AUTOFORUM

The road to better business in the automotive aftermarket was Automechanika Johannesburg 2025

Nov 07, 2025 Automechanika Johannesburg 2025, conferences and events, MIWA SpannerTorque Supplier Group, 11th edition, 27- 29 October 2026

The road to better business in the automotive aftermarket was Automechanika Johannesburg 2025

A generally welcomed change of venue for Automechanika Johannesburg set the scene for the thriving 3-day trade event which was the 2025 edition of Automechanika Johannesburg, held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, from 28 to 30 October.

This 10^th edition of the Show had a premium professional look and feel, and both exhibitors and trade visitors agreed that the change in venue of this largest business platform for the automotive aftermarket in Africa was a major step in the right direction.

The Show kicked off with a full house CEO Breakfast function on 28 October, followed by a range of conferences and events presented by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Masterdrive, Collision Repairers’ Association, Bearings International and Right to Repair during the three days of the event, underscoring the importance of Automechanika Johannesburg as an important and respected business platform for the automotive aftermarket in Southern Africa. This is further underpinned by the fact that the Show attracted 4 318 trade visitors and 724 conference delegates.

What is really significant is that an astounding 2 959 business matchmaking meetings took place during the Show, irrefutable proof that visitors to the Show were not of the tyre-kicking variety but were there to do business. This speaks of the quality of visitor that attended Automechanika Johannesburg 2025.

The significant attendance of the Show by international visitors from 34 countries. many of whom were from SADC member states and beyond in Africa is undoubtedly confirmation of the fact that Automechanika Johannesburg is a truly international business event and being the largest business platform of its kind in Africa, regarded by these international trade visitors as justification of the investment made by them to attend and do meaningful business.

Most exhibitors indicated their satisfaction with their decision to participate in the Show, not least Pieter Niemand, RMI’s Director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), who commented as follows on the participation by MIWA’s Spanner Torque Group: “ MIWA and 9 suppliers in the MIWA SpannerTorque Supplier Group, representing some of the largest and key suppliers of equipment and spares in the automotive aftermarket, were privileged to be part of Automechanika Johannesburg 2025. We are very happy with the new venue for the Show at Gallagher Convention Centre and our participants were pleased with the engagement with and support they received from visitors to their stands. We are committed to remain part of Automechanika Johannesburg, building on a mutually beneficial relationship in the interests of MIWA members and our suppliers.”

Gerrie Labuschagne, Business Development Executive at RMAA South Africa, enthusiastically commented: “As a first-time exhibitor at the Show, we were very pleased with our experience. We launched our new specialised Quantum 4x4 luxury people carrier with great success and received many quality visitors to our stand which enabled us to expand our network for product marketing. We regard our investment to exhibit at Automechanika Johannesburg as very worthwhile and will definitely participate in future shows as well as visiting other editions of Automechanika worldwide.”

Highlighting the potential for further expansion of the scope of Automechanika Johannesburg, Henry Oosthuizen, Senior Commercial Engineer at Formex Engineering, commented “it was a good show at a quality venue but as a local tier one supplier, we were not able to maximise our presence in terms of business interaction. We do, however, believe that Automechanika Johannesburg holds huge potential for component suppliers, and we would like to see more suppliers in our league taking an interest in the Show going forward.”

First time exhibitor Beeline Spares indicated that they were overwhelmed by the response the Company received from visitors, the quality of visitors and the many new potential customers they engaged with, expressing huge satisfaction with the Company’s investment to participate in the Show.

What a Show it has been! The tenth edition of Automechanika Johannesburg marked a major positive milestone for the Show and prospects for further growth and development of this major business platform for the automotive aftermarket going forward are brighter than ever.

Edition 11 of the Show is scheduled to take place at Gallagher Convention Centre, 27-29 October 2026. Exhibitors, keep an eye out for announcements in this respect to make sure you are able to make use of the excellent commercial opportunities offered at this premier event!