Exclusive interview: why the UK needs Automechanika

GW meets with the man behind the biggest Automechanika launch outside of Frankfurt, Simon Albert

Exclusive interview: why the UK needs Automechanika
Simon Albert speaks to GW about Automechanika Birmingham which is taking place at the NEC this week.

Thousands of people are making their way to the NEC during the course of the next three days to see more than 550 exhibitors at Automechanika Birmingham.

Of those, around 20 per cent are independent garages and when asked why this show is important for independents, Simon said: “If there is something they are going to prioritise for this year, it should be this.”

Why now, why hasn’t Automechanika come to the UK before?

“…The UK market has been crying out for an event like this.

“You know, there wasn’t one all-encompassing automotive exhibition in this country.

“There are some regional shows, there’s a commercial vehicle show and even some supply chain shows but a single location show, which covers commercial and passenger vehicles just didn’t exist.

“Automechanika Birmingham is an all-encompassing automotive exhibition and the UK market, as you know, is really buoyant.

“The market needed a platform for people to do business and the SMMT, who are our association partner, were really pushing to have something here and felt that Automechanika was the right brand for it.”

What’s in it for the independent garage?

“It’s the opportunity to meet the exhibitors and to see their latest products and innovations.

“Garage equipment, parts and components represent around 75 per cent of our exhibitors.

“Your readers will get to see the latest equipment and tools, as well as new parts and components.

“The second thing is the seminar programmes, discussing topics such as the future of the MOT and what’s right for the industry.

“We’ve got the likes of James Dillion, talking about diagnostics; Peter Coombes, about the connected car; Neil Pattemore, on telematics.

“We want garages to go away with stuff that they can use in their business as soon as they leave the exhibition.

“The industry is changing and garages need to know what the future holds for their business…”

This article first featured in Garage Wire Views, click here to read the interview in full.

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Got a problem job in your workshop? Come across a dangerous defect or MOT horror? Have a strong opinion on an industry matter? Contact Michael Ruff on 07525 832 209, [email protected] or tweet @GarageWireUK.

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