Advanstar Communications, Messe Frankfurt Team Up to Launch Automechanika Chicago

April 30, 2014

Germany-based Messe Frankfurt will launch the 14th event in their worldwide Automechanika series in partnership with Calif.-based Advanstar Communications next year in Chicago.

The new show, Automechanika Chicago, will be held April 24-26 at Chicago’s McCormick Place and serve a steadily growing U.S. automotive aftermarket.

"We are excited about our partnership with Advanstar,” said Detlef Braun, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt.

He added, “Our combined experience in launching successful events only strengthens our ability to service this untapped niche within the automotive aftermarket industry.”

Messe Frankfurt has Automechanika-branded shows not only in Germany, but also around the world in places such as Dubai and Shanghai.

Advanstar has more than 50 trade shows, 100 conferences, 30 publications, and 200 electronic products and websites, including auto industry brands Aftermarket Business World, ABRN, Motor Age and SearchAutoParts.com.

“Anyone who has attended any Automechanika show around the world knows the power of that brand in the automotive industry,” said Joe Loggia, Advanstar CEO.

He added, “Teaming with them on Automechanika Chicago gives us a chance to share our expertise as trade show producers by utilizing the Advanstar Automotive Group’s ability to connect daily with hundreds of thousands of shop owners and technicians. This partnership is a perfect way for us to engage those readers and draw them to Chicago for a one-of-a-kind event.”

The announcement was made earlier this week in Chicago with the city's mayor, Rahm Emanuel, alongside Don Welsh, who heads Chhose Chicago, and representatives from Messe Frankfurt and Advanstar.

“By choosing Chicago for Automechanika next year, a great international convention comes to a great international city,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Our tremendous trade shows and conventions are a key economic driver, playing an important role to reach our tourism goal of 55 million visitors annually by 2020."

Automechanika Chicago will showcase the newest tools, equipment and products in the market and will be the largest U.S. trade show dedicated to high-end technical training and management classes for automotive technicians and shop owners.

The show will be held biannually in Chicago, which was chosen because of its central location in the United States, according to show organizers.

“The fact that an established international show has chosen Chicago to launch its first U.S.-based show speaks volumes and is further evidence that when we all work together, the economic benefit to the city will continue to grow,” Welsh said.

Automechanika Chicago joins another Advanstar show - All-New Dealer Expo - that signed on in Chicago for 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Show organizers said they expect 20,000 attendees at the debut Automechanika Chicago event.

“Automechanika Chicago will be designed specifically for shop owners and technicians as we seek to make it the largest training event ever produced in the U.S. marketplace,” said Chris DeMoulin, Advanstar Auto Group’s executive vice president.

He added, “Attendees will find a show floor packed with the latest products and innovations for independent shop owners and technicians and get top-notch classroom and hands-on training.”

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