Overseas success for the Italian automotive aftermarket supply chain in Las Vegas at SEMA Show and AAPEX
11/11/2024
In accordance with the consolidated tradition of the last years, two prestigious Italian collective areas have been organised at the renowned trade fairs dedicated to the automotive aftermarket in the United States: SEMA Show and AAPEX, which recently ended. An initiative carried out by ICE Agenzia with the valuable support of ANFIA and AICA and the collaboration of Autopromotec, whose next edition will be held from 21 to 24 May 2025 at the Bologna Exhibition Centre. The project aimed to create solid and lasting connections between the excellence of Made in Italy automotive and the dynamic North American market.The first appointment was at the SEMA Show, held from 5 to 8 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is one of the world's most important events for automotive aftermarket professionals, offering the opportunity to meet manufacturers of components, equipment and accessories to improve the safety, performance, comfort and aesthetics of cars, commercial vehicles and SUVs. The event hosted around 70,000 buyers and over 2,400 exhibiting companies, including the 10 companies present at the Italian pavilion, through the collective coordinated by ICE Agenzia: Bracchi Ruote, Evo Corse, Fasep 2000, Fiammenghi Italia, Frap, Govoni, HM4X4, M&B Engineering, Teknel and Zeca.
Simultaneously, from 5 to 7 November, AAPEX took place in the halls of the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, where the previous edition was attended by 47,000 buyers and over 2,500 exhibiting companies. Here, aftermarket auto parts dealers, distributors, auto parts warehouses, technicians, service chains, automotive dealers, paint/body shop personnel, leaders and innovators of the automotive aftermarket industry are the key players. Within this dynamic context, the Italy Pavilion successfully hosted 12 companies: Air Top Italia, Errecom, Esi Italia, Fiamm Energy Technology, Gart, Geicos Group, General Cab, Lopigom, Metelli-Graf, Nordic Jones, S.I.RA.L. and UFI Filters.
The US automotive aftermarket grew by 8.6% in 2023 and is expected to grow by 5.9% in 2024. From 2025 to 2027, the average growth rate is estimated to be about 4.5% per year, reaching $472 billion by 2027. The industry comprises more than 534,000 companies, including small and large independent manufacturers, distributors, repair shops, dealers and retailers. The industry provides repair products and services for 288 million vehicles on the road (including light, medium and heavy duty vehicles). The value of aftermarket parts sold in the US reached $200 billion in 2023. The top 5 supplier countries to the US for vehicle and engine parts are Mexico, with a 41% share, Canada (13%), China (12%), Japan (9%) and South Korea (7%). Italy is in 10th place with a 1% share. On the other hand, as far as equipment is concerned, the top 5 suppliers to the USA are Germany with a 15% share, Canada (13%), Mexico (10%), South Korea (9%) and China (9%). Italy is in 9th place with a 3% share. (Source: ICE processing of Trade Data Monitor data).
ANFIA Director General Gianmarco Giorda: ‘According to the ANFIA Aftermarket Barometer, an internal statistical survey of the Association's Components Group that provides an indicative trend of the automotive parts market on a monthly basis, the turnover of the IAM supply chain in Italy, i.e. of component manufacturers to the IAM distribution world, will grow by 11.6% in 2023. All product families considered show a positive change. In the first half of 2024, turnover growth is 4.2% and all families remain positive. The after-sales sector is competitive and is also affected by the energy transition, which is pushing it to invest in new technologies and skills and to keep the quality and level of customer service high.
Renzo Servadei, Managing Director of Autopromotec concludes: ‘We see this initiative as a valuable opportunity to bring Italian and American operators closer together in an atmosphere of sharing and mutual inspiration. We are confident that the ground is fertile for creating stable partnerships that will encourage overseas professionals to attend the next edition of Autopromotec."
