Dec. 16, 2014—Buyer attendance at the 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) in Las Vegas increased in key target buyer categories identified by the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), with independent repair shops leading the way with the largest growth at 12 percent.
Attendance also increased in AAPEX’s target buyer categories of auto retailers, warehouse distributors (WD) - heavy-duty truck, and tool and equipment dealers.
AAPEX and The SEMA Show make up AAIW.
Additional highlights from this year’s event include:
• The number of domestic buyers was up more than 2,000 from last year for a total of 46,267 for AAIW.
• International buyers grew to 15,243. Exhibitors and buyers attended from 141 foreign countries.
• AAPEX exhibitors totaled 2,364 with 5,343 booths. This year, AAPEX had 580 new exhibitors.
• Educational and professional development continued to expand this year with 3,348 industry professionals attending 50 sessions offered through AAPEXedu.
“AAPEX 2014 was one of the best, if not the best AAPEX ever, for so many reasons,” Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, said in a release. “From the quantity and quality of key attendees and record participation at education sessions to hitting a homerun with the new general session featuring Steve Forbes and other successful activities, the AAPEX experience for was an industry-wide win. We are already working exciting new plans and enhancements for AAPEX 2015.”
AAPEX was held Nov. 4–6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.
AAPEX 2015, which will return to the Sands, begins Nov. 2 with education sessions. The show opens on the Nov. 3 and runs through Nov. 5.
