*** Updated to include additional comment from Messe Frankfurt UK ***
Organisers of Automechanika Birmingham have confirmed that the UK show will now take place in 2023, following the postponement of the larger Automechanika Frankfurt event.
In 2019, Messe Frankfurt UK announced that Automechanika Birmingham would switch to a biennial event, running in concurrent years to the Frankfurt show. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has caused much disruption to these plans. Automechanika Frankfurt 2020 did not take place, with the show being pushed back a year – forcing Automechanika Birmingham to postpone until 2022.
Last month, Automechanika Frankfurt was downgraded to a ‘hybrid’ event for this year with a minimal physical presence and a focus on digital events. It was also announced that a physical show would take place in 2022 at Messe Frankfurt instead.
This inevitably led to questions around the running of Automechanika Birmingham. Organisers have now confirmed that the event will take place on the 6-8 June 2023 at the Birmingham NEC.
The announcement comes following discussions with customers and the wider UK market, many of whom would not want the two big events to clash. ‘The show will then return to its biennial frequency, alternating years with Automechanika Frankfurt,” Mese Frankfurt UK said in a release. “Whilst we have not been able to host Automechanika Birmingham in recent times, we thoroughly look forward to gathering the UK automotive industry once again in 2023 and hope that you’ll join us.”
Presence remains
Following the first postponement of Automechanika Birmingham, Messe Frankfurt UK launched the online auto:resource platform, giving the aftermarket a place to connect in the virtual world.
The organisers also understand that four-years without a large-scale trade event is a long time. Having received feedback from tool and equipment suppliers, manufacturers, garage and bodyshops, research is currently underway on holding a smaller specialist garage and bodyshop event in 2022.
Continuing disruption
Simon Albert, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt UK, said: “We could never have imagined that when we closed the doors to a successful Automechanika Birmingham in 2019, it would be four years until the next edition. Despite these acutely challenging times, we will continue to support the automotive industry by running quality events at the right time for our partners. It has been clear from our conversations with suppliers that the industry has missed events and we look forward to providing them again soon.
“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the way the automotive industry, and garages in particular, have consumed content has expanded, with a growing number visiting online and digital platforms to find out information on a raft of issues affecting their business. That is why we created www.autoresource.co.uk to further serve the market.
While life in the UK is slowly getting back to normal, with numerous automotive events planned in the coming weeks and months, the same cannot be said for the situation on the continent.
The postponement of a larger physical Automechania Frankfurt was not a surprise, given the rising case numbers and slower vaccine rollout in Germany. There are also questions around this year’s IAA motor show being held in Munich, with no announcement on whether this will also become a more hybrid event.
Running Automechanika Birmingham in consecutive years to the larger Frankfurt show gives the industry an opportunity to split it presence, and ultimately means UK garage owners and technicians can make more of their visit to the NEC. While this announcement could be met with some questions about why a show cannot take place in 2021 (even if it is later in the year), to do so would exclude a number of larger European companies from attending due to the COVID-19 situation in their countries. Even if it were logistically possible.
Therefore, while it is a shame that Automechanika Birmingham will not take place until 2023, it makes sense. Holding another event in the meantime means the industry will not miss out as it build back from the disruption caused by the pandemic.
