July’s Automechanika Mexico City expo presents a lucrative destination for global buyers and exhibitors

Trailing only China and Canada, Mexico is the United States’ third-largest trading partner, consisting of Latin America’s second-largest economy after Brazil.

“Anyone who’s interested in the Mexican market should attend,” says Ferris, “if you’re either entering the Mexican market, already in the Mexican market or if you’re considering entering the Mexican market.” The event’s reach includes Central America’s marketplace.

Included among the categories to be seen at INA PAACE Automechanika Mexico City are parts/components; electronics/systems; accessories/customizing; car care/reconditioning; alternative drive systems/digital solutions; shop management; tires; and repair/maintenance.

Upwards of 26,000 attendees and 600 exhibitors from nearly two dozen nations are expected at Mexico City’s Centro Citibanamex convention center; about 25 percent of the visiting buyers arrive from outside of the United States. Last year’s attendance tally of 26,160 marked a 35 percent increase over the 2016 edition of the show.

“It’s been increasing incrementally over the past five years,” Ferris says. Additional booth space remains for businesses wishing to market your wares. A 50/50 mix of Mexican and international exhibitors is anticipated, covering a horizontal and vertical spectrum of industry offerings.

Augmenting the thousands of products, services and resources available on the show floor – along with an associated abundance of networking opportunities – will be an extensive array of seminars and training classes. In 2017 nearly 12,000 industry professionals participated in 90-plus educational sessions.

Among the issues likely to come up for discussion throughout this year’s event is the pending future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) under the Trump Administration’s stated goal of renegotiating the terms of the pact.

“That’s certainly a topic of interest. It’s a hot topic that could possibly affect everybody,” Ferris points out. “We’re very conscious of it.”

Shifting the expo to a summer schedule instead of its previous March incarnation comes in response to popular demand, according to Ferris, guaranteeing the most effective return on investment for attendees and exhibitors alike.

“Listening to our customers, this was a pivotal decision in ensuring the future success of the show,” she explains. “We are pleased with the change and are confident that our return to July this year will only impact the show in a positive manner.”

Shared platforms

Referring to INA PAACE Automechanika Mexico City as a “first-rate automotive event where companies should consider exhibiting,” Linda Spencer, senior director of international and government affairs at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), has conducted a considerable amount of research into Mexico’s automotive presence.

Home to a population of 122 million amid a growing middle class, “Mexico has 32 million motor vehicles in circulation, with strong annual sales of about 1 million,” says Spencer in a marketing note to SEMA’s membership.

“Vehicle customization and motorsports have a strong fan base: Mexico is home to the Baja 1000 off-road race, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. In addition, classic-car restoration is strong, and Mexico City is even the venue for the Guinness World Recordfor the longest parade of classic cars, with 1,721 vintage vehicles participating.”

More than 100 custom vehicles are expected to be on display, and July’s expo presents an “ultimate platform for sourcing domestic and international products and suppliers,” according to Spencer. Lower freight costs and delivery times are available due to Mexico’s close proximity to the U.S.

“For those supplying to original-equipment manufacturers, Mexico is an important center for automotive assembly,” she says. About a dozen automakers – such as Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Kia and BMW – have Mexican plants, and some are expanding their production output.

As in the U.S., pickup trucks and SUVs are highly popular, and many share the same platforms as American-made vehicles. “For example,” says Spencer, “among the top-selling pickups in Mexico are the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and RAM.”

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