Messe Frankfurt, producer of Automechanika, the leading international brand of automotive trade shows, and Advanstar Communications, one of the largest tradeshow organizers in the U.S., will join forces to launch Automechanika Chicago. The show will be the 14th Automechanika event around the globe, and will take place April 24-26, 2015, at McCormick Place.
Automechanika Chicago will showcase the newest tools, equipment and products in the market and will be the largest U.S. trade show dedicated to high-end technical training and management classes for automotive technicians and shop owners. The event will leverage the world’s most-trusted show brand – Automechanika – with Advanstar’s leading automotive publications for the service repair and collision repair segments, Motor Age and Auto Body Repair Network (ABRN).
The launch of Automechanika Chicago was announced today by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel during a press conference. Chicago was chosen as an ideal location for the venture because it is centrally located in the U.S. and easily accessible for drive-in attendees and air travel. McCormick Place will serve as home to Automechanika Chicago on a biannual basis starting next year.
“We are excited about our partnership with Advanstar. Our combined experience in launching successful events only strengthens our ability to service this untapped niche within the automotive aftermarket industry,” said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.
Positioning
The U.S. automotive aftermarket has maintained steady growth of more than 3.4 percent annually, fueled by an aging vehicle population where the average vehice age is 11.4 years. These trends along with an explosion of new technology means technicians must keep pace.
Automechanika Chicago will be THE venue for shop-level training in North America.
Michael Johannes, Brand Manager of Automechanika, said the show’s shop-friendly environment “will allow visitors, from technicians to shop owners, to really get a feel for the new product offerings through the various demonstrations, management seminars and technical training sessions. With the number of diverse product categories exhibiting at this one event, attendees can experience the latest advancements in a very efficient manner.”
Advanstar Communications
Headquartered in California with offices across the United States and abroad, Advanstar Communications has a portfolio of more than 50 trade shows, 100 conferences, 30 publications, and 200 electronic products and websites, including auto industry brands Aftermarket Business World, ABRN, Motor Age and SearchAutoParts.com.
“Anyone who has attended any Automechanika show around the world knows the power of that brand in the automotive industry,” said Joe Loggia, Advanstar CEO. “Teaming with them on Automechanika Chicago gives us a chance to share our expertise as trade show producers by utilizing the Advanstar Automotive Group’s ability to connect daily with hundreds of thousands of shop owners and technicians. This partnership is a perfect way for us to engage those readers and draw them to Chicago for a one-of-a-kind event.
Chris DeMoulin, Advanstar Auto Group’s executive vice president, said, “Automechanika Chicago will be designed specifically for shop owners and technicians as we seek to make it the largest training event ever produced in the U.S. marketplace. Attendees will find a show floor packed with the latest products and innovations for independent shop owners and technicians and get top-notch classroom and hands-on training.”
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade show organisers with around 543* million euros in sales and 2,026* employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and approx. 50 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2013, Messe Frankfurt organised 114* trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.
Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Center. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.
