Taipei AMPA 2005 Another Record Breaker

The 2005 Taipei Int'l Auto/Motorcycle Parts & Accessories Show (Taipei AMPA) further consolidated its position as one of the most important auto parts and accessories promotional events in the world, with a turnout of both exhibitors and foreign buyers that broke past records, according to show co-organizer Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).

According to TAITRA and co-organizer Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (TTVMA), over 5, 000 foreign and 30, 000 local buyers visited Taipei AMPA this year, both record highs. Many foreign buyers and exhibitors expressed an interest in attending again next year, TAITRA says.

Among the foreign buyers, 57.94% came from Asia, 13.05% from North America, 9.43% from Europe, 6.02% from the Middle East, 5.13% from Oceania, 3.58% from Africa, 2.19% from Central America, and 2.56% from South Africa. The turnout of top-five nations buyers from were Japan (19.89%), the U.S. (11.45%), Malaysia (6.17%), mainland China (4.90%) and Thailand (4.17%), TAITRA says, showing the successful market-segmentation strategy of local parts makers.

Over 1, 000 buyers at the event came from Japan, including procurement officials of leading automakers, auto parts brands and parts distribution chains such as Mitsubishi Motors, Japan Sanyo, Mazda Accessory, Topy Hannkook, and Tokyo Wheel.

Electronic Focus

Local auto electronic parts and device makers showcased world-class innovative items at the show.

Hamg Shing Technology Corp., a leading telematics system supplier to local automakers, for example, attracted attention from buyers from Japan and Europe for its series global positioning system (GPS) navigation systems, parts and accessories, hands-free systems, in-car multimedia systems, and electric seat adjustment mechanisms. A Hamg Shing official said that his company's products are used by many local and foreign automakers, making the company one of the leading original equipment (OE) parts suppliers to international automakers.

Nein Sunering Enterprise Co., Ltd., a leading maker of auxiliary auto lamps, demonstrated its newly developed series auto lamps with advanced lamp cores. The company's products are used on high-speed trains in the U.K.

Many auto lamp makers also demonstrated their latest products developed with light-emitting diode (LED) modules, which feature low power consumption and greater brightness.

Some traditional auto parts makers also showcased their achievements in technical upgrading.

Tzung Jin Co., Ltd. A maker of high-end auto-battery terminals and fuse blocks, and power distribution blocks demonstrated the company's new series of products. Over the years, Tzung Jin has been one of the most innovative makers in the line in Taiwan, with over 110 patents registered in the U.S., Japan, Germany, Taiwan and mainland China and another 50 or so patents pending.

Tzung Jin has developed a battery terminal with up to five additional nuts for the easy installation of additional power cables for other devices, such as car alarms and GPS units. According to Tzung Jin, this small but innovative design has solved the problem of resetting many electronic devices, such as the clock and stereo system, when the battery terminal is removed. The company won many orders on the spot from European and U.S. buyers.

The strong turnout at Taipei AMPA '05 was particularly notable as the show was competing with several closely timed events in Spain, Poland, and mainland China. TAITRA attributes the success of the Taipei event to the show's professionalism and comprehensiveness.

Jorge Ruiz, a buyer from Colombia, says that he took part in both Auto Shanghai in mainland China and Taipei AMPA and felt that the latter provided much better software services resulting in greater visitor convenience. In addition, he adds, Taiwan companies are more reliable and trustworthy. Ruiz agrees that the Taipei AMPA is the most important transaction platform for global buyers.

During the show period, TAITRA also invited many procurement officials of automakers and tier-one parts suppliers in the U.S., Germany, Australia, Brazil, and Poland to attend the show, including representatives of Arvin Meritor, 1A Auto, Kirchhoff, Johannes J. Matthies, Delphi Automotive Systems, Repco, Air International, and Inter Cars. A total of 326 local parts and accessory makers met the foreign procurement representatives at this year's event, TAITRA says.

TAITRA says that more and more foreign buyers of auto parts and accessories who originally procured from France, Italy and Japan have switched their orders to Taiwan, especially for GPS navigation systems, in-auto liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs, in-car multimedia entertainment systems, car alarm systems, reverse image displays and over-speed radar sensors.

Keith Bird, procurement manager of Repco, the largest importer and wholesaler group of auto parts and accessories in Australia, praised TAITRA for arranging procurement seminars during the show, at which he met with about 80 local suppliers. "Made-in-Taiwan parts and accessories, " Bird says, "have been globally famous with their high and stable quality and middle-to-high-end orientation, clearly segmenting them from similar items made in China."

TAITRA claims that Taipei AMPA has become the largest auto parts and accessory show in Asia and one of the key shows of its kind in the world.

Records for Exhibitors and Booths

According to TAITRA and TTVMA, Taipei AMPA attracted a record 894 exhibitors and had 2, 150 booths this year, up 7% from the 2004 event.

"Taipei AMPA has long been the largest auto and motorcycle parts show in the Asia-Pacific region and has been playing a key regional hub role as an integrated transaction platform for buyers and exhibitors worldwide, " says Taipei AMPA project manager Judy Lo. "Most exhibitors and industry professionals consider Taipei AMPA to be one of the world's top-three fairs, especially in terms of its specialization in auto and motorcycle parts and accessories."

In order to accommodate its rapid growth, Taipei AMPA 2005 expanded its exhibition space from the main floor of the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Exhibition Hall 1 to the newly expanded show floor on the second level ("Area H") at the venue as well as the nearby Exhibition Hall 3.

Lo says Taipei AMPA is one of the best one-stop sourcing centers in the world for automobile and motorcycle parts and accessories, joining both leading-edge and nuts-and-bolts items at one venue. Everything from complete engines, parts and accessories, power trains, tires and tubes and brakes to lights and signals, whole motorcycles, and auto and motorcycle frames can be found at the fair.

Table

Taipei AMPA'05 Exhibitor Profile
Exhibit	Hall 1		Hall 1 (2nd Fl.)		Hall 3
	Exhibitors	Booths	Exhibitors	Booths	Exhibitors	Booths
Auto Parts	226	622	67	137	45	98
Auto Accessories	220	644	39	74	37	82
Motorcycle Parts & Accessories	34	64	10	11	9	14
Repair Service Equipment	27	65	7	19	15	33
E-Parts A/V Equipment	28	71	6	10	12	19
Foreign Products	42	74	1	6	41	59
Media					11	25
Miscellaneous			3	8	9	15
Total	577	1, 540	133	265	179	345
Booths 2, 150 Exhibitors 890