaces the Johannesburg Truck and Bus Show, which was previously co-located with the Johannesburg International Motor Show.

It will be sub-Saharan Africa’s leading professional event for the truck, bus, and trailer industry, bringing together the suppliers and buyers in the region to see new products, innovations, technologies, and services, to share ideas and build business relationships. There are plans to stage a half-day conference for this sector of the transport industry.

Josh Low, Group Exhibitions Director of SA Shows Messe Frankfurt, says: “The rapidly changing technologies and operating processes in the transport industry are having a profound effect on the way companies do business in this sphere, so the role of associations and organisations with a similar focus and synergy are increasingly important as sources of information and providers of assistance.

“We are therefore very pleased that many of the relevant organisations are using Automechanika Johannesburg as a venue for major conferences. These include the Retail Motor Industry organisation (RMI), Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA), Motor Industry Workshop Association, Fuel Retailers’ Association, SA Bus Operators’ Association (SABOA), Collision Repairers Association (CRA), Automechanika Johannesburg 2017 promises to be a bumper show Road Freight Association (RFA), Engine Remanufacturing Association (ERA), SA Diesel Fuel Injection Association (SADFIA) and the SA Motor Body Repairers Association (SAMBRA).

“In addition, the Gordon Institute of Business Science will hold a conference on Doing Business in Africa, and the RMI, together with its British associate, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), is organising a skills conference in addition to having a joint industry breakfast with MISA.

“Overall, I believe we are putting on a comprehensive show that is backed by a healthy programme of conferences that all add up to making Automechanika Johannesburg 2017 a ‘must’ for all those involved in the South African transport and motor industries,” concludes Low.