Admin
The 2023 edition of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre returned with a clear ambition of promoting opportunities for growth and development in the regional automotive industry.
Strategic and industry partners also displayed their market positions with a diverse range of exhibits, resources, and knowledge to promote Malaysia’s thriving automotive industry. Exhibitor numbers increased by 13%, while visitor numbers increased by 46% to 10,267, with many participants travelling from the surrounding region, indicating a strong push for growth and development.
Ms Fiona Chiew, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd said she was happy to see that the market is bouncing back in such a dynamic and active way
“Thanks to our close-knit network, we were able to recognise how global trends are taking shape in the region and communicate them in easily accessible ways. The main feedback we had from participants was that the rapid rate of advancement has led to assessing products and supply chains more regularly to meet ongoing consumer needs and ensure cost-efficient operational models. Because of this, Automechanika Kuala Lumpur offered an ideal platform for collaboration and trade. Likewise, having the advantage of attracting car owners to the show meant we extended the conversation one step further by putting buyers and suppliers directly in front of end-users.” Fiona said.
New partnerships across the fairground
This year, the show saw a range of new and existing partners descend to the fairground, each building up the coverage of the passenger and commercial vehicle sectors. The 16 strategic and industry partners included ADTEC, ALIENTECH, Caltex Delo, Celette, CL Group, EMG, Hot Wheels, JTM, LAUNCH, Leng Kee Auto Academy, Magic Cube, Pac Auto Marketing, SATA, Schmaco, Vanli, and ZF.
The combination of important organisations and vocational institutions highlighted the development of safety, transformation, talent, efficiency and sustainability in the industry.
On this note, 24 local and overseas supporting bodies brought their networks to the show, offering an assembly point for six association meetings. Dato’ Ng Koong Sinn, President of the Malaysia Trucking Federation, noted that the main objective of the meeting was to gather opinions from various operators across the country and dissect key topics that may then go to the relevant authorities for action.
“We also aim to raise awareness of new technologies amongst our members. Automechanika Kuala Lumpur can actually bring these two aspects together. It is important to open our minds to digitalisation, autonomous driving and new energy trends to go with current and future changes. And so, the add-on events and conferences are highly recommendable in the sense that they bring in knowledge and new perspectives to prepare the market.” Dato’ Ng said.
Internationalism at Automechanika Kuala Lumpur’s return
The show was a hotspot for sourcing with buyers from 76 overseas countries and regions like Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE, the UK, Vietnam and more.
Ms Cory Tham, Senior Sourcing Manager – SE Asia from GPC Asia Pacific, highlighted: “I am visiting the trade fair as my company is diversifying its procurement procedures. Southeast Asia has some strategic advantages regarding price and location for products in the passenger and commercial vehicle sectors. While this includes meeting up with current suppliers in Malaysia, the platform is a great opportunity to find new partners from the region and benchmark our current product range. The show is beneficial in providing a gateway to the local market as I can connect with many suppliers in a short space of time.”
Global brands like Brembo and TecAlliance also drew attention to their solutions and strategic advantages in the regional aftermarket. For example, Mr Chew Yee Liew, Sales Lead Asia Pacific from TecAlliance, expressed: “With our proven expertise, we can help to digitalise the Southeast Asian aftermarket supply chain. Our data management solution offers standardised information about car parts, which can improve the efficiency and flow of information across manufacturers, brand owners, distributors and workshops.”
The Italian exhibitor, Mr Marco Trupiano, Managing Director of My Supercar Expert, also found: “Over the past three days, I have had many productive business conversations with visitors from Malaysia, as well as Australia, Bangladesh, Singapore, the UK, and all over Southeast Asia in general. My company provides the knowledge, support, and devices for fixing European cars, as everyone has the right to repair them instead of relying on OEMs. There is definitely a niche in Southeast Asia for this, so we joined the fair to create a presence in the aftermarket amongst independent workshops and car owners.”
Capturing trends in the Malaysian market
The show highlighted three important categories that are poised for significant growth as a result of the rise of digitalisation and electrification. The Electric Vehicle, Auto Service and Maintenance, and Commercial Vehicle Zones were popular with attendees, with exhibitors saying that customers were very focused and clear in their requirements.
Mr Chia See Yong, General Manager of Launch Future (M) SDN BHD, said: “The visitor traffic to our booth was very strong. Many were interested in our electric vehicle scanners and solutions for ADAS calibration; therefore, it was pleasing to have buyers place orders during the show. Electric vehicles are undoubtedly one of the biggest trends creating new demands for automotive services and maintenance equipment. With this in mind, training mechanics on repairing and maintaining electric cars is fundamental, and I believe Automechanika Kuala Lumpur can support this development. The combination of the EV Zone and Collision Repair Training Workshop helped introduce the technologies underpinning market transformation.”
Praise all around for the vibrant fringe events
The Digitalisation and Electrification Business Networking Event, Fleet Management Conference and AutoFEST@KL embodied Malaysia’s transformation. The collection of highly influential speakers created a dialogue about capturing opportunities and facing challenges in the regional market.
This included experts from Chevron Malaysia Limited, Continental Tyre PJ Malaysia Sdn Bhd, The National ESG Association of Malaysia, Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Traders Association (MCVTA), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia Trucking Federation (MTF), Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), NanoMalaysia, Pos Malaysia Berhad, and Slimstock Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
Mr Kenny Lee, Regional Account Manager at Safe Truck Sdn Bhd, said, “These networking sessions and conferences are great ways of exploring trends as transporters are accepting these technologies very fast because they know there is a need to upgrade.”
Over 200 people attended the Collision Repair Training Workshop. The sessions were highly commended since trainers applied academic knowledge to real-life scenarios. Many people enjoyed that the training covered developing themes in electric vehicle repair and maintenance. ZF, for example, discussed high voltage systems, Launch and Leng Kee Auto Academy discussed ADAS calibration, Celette discussed measuring systems, and Alientech discussed ECU repair and tuning. CL Group and Magic Cube also discussed new business forms and management solutions for chain stores.
Ms Michelle Leong, Manager of Hoi Keen Auto Spray Sdn Bhd, a workshop participant, pointed out: “This is my second time attending as there are not many professional courses in Kuantan, where my workshop is based. I brought along a few employees as I would like them to know how to repair and maintain electric vehicles safely. In between sessions, I also explored exhibitor booths as I intend to upgrade our equipment based on the topics just discussed. Asides from the hands-on training, the marketing and corporate culture session was very interesting. It made me think about some new ways to engage staff. The speaker, a local celebrity in our field, spoke about feasible ways to integrate social media into our communication channels.”
A variety of automobile activities were also available during AutoFest@KL. The EMMA Malaysia Final – Car Audio and Modifications Competition, for instance, featured over 80 cars showcasing the nation’s creativity and skill in auto customization.
Living up to their name, Hot Wheels were in even hotter demand. Many attendees enjoyed winning merchandise from social media and buying items off the racks from reputable brands across the fairground. Products from other exhibitors included wrapping, accessories, and perfumes.
Meanwhile, the Auto NITZ Party saw exhibitors, visitors and car enthusiasts celebrate the return of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur. After a busy day, partygoers enjoyed bonding with their colleagues and forming strong relationships with new and existing partners.
The next edition of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur will take place from 8 to 10 May 2025. It will incorporate new themes like motorsports and high-performance technologies in the market.
For more information, please visit www.automechanika-kl.com
CJMY
