A successful first edition

22/11/2023
Positive results for Futurmotive - Expo & Talks, the trade fair dedicated to the mobility of the future at the Bologna Exhibition Centre
 
The future of mobility calls, the automotive sector responds. The two exhibitions that packed the Bologna Exhibition Centre last week have just come to a close: Futurmotive – Expo & Talks, the spin-off of Autopromotec (that took place from 16 to 18 November in Halls 14 and 19) which was centred around the themes of energy and ecological transition as well as innovations in the automotive sector; and E-CHARGE, the exhibition dedicated to the electric vehicle recharging chain, infrastructures and related services that occupied Hall 16.
 
A total of 302 participating companies took part in the two events; the number of industry professionals who attended the exhibitions confirms the huge interest in the topics covered at both: a total of 8,505 presences were registered.
 
At Futurmotive – Expo & Talks, in particular, 44 operators from foreign markets were welcomed thanks to the support of MAECI - Ministry of Cooperation and International Affairs and ICE - Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalisation of Italian companies: 120 meetings were held in the International Delegates and B2B Area located in Hall 14. To meet the needs of the event, the operator profile was focused on automotive OEMs (start-ups and innovative SMEs) with new product or service solutions on new technologies such as electrification, micro-mobility, autonomous driving and connected vehicle. The objective was to create one-to-one meetings aimed at technology transfer to the Italian OEM and car designer supply chain. Important in this respect was the collaboration with ANFIA - Italian Association of the Automotive Industry. Again thanks to the support of the Institutions, it was possible to carry out (within the two pavilions of Futurmotive - Expo & Talks) the Innovation Walk project. As part of the latter, through a series of “stations”, some of the most important innovative products and services dedicated to the energy transition developed by Italian companies were presented. The companies involved in the project, 16 in total, belong to the OEM, aftermarket and shared mobility services sectors. Again thanks to the support of MAECI and ICE - Agency, two Innovation Workshop Arenas were set up within the two pavilions of Futurmotive, dedicated to in-depth discussions organised by companies, trade associations and sector bodies. Space was also given to start-ups in the mobility sector, reached in cooperation with WMF - We Make Future and Motor Valley Accelerator, which had the opportunity to present themselves to the Futurmotive audience in two Pitch 'n Match events hosted within the Innovation Workshop Arena in Hall 14.
 
The institutional conferences included in the Futurmotive Talks programme were also well attended, bringing together leading representatives from institutions, research centres, universities and the automotive industry. Futurmotive - Expo & Talks also hosted the first edition of FAAS Sustainability Day, an event organised by the Forum on Automotive Aftermarket Sustainability (FAAS), an organisation that brings together the most important trade associations at European level, CLEPA and FIGIEFA.
This was a first edition that leaves us fully satisfied from all points of view: the response from companies in the sector - and beyond - was more than positive, and the same goes for the operators who visited the exhibition. As always, we have to thank the Institutions, MAECI - Ministry of Cooperation and International Affairs, ICE - Agency for the promotion abroad and internationalisation of Italian companies, and the Emilia-Romagna Region, for having supported us in this new experience from the very beginning. Special thanks on our part go to ANFIA, which as a partner in the initiative has contributed in terms of content and more: an important partnership, which once again demonstrates how our sector must proceed united in going through this moment of revolution”, commented Renzo Servadei, CEO of Autopromotec.
 
Having concluded the event at Futurmotive - Expo & Talks, the organisers are already looking forward to the next edition of Autopromotec, which will celebrate its 30th edition from 21 to 24 May 2025.