Business & Money | Monday 24 February, 2020 5:53 pm |

H.E. Engineer Mansour Abdullah Al-Shathri, Vice Chairman of Riyadh Chamber, today opened Automechanika Riyadh, the biennial Saudi edition of the world’s most successful automotive aftermarket trade fair, with key international players focusing their sights on a resurgent local market bolstered by the new female customer segment.

 

The three-day show runs at the Al Faisaliah Hotel from 24-26 February, with major international players looking to enter the market or upgrade their local product range, buoyed by news that Saudi auto deals grew approximately 40% last year with female buyers accounting for between 10-15% of sales after the landmark decision to allow women to drive.   

 

Two major USA players – disc pad producer Giant Manufacturing and United Motors Mopar – the Kingdom’s sole distributor of cars brands Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Fiat, have forecast a bullish market over the next few years during the opening day of Automechanika Riyadh. 

 

Giant’s Vice President Eli Youssian believes car sales in the Kingdom will grow by 9% a year until 2025 while United Motors District CEO Hassan Elshamarani expects another three million female drivers to be on the Kingdom’s roads by the end of the year with the aftermarket being a key beneficiary. 

 

Both Giant Manufacturing and United Motors Mopar launched new products at the show. The former rolled out its new German-engineered, resilient and quiet Euro Premium Metallic Disc brake pads while United Motors introduced its Magneti Marelli spare parts.

 

The high potential of the new-look Saudi automotive landscape has also struck a major chord with Korean suppliers, who are part of a national pavilion at Automechanika Riyadh. 

 

The pavilion will house new-to-market entrants and existing suppliers all looking for business partners to service maturing growth. With products from wiper blades, to filters, air-conditioning parts and brake pads, the Korean contingent is positive about the Kingdom’s prospects. 

 

One exhibitor, D Only Automotive is looking to ring fence 10% of the Saudi brake market. “With more vehicles on the road, demand for brakes will increase, we believe this is possible,” said D Only Automotive President Jeon JaeWon.

 

Global research and analytics firm, Aranca – Automechanika’s knowledge partner – has forecast that Saudi Arabia’s automotive spare parts and service market will grow at approximately 6% CAGR over the next five years to reach a value of US$10.15 billion by 2023. 

 

“The spare parts and service market for passenger cars alone is expected to eclipse US$6.9 billion value by 2023,” said Vishal Sanghavi, Aranca’s Automotive Practice Head.

 

The growth potential will be fiercely contested and has seen Automechanika Riyadh attract leading global suppliers from 12 countries, showcasing 1000’s of products across six aftermarket product groups of Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customizing, Repair & Maintenance, Tyres & Batteries, and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning.

 

“International suppliers are stepping up their marketing for the resurgence in Saudi’s market and this impacts the entire supply chain,” said Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Show Director for Automechanika Riyadh. 

 

“While there is growth potential in the market, it is becoming a more competitive landscape and one which will also have to contend with evolving customer preferences. This could lead to a major overhaul in aftersales activities to gain competitive advantage. The conditions are ripe for new business relationships for those wishing to succeed in this transformative environment.”

 

The regional arm of the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser – Messe Frankfurt – licences the Automechanika brand to event organisers ACE Group. 

 

Automechanika Riyadh is one of 16 instalments of the global brand. The next regional event will be Automechanika Dubai, running 7-9 June 2020 at Dubai World Trade Centre.  More information is available at: https://www.automechanikariyadh.com/