Across three days at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, 13,282 visitors participated in the combined Expos, experiencing the best the industry has to offer. With world-class training and a plethora of awe-inspiring innovations and product offers, visitors left both events armed to charge into the future with new skills, ideas and opportunities.
“I am incredibly excited about the success of the 2024 Auto Aftermarket Expo and Collision Repair Expo. The vibe was electric in the packed halls, and feedback from visitors has been off the charts. The number and quality of exhibitors was amazing, as was the popularity of our expanded training programs and features. Expo ’24 was a truly remarkable and extremely valuable trade event,” said Stuart Charity, CEO of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA).
The Expo was officially opened on Thursday 11 April 2024 by Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Federal Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury. Andrew was joined by Stuart Charity - AAAA CEO, Wayne Bryant – AAAA Board Chairman, Bill Hanvey – CEO Auto Care Association (USA) and Gino Ricciuti – APMEC Chairman, to launch the Expo.
With over 400 exhibitors representing the entire automotive aftermarket supply chain, attendees were treated to a showcase of the latest tools, technology, parts, and services. Exhibitors, both big and small, presented their offerings through captivating stands while actively engaging with trade visitors, fostering networking opportunities, and cultivating business relationships.
“Our objective was to show visitors how incredible our industry is and give them access to new skills, products, equipment, experts, offers and opportunities - all under one roof. The trade show floor encompassed renowned brands, sought-after training, and avenues for career and business advancement. This is a fundamental role of the AAAA, and we are very proud of our contribution to fostering industry growth through this event. The Expo has exceeded expectations across all our key measurables and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Stuart.
Capricorn’s ‘pit stop’ provided over 2,000 free coffees for attendees across the three days.
“Capricorn is all about helping our Members and Preferred Suppliers to build stronger businesses, and what better way to build community and networks than over a cup of coffee?” David Fraser, Capricorn Group CEO says.
“It was wonderful to have many Members, Preferred Suppliers and friends of Capricorn stop by and say hello.”
Training was a central feature of the 2024 Expo, with the delivery of world-class, comprehensive training sessions covering advanced diagnostics, EV training, business management, collision repair and much more.
The ground-breaking Business Education Program covered the most important automotive business topics, led by many of Australia’s leading aftermarket voices and respected subject matter experts, as well as Auto Care Association USA President and CEO, Bill Hanvey. Subjects covered the latest aftermarket trends, how to address the industry skills shortage, marketing and much more, with many sessions filled to capacity.
Capricorn’s CEO Automotive Bradley Gannon talked about the benefits of taking a break as part of the panel discussion on Saturday.
“Capricorn State of the Nation research shows that having a good work/life balance and finding time to take a break are two of the biggest challenges facing the industry.”
“The panel discussed the benefits of taking time away from work and provided some tips on how to get ready for leave. It was a really positive discussion and the perfect way to finish off a wonderful couple of days.” Brad says.
The best and brightest of the automotive aftermarket industry were celebrated and formally recognised at the Auto Aftermarket Innovation Awards breakfast and the Australian Auto Aftermarket Excellence Awards Banquet. These outstanding events helped to create an unforgettable 3 days for the auto aftermarket industry.
“I want to sincerely thank all of our incredible exhibitors, our world-class speakers who came from across the globe and around Australia, and the record number of visitors who showed their commitment to the future of our industry by taking time out of their businesses to attend – the passion and dedication shown by everyone involved has been brilliant,” said Stuart.
“I’d like to acknowledge and express my gratitude for the support of Auto Aftermarket Expo Major Sponsor Repco, and Collision Repair Expo Major Sponsor SAPE Group, and all of our valued partners and sponsors who helped us to deliver this amazing industry event.”
“I’d also like to thank the AAAA Board, the amazing AAAA team and the MSE events team for their relentless work bringing this incredible event to life. We are now looking forward to Autocare in Brisbane in 2025.”
Capricorn was proud to be a sponsor of the event. The next Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo and Collision Repair Expo will take place in 2026.
