Press invitation to the Auto Trade Fair

Digitisation, new powertrains, new materials, adequate supplies of skilled people, and intensified competition are some of the major challenges facing the service market in the next few years. The current situation and the expected developments are featured on the exhibition floor and in the seminars at the Auto Trade Fair in Gothenburg.

Nowhere in the whole of Scandinavia, other than at the Auto Trade Fair, do so many motor industry service and aftermarket suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, experts and specialists get together to meet, get up to date and do business. Why? Because the Auto Trade Fair is the natural meeting place for all the people and companies who want to stay ahead and meet the new demands of tomorrow’s service and aftermarket.

“The growing digitisation within the motor industry is, of course, a major focal point of this year’s Auto Trade Fair. And this focus will include the increased digitisation of vehicles, as well as the changes that digitisation means for the value chain and the new spread of roles within the service market,” says Anna Jarnö, Business Manager, Auto Trade Fair 2017.
“Auto Trade Fair visitors will meet 266 exhibitors from 15 countries. And there are lots of trade seminars to attend. As for face-to-face business meetings, well, they are a given part of the event,” concludes Anna Jarnö,

Trade Hearing – open conversations about the future of the trade – will kick off the Auto Trade Fair at 09:30 to approx. 10:45 on Wednesday 18 January at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre in Gothenburg. The hearing will feature a large number of well-known people from the automotive sector including:
Magnus Carlsson, head of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and Autonomus (Smiling Car concept) at Semcon engineering consultancy.
Jonas Bjelfvenstam, Director General of VTI (Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute), charged with looking into the required legislation and regulations on autonomous and connected vehicles.
Kent Eric Lång, CEO, Viktoria Institute, applied research on the mobility of the future.
Carl Oscar Sandin, Business Developer, Vattenfall (State-owned Swedish power company), e-mobility and infrastructure requirements.
Håkan Backegårdh, BMW i aftersales, new vehicle concepts e.g. with electric drive in combination with new materials.
Per Rasmussen, Business Developer, Robert Bosch (Denmark), automotive technology of the future.
Tommy Letzén, CEO, MRF (Swedish National Association for Motor Trades & Repairs).
Moderator – Göran Björklund, Communications Consultant at Newsroom, and Editor in Chief of Fordonskomponenten (Automotive Component).

The purpose of the Trade Hearing is to explore and describe the upcoming changes in mobility with regard to cars and commercial vehicles, and analyse the implications these changes may have for everyone involved in the service market.

Recruitment and the availability of skilled personnel are other important matters facing the sector industry that will be raised during the Auto Fair. MAF (Motor Trade Employers Association) and IF Metall, the large Swedish trade union, are working closely with MYN (Vocational Training Board for the Motor Trade) to increase awareness and interest in automotive training schemes.

Press accreditation to be sent to: press@svenskamassan.se

Press Centre Opening Times
The Auto Trade Fair Press Centre will be open 08:30-17:00 (18- 20 January). On Saturday, please contact the Information Desk in the Main Entrance.

The Auto Trade Fair is Scandinavia’s biggest meeting place for the vehicle and vehicle workshop aftermarkets. The event is organised by the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre in Gothenburg on behalf of FVU (Association of Garage Equipment Suppliers) and SBF (Association of Swedish Car Parts Wholesalers).

DRF (Swedish National Association of Tyre Specialists), MRF (Swedish National Association for Motor Trades & Repairs), MAF (Motor Trade Employers Association) and SFVF (Swedish Association of Vehicle Workshops) will also be involved as Official Partners. 

READ MORE ABOUT THE AUTO TRADE FAIR

For questions, please contact:

Anna Jarnö, Auto Trade Fair Business Manager. Tel: +46 (0)31-708 80 85.
E-mail: anna.jarno@svenskamassan.se