CAPAS 2019 supporting industry developments

A growing local economy and higher personal income across Southwest China has led to a surge of car ownership in the region. Reports suggest there are now more than 24 million vehicles on the road. As a result of these developments, the aftermarket sector is now thriving and holds significant growth opportunities for the local automotive industry.

Even still, as an outcome of the highly competitive market, companies are now facing a variety of new challenges. Service providers must try to keep up with current trends in order to sustain business growth and maintain profit level in such a dynamic environment. Accordingly, businesses are under more and more pressure to deliver a higher standard of service by improving their technical and operational capabilities.

CAPAS is therefore committed to supporting industry developments in Southwest China, and since its debut back in 2014, the event has quickly become an essential automotive hub for key players. It provides an array of opportunities for participants to expand business networks, share insights and learn the latest industry knowledge. The fair also attracts those who are looking to drive investment and promote growth across the region.

The show shines a light on growing trends, one of which is the rise in online services for customers across the automotive industry. This shift in consumer behaviour has encouraged more transparency in terms of product offerings, and at the same time, has created more flexibility within the various channels of the supply chain. Distributors are now facing increased pressure to expand their products and services, and collaborate with a wider range of suppliers, while also extending their sales network to maintain growth and increase market share.

As such, the 2019 show will offer more support for distributors from the southwest region and welcome these players to exhibit at the fair. Taking advantage of the show’s extensive resources in the regional market, the participation will allow them to gain a deeper understanding of the industry trends. Results from the previous editions’ survey showed 40% of visitors were from the repair and service workshops. Therefore, exhibiting distributors can discover new leads with these professionals, while tapping into a more comprehensive product mix with other exhibiting upper stream manufacturers.

Elsewhere, organisers are delighted to announce that the Automotive Auto Parts Industry Association of Chengdu (AAPIA) will join the list of supporting organisations this year. The association has a strong network of distributors throughout the region, of whom will attend this year’s show to connect with manufacturers and workshops across Sichuan.

Mr Xu Qiang, Chairman of AAPIA, said: “Through participating at trade fairs like CAPAS, distributors will be able to connect with new customers, as well as strengthen relationships with existing partners through the organised onsite activities. Furthermore, CAPAS attracts a huge number of repair workshop visitors, who are a key target customer for our distributors. As an industry organisation as well as one of the supporters for CAPAS, we are looking forward to inviting many of our members who are hoping to build relationships with a variety of different visitors across the show.”

The latest edition of CAPAS will feature seven updated zones to demonstrate a complete range of product offerings and help maximise the participants’ overall experience. The Made in Sichuan zone will also be returning to highlight provincial developments as the region is a crucial procurement and manufacturing centre for parts suppliers. Visitors will see pavilions from major automotive manufacturing cities and local corporations displaying their strengths and position in the market. Through these means, the zone is a key driver to encourage new investment around the region, while also helping local corporations expand their businesses to other markets.

Other zones in this year’s line-up include Parts & Components, Commercial Vehicles, Accessories & Customising, Repair, Supply Chain & Chain Stores, E-mobility & Infrastructure and the new Tyres sector.