2013 TAIPEI AMPA & AutoTronics Taipei Draw Record Exhibitors & Buyers

Four-in-one event held first time to offer everything related to PTWs and cars

The 2013 TAIPEI AMPA (29th Taipei International Auto Parts & Accessories Show) and 2013 AutoTronics Taipei (8th Taipei International Automobile Electronics Show), two of the most important global auto-parts shows, were held April 10-13 and set all-time records, including 1,100 (up 4.7%) exhibitors and 3,030 booths (up 6.7%) at the TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall and TWTC Exhibition Hall 1 in Taipei, capital of Taiwan.

This year, TAIPAI AMPA and AutoTronics Taiwan for the first time have become a four-in-one event, held together with two other vehicular exhibitions, the 2013 Taiwan Int'l Motorcycle Industry Show (8th MOTORCYCLE TAIWAN) and 2013 EV Taiwan (3rd Taiwan Int'l Electric Vehicle Show). The show organizer Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) claims that these four exhibitions attracted a combined 1,350 exhibitors in 3,630 booths and about 65,000 visitors, justifying its reputation as the most encompassing auto/motorcycle event for buyers looking for everything for internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric powered wheels.

New Records
In addition to record exhibitor and booth numbers, the four-in-one event, according to TAITRA, attracted some 6,813 international buyers from 130 nations to Taiwan, again a new record for the event, and is expected to generate over US$1.3 billion in potential business opportunities, the highest-ever.

The top-10 buyer nations were Japan, China, the U.S., Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. TAITRA says that such promising results show its efficiency in promoting trade relations between emerging markets and Taiwan, with initial achievements being obvious.

At the joint opening ceremony, Wang Chih-kang, chairman of TAITRA, thanked the government officials and executives of co-organizers for their presence, including Chang Chia-juch, Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs; J.F. Wang, Chief Secretary of the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT); Lin Sheng-yi, Chairman of the Taiwan Rubber & Elastomer Industries Association (TREIA); Cheng Fu-hsiong, Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA); and Chen Kuo-rong, Chairman of the Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association (TTVMA) etc.

Economics Minister Chang also presented prizes to the winners of the 2013 TAIPEI AMPA and AutoTronics Taipei Innovation Awards, for which the jury selected eight winners for TAIPEI AMPA and four for AutoTronics Taipei Innovation Awards, which were displayed at the "Innovation Awards" section in the Nangang Exhibition Center.

Strong Export Competitiveness
During his opening speech, Wang says that the auto-parts industry in Taiwan is highly export-oriented and is an industry with global competitiveness, especially in the global aftermarket. Among the 2,800 manufacturers in Taiwan, he says, about 90% focus on the domestic and overseas aftermarket. Taiwan's auto-parts production value reached NT$226.3 billion (US$7.54 billion) in 2012. As manufacturers continue to pursue advanced technologies with international automakers, as well as develop new products with international competitiveness, high added values, differentiation and energy-saving characteristics, they have successfully demonstrated capacity to enter foreign markets. Annual exports have shown steady growth and exports in 2012 increased

5.4%, hitting an all-time high of NT$194.8 billion (US$6.5 billion). Major export markets for Taiwan-made auto parts, according to statistics compiled by TTVMA, include the

United States (36.51%), the European Union (EU, 13.83%), Japan (6.87%) and China (5.87%); while major products for exports include automotive body parts, auto lamps, rubber tires, wheels, bumpers, rearview mirrors, sheet metal parts, electrical parts, and cooling system parts. The achievement in exports is just as impressive as this exhibition, the largest this year, Wang says.

TAIPEI AMPA
This year's TAIPEI AMPA, organized by TAITRA, TTVMA and TREIA, hosts 2,780 booths set up by 985 suppliers across the four exhibition areas, including "Auto Parts", "Auto Accessories", "Tuning & Restyling", and "Repair& Maintenance," with almost all major Taiwanese suppliers in attendance this year.

Almost all major auto-parts manufacturers were in attendance this year, including Tong Yang, the world's largest maker of AM plastic body-parts), TYC (one of the world's largest manufacturers of automotive, motorcycle, truck and bus lighting products), Depo (a major auto-lamp supplier and consecutively granted the Top-20 Taiwan Global Brands award), as well as other well-known large manufacturers as Eagle Eyes,

Coplus, TFT Racing, Taiwan Bor-Chuann, Just Auto, Sonar, Sirius Light, Nan Hoang, TW Racing Parts, Reliable Auto-Parts etc.. The exhibition this year, with the largest number of booths, also showed energy-saving LED auto-lamps, engine parts, suspension parts, drivetrain system parts, tire pressure monitoring system, repair equipment, air tools, tires/rims and auto accessories.

Foreign Exhibitors at TAIPEI AMPA
This year's event also sees growth in the number of countries and booths set up in the international exhibitor area, with 168 manufacturers and 203 booths established by suppliers from China, Japan, Indonesia, India, South Korea, the U.S., Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and New Zealand.

Companies from Hong Kong, South Korea, and Malaysia make up the largest numbers of foreign exhibitors, while those from New Zealand are exhibiting the first time. With their large exhibition spaces, the Thailand Pavilion and Philippines Pavilion drew ample attention.

AutoTronics Taipei
Insiders generally agree that Taiwan's world-class information and communication technology (ICT) industries and R&D capabilities empower local automotive-electronics manufacturers to compete globally. The 2013 AutoTronics Taipei, organized by TAITRA and TEEMA, hosts 115 manufacturers in 250 booths, including all major players and a group of exhibitors at the Taiwan AutoTronics Collaborative Alliance (TACA) Pavilion.

All big Taiwanese makers took part in the show, including Tung Thih (a OE designer/developer and manufacturer of auto electronic products), E-Lead (OE supplier of in-vehicle infotainment systems), Whetron Electronics (OE supplier of car alarm system and parking assistance system etc.), Mobiletron Electronics, KSS etc., who exhibited automotive-electronic components and parts such as automotive semiconductors, testing equipment and services, in-vehicle entertainment systems and car alarm systems.

More Foreign Buyers
The 2013 TAIPEI AMPA and AutoTronics Taipei both recorded growths in the number of global visitors. According to TAITRA, the majority of visitors are from Japan, followed by the U.S., China, Malaysia and Indonesia. Among them, 131 are from 30 nations and considered important buyers with annual revenue of over US$10 million, including Audi (Germany luxury car brand), Advance Auto Parts (a major auto parts retailer in the U.S.), SSS Auto Parts Pty Ltd (Australia's major auto parts importer), Kawan Lama PT (major Indonesian metal hardware supplier), Fiat China Business Co., Ltd. (Chinese subsidiary of Italy's largest automaker Fiat Group), Magna Automotive Technology Shanghai etc. (Chinese subsidiary of world's No. 3 Tier-1 parts maker), and many others.

To create more lucrative business opportunities for both show exhibitors and global buyers, TAITRA held about 200 "One-on-One Procurement Meetings" during the show, aiming to generate sizable orders.

Supplementary Activities
This four-in-one event is more than about sourcing, with participants offered the Innovation Awards Display, 2013 Taipei International Auto Parts and Auto Electronics Forum, 2013 Smart, Safe and Connected Automotive Technology Seminars, and many others.

Number of Exhibitors, Booths & Visitors at 2013 TAIPEI AMPA / AutoTronics Taipei
		2013	YoY	2012	2011
Exhibitors		1,100	4.7%	1,051	1,011
Booths		3,030	6.7%	2,840	2,711
Visitors	International	6,813	8%	6,027	5,262
	Domestic	45,000	13%	39,986	24,401
Source: TAITRA.

Overseas Buyers by Top-10 Countries in 2013
	Country
1	Japan
2	China
3	USA
4	Malaysia
5	S. Korea
6	Indonesia
7	Thailand
8	Singapore
9	HongKong
10	Philippines
Source: TAITRA