Riding on Auto Salon success, organisers look to next year
Play
With the second Bangkok International Auto Salon being a roaring success last month, organisers have already started working on next year's event.
According to chairman of the organising committee Wiluck Lohthong, this year’s event, which featured almost 2,000 vehicles and 300 booths, attracted as many as 1 million visitors, making it the largest after-market and customised car show in the Asean region.
Total sales at the event is estimated at Bt1.5 billion, up from last year’s Bt600 million, according to global marketing research firm AC Nielsen.
“The total area of this year’s show was doubled to 40,000 sqm and the number of visitors grew by 50 per cent, making the Bangkok International Auto Salon the largest event of its kind in this region,” Wiluck said.
The Thai car accessories market is valued at about Bt4 billion each year and is reflective of auto sales in the country, he said. “Apart from being an entertainment car show, our intention is also to promote the accessories industry and serve as a meeting ground for Thai and foreign entrepreneurs to come together.”
The event was organised by Siam Sport Syndicate and Inspire Entertainment, in coordination with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, which was responsible for staging B-to-B events for Thai and foreign entrepreneurs. International delegates were from the Japan External Trade Organisation, the Nippon Auto Parts After Market Committee, the Japan Automotive Aftermarket Action League, the Pakistan Automobile Spare Parts Importers and Dealers Association and the Singaporean Automotive Trade representative.
At this year’s Auto Salon, B-to-B sales amounted to approximately Bt100 million, said Goungkiet Vienravi, executive director at Inspire Entertainment. The car accessory market in Thailand is valued at Bt4 billion per year, he added.
Organisers are also planning to stage satellite events around Thailand in order to build awareness for next year’s event, also to be held in June.
“We will be coordinating with various car clubs and racers in staging events in the provinces starting from this year until the event in 2014,” he said.
