EQUIP AUTO 2011 revs up automotive parts industry

The event is organised in conjunction with the Plateforme de la Filière Automobile (an industry forum aimed at promoting excellence in the automotive industry) and the Fédération des Industries des Equipements pour Véhicules, or FIEV (the French Vehicle Equipment Industries Association).

EQUIP AUTO reflects and drives market trends, and brings together equipment for all vehicles under one roof.

EQUIP AUTO 2011, which has been organised by Comexposium, together with FIEV and the Fédération Française de la Carrosserie, or FFC (French Bodywork Association), will offer a more compact programme than in previous years. Organisers are expecting to see signs that the market has recovered from the economic crisis that hit the sector in 2009, with more participants expected from Eastern Europe and Russia.

Claude Cham, President of FIEV says: “Automotive products are becoming part of a broader, more complex mobility offer. It is the exhibition’s job to interpret these new trends and give industry professionals the tools to enable them to anticipate the changes ahead.”

Mario Fiems, exhibition manager, expects numbers to be up on last year: “[We expect] a 12.5% increase in the number of exhibitors, 5% in the number of visitors and 25% more gross exhibition space [compared to last year]”.

EQUIP AUTO 2011 will build on the exhibition’s multi-sector approach and positioning as a trade show for all equipment and all vehicles such as light vehicles, LCVs, HGVs, buses as well as coaches, motorcycles, agricultural vehicles, and construction vehicles.

The exhibition’s new positioning does not draw a distinction between OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and aftermarket. This reasserts the role of EQUIP AUTO as a key trade fair that underpins the entire sector. EQUIP AUTO is also a business forum that enables participants to keep track of trends and issues affecting the industry.

EQUIP AUTO 2011 will shed new light on three specific sectors: green technology; painting and repairs; and, finally, information and communications technologies.

EQUIP AUTO GreenTech will be a 5,000 m² area in Hall 6 dedicated to clean vehicles (covering electric and hybrid vehicles, high-fuel economy, and alternative fuels), parts and systems (engines, starting systems, tyres, and energy recovery systems), as well as related services and infrastructures.

The emergence of clean vehicles has an impact on the entire sector, from initial design through to maintenance. The purpose of EQUIP AUTO GreenTech is to promote emerging technologies and to assess their impact on the lower end of the supply chain; to present exciting, upcoming ground-breaking solutions; and, finally, to highlight new commercial and industrial potential to win or hold on to market share.

The Electromobility Forum, first organised at EQUIP AUTO 2009, will bring together the main upstream industry players to discuss the issues affecting the parts market.

The 2011 exhibition will, for the first time, feature a 6,000m² bodywork and paint area dedicated to suppliers in the sector, and sponsored by the FFC and its members. Patrick Cholton, Vice President of the FFC, says: “The Bodywork Village will be a highly professional product showcase with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.”

EQUIP AUTO 2011 will also feature a 1,000 m² information-and-communication technologies area showcasing an array of DMS, electronic/e-commerce catalogues, databases, and costing/CRM tools. Visitors to the information-and-communication technologies area will find a full range of IT resources for effective marketing, training workshops, as well as a best-practice forum focused on developing customer loyalty and on expanding customer bases.

EQUIP AUTO has demonstrated its commitment to the sector through a number of recent studies. In March 2011, the results of a behavioural study into the importance of social networking in the sector will be revealed. EQUIP AUTO has also commissioned a study into the potential impact of clean vehicles on the auto-repairs sector. This study produced some interesting results, revealing that nearly three out of four repair shops have already worked on at least one hybrid, electric, alternative-fuel or partially hybrid vehicle.

About EQUIP AUTO

EQUIP AUTO is the international exhibition for all vehicle equipment. This B2B event brings together manufacturers, distributors and repairers seeking new products, services or partners. The exhibition is organised by Comexposium, the Fédération Française de la Carrosserie, or FFC

(French Bodywork Association), and the Fédération des Industries des Equipements pour Véhicules, or FIEV (French Vehicle Equipment Industries Association).

The exhibition will take place from 11 to 15 October 2011 at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, north of the French capital.

For more information, please go to: www.equipauto.com