A survey conducted by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Automechanika Dubai 2018, finds that transformational technology changes will boost business prospects for the Middle East auto aftermarket.
The Middle East Automotive Aftermarket Outlook survey of 1,308 auto aftermarket professionals showed that 66% of respondents expressed optimism in the future of the regional auto aftermarket, while 37% believed that new technologies, predominantly related to electric, hybrid, and autonomous mobility, will open up considerable new business opportunities in the region. The study further revealed that 42% of respondents had already received customer requests for products and services related to the non-petrol or diesel powered internal combustion engines.
Nearly half of the respondents (46%) also believed there’ll be notable changes in the regional auto aftermarket within the next five years due to technology changes, with electric vehicle (47% of respondents) and hybrid vehicle (32%) technology presenting the main challenge to diesel and petrol technology. Nearly 44% of respondents believed there’d be fully autonomous vehicles on Middle East roads within the next five years.
Respondents were also asked for their thoughts on which key product groups would face the most disruption in the Middle East in the coming years. While the majority of respondents (54%) felt their companies were ready for the changes ahead, 60% said parts and components would face the most disruption in the next few years, followed by repair and maintenance (36%), electronics and systems (35%), accessories and customising (26%), tyres and batteries (25%), and car wash, care and reconditioning (14%).
The full report and findings will be revealed on the first day of Automechanika Dubai, which will be held from 1 – 3 May at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. They will be presented at Automechanika Dubai’s new Innovation Zone, a dedicated feature at the centre of the exhibition floor.
Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “The Middle East Automotive Aftermarket Outlook survey was conducted to ascertain the current situation in the regional aftermarket, where it’s headed, and where the potential opportunities are in the Middle East. There’re rapid changes the auto industry as a whole is facing, fuelled by new technologies and ever evolving innovations. We see these changes as a major opportunity for the aftermarket.”
