The UK's £56.5bn aftermarket sector is set to take the spotlight
at Automechanika
Birmingham this week (3-5 June), one of
the largest aftermarket trade shows. More than 550 leading
brands, suppliers and stakeholders will come together to promote
the strength, scale, and innovation of this vital contributor to
the economy and growth. Spanning vehicle maintenance and repair,
wholesale and retail of parts and accessories, its importance and
contribution is significant.
There are more than 56,500 aftermarket businesses operating
across the UK sector today, delivering £16.1 billion in Gross
Value Added (GVA) and supporting 346,000 jobs. 1
Having done much to ensure vital vehicles were kept on the road
during the pandemic, business activity is now ahead of pre-Covid
levels. Despite broader economic pressures, UK households'
spending on spares and maintenance reached £21.6 billion last
year, reflecting resilient demand for vehicle upkeep and mobility
and the business opportunities that exist in the aftermarket.
2
To help deliver new business for companies across the entire
automotive sector, from aftermarket to supply chain, SMMT's Meet
the Buyer event also returns to Automechanika Birmingham on 4
June. The annual event facilitates direct engagement between
suppliers and major buyers, driving growth and supporting jobs.
This year's edition will feature a wide range of buyers including
volume, luxury, commercial and off-highway vehicle manufacturers.
Over 50 product types are being sought, from traditional parts
and components through to next generation EV technologies. More
than 200 companies have expressed interest in taking part and
hundreds of meetings are expected to be delivered in an intense
day.
In addition, SMMT will debut its Meet the Van Accessories event
at the show, taking place on the last day. This provides a unique
opportunity not only for Light Commercial Vehicle OEMs to meet
van converters, but anyone that is interested in adding a piece
of kit to their vans in the aftermarket – including racking and
locks, as well as the chance to build business partnerships. Many
LCV manufacturers have a Van Partner or Recognition scheme, so
this event will be a platform to introduce not only van
converters but also companies that produce van accessories to
OEMs to join their scheme.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive,
said: “The UK aftermarket is a cornerstone of
Britain's economy and automotive industry – supporting hundreds
of thousands of skilled jobs, delivering billions in value and
ensuring the safety and sustainability of our vehicle fleet. As
we transition towards zero emission mobility, the aftermarket's
role becomes even more critical. Automechanika Birmingham and
Meet the Buyer are powerful showcases, demonstrating the
innovation, expertise, and collaboration that will drive the
sector to meet our net zero goals.”
As one of the key events in the automotive calendar and taking
place at a pivotal moment for an industry navigating significant
uncertainty, Automechanika Birmingham is an unmissable event.
Bringing together a broad spectrum of attendees, from OEMs to
distributors, as well as more than 15,000 UK based senior
leaders, the trade show creates an invaluable opportunity for
networking and learning, as well as offering exclusive access to
a variety of new product launches and a revamped Automotive
Supply Chain Forum.
Notes to Editors
1 ONS Annual Business Survey, data
to 2022 – covering SIC45.2, 45.31 and 45.32 and employment from
ONS NOMIS.
2 ONS Consumer trends, UK: October to
December 2024.
