According to the company behind the show, the 2009 event is set to be the biggest and most future-orientated yet. Show organisers Promotec SpA recently visited London and gave Tyres & Accessories details of what we can expect in May
A key new feature confirmed at Autopromotec 2009 is “Futurmotive,” which the organisers call “an attention-grabbing new feature showcasing environmentally sustainable technological innovations for car servicing companies. One of the show’s highlights, Futurmotive is being coordinated by Autopromotec in collaboration with Polo per la MobilitÀ Sostenibile (POMOS) (Centre for Sustainable Mobility) at the University of Rome La Sapienza; and the Centro Salesiano di Formazione Professionale (CNOS FAP). The new Futurmotive feature is designed to respond to increasingly widespread interest among consumers towards alternative car fuelling and maintenance, with special attention being given to fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
International attendance at Autopromotec reached a record high in 2007. The show hosted 1,404 exhibitors (a 26.8% increase over 2005), 500 of whom were from 49 countries outside Italy (making up 35.6% of total exhibitors). Professional visitors to the Bologna-based show (visiting either individually or as members of 23 official delegations) totalled 99,182, 20% of whom came from over 110 countries outside Italy.
Despite hard times for both the world economy and the automotive industry, Autopromotec 2009’s organisers confidently expect that around 100,000 decision-makers will visit, including strong international contingent. As with the previous shows, entrance is only open to trade professionals and is free to exhibitors and those invited by the organisers. Only manufacturers or licensed agents will are allowed to exhibit at Autopromotec 2009 – a move designed to ensure the “technological edge” of the show.
Renzo Servadei, managing director of Promotec, commented: “The auto repair sector is on the rise and is a key example of Italian industrial excellence. Autopromotec itself is also a showcase of Italy’s world-leading automotive production capabilities. Bologna is located in Emilia-Romagna, a region… where a considerable number of world-renowned automotive workshop equipment manufacturers have developed since the end of World War I. This year Autopromotec will also bring together even more of the spare parts and components sectors, acting as an essential meeting place for top international business leaders.”
Servadei continued: “We have set up a busy promotional schedule. In the past few months we have flown to the United States, Asia and several parts of Europe. We have already organised press conferences in Paris… and in the next four weeks we will be flying to Athens, Stockolm, Madrid and Lisbon to meet local journalists.”
As in previous years, the show will devote three halls to new and retreaded tyres, tyre repair tools, wheels and tyre accessories. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)
