Automechanika comes to Birmingham to match manufacturing boost
The growth in UK automotive manufacturing has attracted one of the world’s most respected automotive trade events to add a UK date to the 2016 calendar. Messe Frankfurt in partnership with the SMMT have announced they will be bringing Automechanika to the N.E.C in Birmingham from 7 to 9 June next year. The event which is expected to attract 5,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors will be coming to the UK for the first time.
This news follows the announcement of the surge in Commercial Vehicle (CV) production by UK manufacturers and the addition of this event reflects the UK’s position as a global centre of excellence in the automotive industry. Automechanika attracts automotive suppliers and aftermarket companies to meet national and international buyers and develop business opportunities with both overseas and UK buyers.
Detlef Braun, Messe Frankfurt’s Member of the Executive Board, stated, ‘This is the first event in the company’s successful history of international development to be held by Messe Frankfurt in the United Kingdom. We have conducted extensive research at our Frankfurt show, which informed us that there was a huge appetite for an event which focuses on the buoyant UK automotive sector. In SMMT we have a strong supporter to help us deliver an exceptional event.’
The APC welcomed the news of further overseas collaboration as it continues to receive applications for the current grant funding competition. Up to £60 million is currently available to support low carbon advanced propulsion projects worth more than £120 million through the current funding competition which opened on 5 May and runs until the end of June.
The competition is called ‘APC4 Driving UK Capability and Economic Impact through Low Carbon Propulsion Technologies’ for projects which are collaborative and business-led and include a vehicle manufacturer or a tier 1 supplier and an SME partner. They must also develop the UK’s supply chain in the field of low carbon vehicle propulsion technology. The competition will fund the development of on-vehicle technologies for either on-road or off-highway vehicles.
Consortia must have a clear, demonstrable route to production, and line of sight to market, involving at least one vehicle manufacturer and/or a tier 1 supplier and at least one SME partner.