International. From November 22 to 24, 2022, the international automotive industry will once again gather at the Dubai World Trade Center to explore new business opportunities and climb new heights.
According to the organizers, after a hugely successful edition in 2021, Automechanika Dubai is ready for a much bigger show in 2022.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Automechanika Dubai 2021 brought together 20,574 visitors from 129 countries, with 578 exhibitors from 47 countries and 12 official pavilions. The exhibitor survey noted that 95% of exhibitors will return for this year's version.
This will be a space for representatives from different countries to reconnect and engage in serious trade talks, sign new agreements, explore new partnerships and stay updated on the latest market trends.
Growth forecast in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa's automotive aftermarket is poised for a decade of growth, according to a report commissioned by Messe Frankfurt, organizer of Automechanika Dubai.
It recommends industry players keep track of emerging opportunities on the continent and move fast to take advantage of being first.
The report points to Africa's population growth as an engine of growth. The continent is expected to host 2.4 billion people by 2050 and Africa's working-age population, a key driver of economic growth, is expected to increase exponentially and by that year surpass that of China and be three times that of the European Union.
"In the automotive context, this means a huge demand for transporting people and goods, especially around the continent's ever-growing urban centers," the paper states.
The study predicts that Africa's current vehicle fleet of around 50 million units will grow substantially over the next decade, with the vehicle fleet in key markets more than doubling until 2040, when most of the growth will continue to come from imported vehicles.
"Used vehicles depend on the U.S. and Europe in West Africa and Japan in East Africa, which means they are likely to change the type of vehicles and their characteristics. In addition, their source may also change as fleets grow in other emerging regions," the report adds.
Automechanika Dubai Show Director Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen said Dubai has long been the supply hub for Africa, "and for the automotive aftermarket, Automechanika Dubai is seen as the hub of origin for new products, services and trade partnerships."
"The dedicated AfricaConnections section of the show, which connects African buyers with global suppliers, is a premier commercial enabler to take advantage of these emerging opportunities," he said.
