The Australian Auto Aftermarket & Collision Repair Expo was a resounding success, attracting a record-breaking number of trade visitors who immersed themselves in what was a magnificent industry event.

Across three days at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, 13,282 visitors participated in the combined Expo’s, to experience the best the industry has to offer. With world-class training and a plethora of awe-inspiring innovations and product offers, visitors left the Expo armed to charge into the future with new skills, ideas and opportunities.

“I am incredibly excited about the success of the 2024 Auto Aftermarket Expo and Collision Repair Expo. The vibe was electric in the packed halls, and feedback from visitors has been off the charts. The number and quality of exhibitors was amazing, as was the popularity of our expanded training programs and features. Expo ’24 was a truly remarkable and extremely valuable trade event,” said Stuart Charity, CEO of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA).

The Expo was officially opened on Thursday 11th April by Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Federal Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury. Andrew was joined by Stuart Charity – AAAA CEO, Wayne Bryant – AAAA Board Chairman, Bill Hanvey – CEO Auto Care Association (USA) and Gino Ricciuti – APMEC Chairman, to launch the Expo.

With over 400 exhibitors representing the entire automotive aftermarket supply chain, attendees were treated to a showcase of the latest tools, technology, parts, and services. Exhibitors, both big and small, presented their offerings through captivating stands while actively engaging with trade visitors, fostering networking opportunities, and cultivating business relationships.

“Our objective was to show visitors how incredible our industry is and give them access to new skills, products, equipment, experts, offers and opportunities – all under one roof. The tradeshow floor encompassed renowned brands, sought-after training, and avenues for career and business advancement. This is a fundamental role of the AAAA, and we are very proud of our contribution to fostering industry growth through this event. The Expo has exceeded expectations across all our key measurables and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Mr. Charity.

Reflective of compelling changes unfolding in the industry, the Expo Electrified Zone and ADAS Technology Zones proved to be valuable additions to the Expo. With all scheduled training sessions for each zone fully booked ahead of the event, it demonstrated the hunger the industry has for these emerging and critical areas of the automotive aftermarket.

Melissa Horne MP, Victorian Minister For Roads And Road Safety, officially open the Expo Electrified Zone on the first day of the Expo. Minister Horne generously took the time to speak to attendees before touring the specialised training zone to meet with industry leaders and visitors.

Training was a central feature of the 2024 Expo, with the delivery of world-class, comprehensive training sessions covering advanced diagnostics, EV training, business management, collision repair and much more.

In an Australian first, an in-depth Technical Training Program led by international diagnostics experts Danny Versluis from the Diagnose Dan YouTube channel and Sean Tipping from the Automotive Diagnostic Podcast gave automotive technicians a unique opportunity to remain at the forefront of vehicle diagnosis across key themed sessions.

The ground-breaking Business Education Program covered the most important automotive business topics, led by many of Australia’s leading aftermarket voices and respected subject matter experts, as well as Auto Care Association USA President and CEO, Bill Hanvey. Subjects covered the latest aftermarket trends, how to address the industry skills shortage, marketing and much more, with many sessions filled to capacity.

The international flavour of the Expo continued in an exclusive Collision Repair Training Program. U.S based EV expert Dirk Fuchs, CEO of Electric Mobility Consulting held multiple sessions covering EV service, repair and workshop fundamentals. Highly respected U.K based business coach Robert Snook and CEO of Business Success Global hosted valuable business improvement sessions, while Bud Center, Director of Technical Products & Curriculum at I-CAR USA tackled advanced collision repair techniques and strategies.

The exclusive networking event held on the show floor on Friday afternoon provided both visitors and exhibitors with a rare opportunity to connect with peers on an unprecedented scale, all amidst the uplifting backdrop of live DJ music and light refreshments.

To encourage and promote the next generation of automotive technicians the Flying Spanners competition was introduced to the Expo. The competition involved teams of automotive students from different Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s) competing against each other to rebuild an engine faster than the opposing team, using only hand tools. The competition was a huge success for everyone involved.

The best and brightest of the automotive aftermarket industry were celebrated and formally recognised at the Auto Aftermarket Innovation Awards breakfast and the Australian Auto Aftermarket Excellence Awards Banquet.  These outstanding events helped to create an unforgettable 3 days for the auto aftermarket industry.

“I want to sincerely thank all of our incredible exhibitors, our world-class speakers who came from across the globe and around Australia, and the record number of visitors who showed their commitment to the future of our industry by taking time out of their businesses to attend – the passion and dedication shown by everyone involved has been brilliant,” said Stuart.

“I’d like to acknowledge and express my gratitude for the support of Auto Aftermarket Expo Major Sponsor Repco, and Collision Repair Expo Major Sponsor SAPE Group, and all of our valued partners and sponsors who helped us to deliver this amazing industry event.

“I’d also like to thank the AAAA Board, the amazing AAAA team and the MSE events team for their relentless work bringing this incredible event to life. We are now looking forward to Autocare in Brisbane in 2025.”

The next Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo and Collision Repair Expo will take place in 2026.

Expo 2024 photos HERE