The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) will promote six key Automechanika trade fairs of strategic interest to Australian aftermarket businesses following the signing of an international cooperation agreement with Messe Frankfurt, the global operator of 13 major international automotive trade fairs.

AAAA Executive Director Stuart Charity said this strategic partnership with the world leading automotive trade fair brand will deliver benefits to Association members who exhibit or visit the Frankfurt, Dubai, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Moscow and New Delhi Automechanika trade fairs, while assisting Messe Frankfurt to significantly raise the profile of the Automechanika brand and key fairs in the Australian market.

"This agreement presents AAAA members with significant opportunities to more readily access expanding international markets," said Stuart Charity.

"The Australian aftermarket now exports about $800 million worth of product a year. This agreement will increase international marketing opportunities and lower costs for innovative Australian aftermarket businesses. It will help more AAAA members open the door to growth through exports.

"The AAAA is delighted to work with the experienced and highly regarded Messe Frankfurt team. Automechanika Frankfurt is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of trade fairs for the aftermarket internationally and is the only truly global event for the automotive parts and accessories industry.
"We have led exhibitor and buyer delegations to a range of Automechanika Fairs around the world for over 20 years and I have no hesitation in recommending these Automechanika events to both trade exhibitors and visitors alike.

"We are honoured that this global group has recognised the value we have added in promoting Australian participation in Automechanika trade fairs. We are confident that closer collaboration through this agreement will deliver significant benefits to AAAA members and Messe Frankfurt”.

Automechanika Brand Manager Michael Johannes said: “We have great potential for a successful collaboration and I am very happy we can intensify our international cooperation program. More than 40 international and national supporters assist us and our 13 Automechanika Fairs worldwide."

Automechanika is the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive industry. It is held every two years at the Messe Frankfurt fairground, and at other venues of exhibition affiliates and partners around the world. New events include New Delhi (introduced in February 2013 and to be next held in February 2015) and Kiev (the launch is planned for 21-23 May 2015).

The AAAA agreement with Messe Frankfurt was signed at the Automechanika Johannesburg trade fair on 9 May 2013 and commences immediately with the AAAA leading an Australian exhibitor delegation to the Automechanika Dubai event scheduled for 11 to 13 June, 2013.