The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has announced that it has rescheduled the 2021 Australian Automotive Aftermarket and Collision Repair Expo to 2022. Originally planned to be held from 29 April to 1 May 2021, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket and Collision Repair Expo – the largest aftermarket trade show of its kind in Australia – will now take place from 7 to 9 April 2022. It will remain at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In explaining the decision, the AAAA board referred to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions imposed across Australia, particularly the significant restrictions in Victoria. With the pandemic’s future impact remaining unclear, especially surrounding the closure of state borders and when they might reopen, the board said it unanimously agreed that rescheduling the Expo would be “the most prudent and safest approach given the likelihood and severity of the risks that have emerged”.
“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. The unfortunate effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have ultimately driven us to make this decision,” said Stuart Charity, CEO of the AAAA.
“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.
“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.
“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.”