Largest Business Gathering Since September 11 Is Huge Success For Automotive Aftermarket Industry

LAS VEGAS – The automotive aftermarket industry demonstrated its resolve to get back to business this week by holding the largest business gathering in North America since September 11. Approximately 70,000 people attended the two trade shows that comprise the annual Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.
Show organizers report that attendees from 124 foreign countries participated in the two trade shows: the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the SEMA Show*ITE.

Feedback from AAPEX exhibitors was extremely positive. Many noted the high caliber of buyers who came prepared to do business, according to Christopher Bates, president and CEO of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and Alfred L. Gaspar, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

“At the SEMA Show*ITE where we had nearly 1,000 project show cars and trucks and almost 700 new products competing for our ‘best of show awards,’ our show aisles were filled with buyers doing business until the show floor lights were turned off every day,” said Charles R. Blum, president of the Specialty Equipment Market Association.

The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) shows are organized by a coalition of trade associations comprised of AAIA, MEMA and SEMA. The 2001 AAIW was the tenth consecutive industry show collaboration.