PAACE Automechanika Mexico City confirms its leading position on its 15th edition, with 543 exhibiting companies from 23 countries

The 15th edition of PAACE Automechanika Mexico City, the largest and most important trade show in Mexico and Central America for the automotive aftermarket, was held at Centro Banamex in Mexico City from July 10-12, 2013. The event concluded with 543 participating exhibitors from 23 countries, and 20,257 visits from professionals in the automotive industry. Country pavilions from across the globe included Argentina, China, Germany, Turkey, Taiwan and the United States. The visitors represented 37 countries across three continents.

John Gallagher, President of Messe Frankfurt Inc., stated: “PAACE Automechanika Mexico City confirmed its position as the leading trade event for the automotive market in this region. We are very pleased with the quality of the show, the mixture of domestic and international companies and the participation of so many buyers, which represent opportunities to professionals expanding their business in Mexico and Latin America.”

Emphasizing the importance of PAACE Automechanika Mexico City to the industry, exhibiting companies expressed their satisfaction with the results of the event. The show continues to be the largest meeting point for Mexico and Central America to connect with key decision makers in the automotive business.

Jorge Bohne, Managing Director of CRP de Mexico, noted: “Here at PAACE Automechanika Mexico City our product lines are looked after by wholesalers and mechanics for their diversity and quality. This show is a great platform to provide buyers with technical information and, at the same time, launch new products and innovations, developed to enhance the quality of car repair service and increase the profitability of our customers.”

Pleased with the quality of the visitors attending and buyer groups from various regions throughout the country, exhibitors welcomed the opportunity to utilize the matchmaking program introduced for the first time this year. A benefit for both the seasoned and first time exhibitors, who also expressed their enthusiasm for the business opportunities found at this event.

“Judging by the number of buyers we have received in our booth, there is a larger and more diverse audience this year, from wholesalers to retailers and mechanics. More quality buyers
represent more business opportunities for us” said Guillermo
Hernandez Lozano, Automotive Sales Manager for Goodyear
Engineered Products.

The introduction of “Truck Competence” at the event this year,
spotlighting commercial vehicle products, was a huge success and major highlight to the 15th edition. Exhibitors and attendees alike were pleased with the promotion of this segment of the automotive industry.

“Now through the Truck Competence program, PAACE
Automechanika Mexico City is a platform that helps us reach both
fleet managers and truck owners, as well as promote our quality parts and services in the aftermarket segment”, affirmed Reynaldo Rojas Cruz, Managing Director for Baldwin Filters.

PAACE Automechanika Mexico City offers a wide range of products, services and innovation, as well as networking opportunities and the exchange of new market information. This year was no different, with over 20,200 visitors specializing in the automotive aftermarket participating in the show over the course of the three days. In addition, visitors also enjoyed the educational and training opportunities, provided at the Technical Seminar Program. 

Exceeding the number of sessions provided in the past, the Technical Seminar Program included 51 educational sessions sponsored by exhibitors, with a record audience of more than 9,300 attendees.

"Due to the dynamism of the automotive industry, the constant innovations and the advent of new technologies, education has become an extremely important factor for success. PAACE Automechanika Mexico City has shown its commitment with the
industry by putting together the largest Technical Seminar Program in this region for the past several years." said Eugenio Carrillo, Show Director. "At no additional cost, exhibitors are able to reach a large number of customers through their presentations, while trade visitors are given the latest technical information on new products and applications, which they will also be able to see and try in the exhibition hall, providing a unique experience”, he explained.

The display of customized vehicles remains a huge draw, attracting trade visitors from the accessories, performance enhancement and tuning segments. With the support of the National Auto Club Association of Mexico (ANACM), more than 100 vehicles were showcased, covering different categories such as "Import", "Euro", "Racing" and "Classic".

The organizers of the event, APRA, MEMA, SEMA and Messe
Frankfurt, welcomed the sponsorship of the associations ARIDRA and ANDELLAC. With the support of ProMexico, the Mexican Ministry of Economy, the German-Mexican Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service, the show was enhanced by their contributions in promoting the event and bringing diverse buyer delegations to conduct business at the show.

Exhibitor Quotes

“Hundreds of retailers and mechanics came to our booth to see the wide arrange of products our company offers in the automotive aftermarket… We estimate a 40% increase in the number of visitors that stopped at our booth, where we introduced them to our offer of locally manufactured components with OE quality.”
Ricardo Valdes, Sales Manager, Aftermarket, American Axle & Manufacturing

“Through four years of participation in PAM, our company has been able to expand its brand within the domestic market; we always see a large attendance throughout the event, and even foreign buyers come visit us at this show.”
Karina Olvera, Marketing, GRC Mexicana

“From our experience after three years at PAACE Automechanika
Mexico, the organizers are following an effective promotional and
buyer-acquisition strategy, which results in an increasing number and quality of visitors. This year we were able to meet buyers from all levels of the distribution chain, including visitors from Panama, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, three of which will become new distributors before the end of the year. We were also able to provide practical information during the Seminar Program to hundreds of mechanics interested in our latest innovations.”
Edgar Caballero, Aftermarket Sales, Remy Power Products

“This is the third consecutive year we participate at PAM, and we get better results every year, particularly in the selection of partners for our commercial network. By participating in PAACE Automechanika Mexico City we also reinforce brand awareness, increase interest in our products from prospective customers, and ultimately improve our sales.”
Sergio Marti, Trade Director, Amadeo Marti Carbonell

“During the past 3 years we have seen a substantial improvement in the quality and profile of visitors at PAM. This allows us to obtain more information of the market, which will help us develop our product catalogue and presentation for 2014. We profit from participating in this show together with the international companies, since trade buyers have the chance to assess our products against the competition and take a decision based not only on price but also on service and warranty conditions.”
Francisco J. Bringas, Automotive Sales, Gates de Mexico

“During the three days of the show, we were able to grow our buyer database by 1,500 records; according to this figure, we increased our attendance by 20%. We also perceive an improvement in the quality of visitors, which translate into bigger business perspectives, since we are meeting here both domestic and foreign buyers, including OE purchase executives... We were able to close deals to place products from our brand Knadian in Central and South America.” 
Mario Argüello, Managing Director, Blue Side

“This is the only show where we always find business opportunities. We know buyers come here to find out about products and pricing, compare between different options and take a purchase decision. Despite the increasing presence of competitors in the market, our company keeps doing good business at PAACE Automechanika Mexico City.”
Miguel Angel Elizondo, Managing director, Elit Grupo Comercial

“Since we started participating in this show, we have been able to propel our business forward in the distribution of electronic parts, fuel injection, motor tune-up, switches, ventilators, starters and alternators.”
Jose de Jesus Calderon, Trade Director, Comercializadora de Autopartes Calderon

“At PAACE Automechanika Mexico City we have found a great
platform to promote our ArmorAll and STP lines of product, leading brands in the car care segment.” 
German Ariel, Sales Manager, Armored Autogroup

“PAACE Automechanika Mexico City is the largest trade show for the industry in this country, and has an important role in the
professionalization of the automotive aftermarket and car repair
segments.”
Miguel Angel Garcia, President of ARIDRA

The next PAACE Automechanika Mexico City is to be held on July 16 to 18, 2014.
For more information, please go to: www.PAACEAutomechanika.com

About Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's leading trade show organizers with 536.9 million Euros in sales and 1,833 active employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a
global network of 28 subsidiaries and approximately 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 2012, Messe Frankfurt organised 109 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.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com

The North American headquarters in Atlanta is currently producing nine trade shows in the USA, Canada and Mexico across various industries. For more information about Messe
Frankfurt, please visit our web site at www.MesseFrankfurt.us.

Automechanika Events around the Globe
Moscow, August 26 – 29, 2013
Shanghai, December 10 – 13, 2013
Istanbul, April 10 – 13, 2014
Dubai, June 3 – 5, 2014
Mexico, July 16 – 18, 2014
Frankfurt am Main, September 16 – 20, 2014
Buenos Aires, November 12 – 15, 2014
New Dehli, February 26 – 28, 2015
St. Petersburg, March 2015
Madrid, March 11 – 14, 2015
Kuala Lumpur, March 19 – 21, 2015
Johannesburg, May 6 – 9, 2015