The Australian Auto Aftermarket and Collision Repair Expo has been rescheduled due to the impacts and disruptions of COVID-19.
The Expo, the largest aftermarket trade show of its kind in Australia, was to be held April 29 to May 1 next year but will now take place April 7-9 April, 2022, at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) says the impact of COVID-19 and restrictions imposed across Australia, specifically in Victoria has been significant.
The ongoing future impact of the pandemic and the opening of borders remains unclear, it says.
Its board unanimously agreed that rescheduling the expo would be “the most prudent and safest approach” given the likelihood and severity of the risks.
“We are committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved with the expo, our member businesses, event management teams, visitors and the broader industry,” AAAA chief executive Stuart Charity says.
“The unfortunate effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have ultimately driven us to make this decision.
“Our recent experience with the Metropolitan Melbourne stage 4 lockdown has reinforced that the future of this pandemic holds many unknowns.
“Any further waves of infection in Victoria, or elsewhere in Australia, could result in government-imposed lockdowns that could pull the event from under our feet with little or no notice.
“With an event of this scope and scale, the consequences of a forced cancellation produced an unacceptable level of risk to all our event stakeholders,” Charity says.
“Alternative activities to bring the industry together safely for networking and learning opportunities during 2021 are currently being planned and further updates will be provided in due course,” he says.
“The AAAA will make good use of the longer than usual lead-up to the 2022 Expo to design and deliver a spectacular milestone event for the aftermarket industry. We will be back bigger and better than ever and cannot wait for you to join us in person in 2022.”
*More information about the expo will soon be available on autoaftermarketexpo.com.au and collisionrepair.com.au and shared via the AAAA member e-newsletter, social media channels and automotive trade publications such as AutoTalk.com.au in coming months.
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