The AAPEX Extravaganza

by Garrett McKinnon
NOLN Staff Writer

It was a good week to be in Las Vegas last month as tens of thousands of automotive aftermarket professionals poured into the Sands Expo Center to take part in the 2011 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX). Representing the $395 billion global motor vehicle aftermarket industry, AAPEX drew a crowd estimated to be greater than 117,000 professionals from around the world. (Final attendance figures were not available as of press time.)

A place for leaders and innovators from across the industry — including distributors, retailers, service chains, jobbers and service professionals/technicians — to connect with one another, AAPEX serves as one of the largest automotive-themed events in the world. This year saw 2,292 exhibitors, up 230 from last year, and a total of 4,984 booths, up 540 from 2010.

While the expo floor featured a load of great products (some of which are detailed below; others were profiled on our Facebook page: facebook.com/OilLubeNews), the event also included several intriguing educational sessions, including a couple that attempted to forecast how the automotive aftermarket will fare in 2012. (We’ll have more on that prediction in next month’s issue of NOLN.)

Of course, no AAPEX show (or the sister SEMA, or Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) show would be complete without cars — lots and lots of cars. This year’s AAPEX was no exception and featured several notable vehicles like:

• The Dominator tornado-chasing vehicle, which features bulletproof glass and armor, along with an adjustable suspension that allows it to hunker down during tornadoes. The Dominator possessed no fewer than eight windshield wipers.
• Several FIAT 500s dotted displays at the show, replacing previous cars like the Smart fortwo and Mini Cooper as the trendy “cute” car.
• Hot rods and tuner cars galore. (Satin finishes are definitely in.)

Many of the displays at AAPEX are hands-on, and included service machines, driving simulators, engine build-offs and other crowd-pleasing fare. Sparks literally flew at one booth where a drill bit was put to the test!

AAPEX is primarily sponsored by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).

AAIA is a Bethesda, Maryland-based association whose more than 23,000 members and affiliates manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and supplies. Through its membership, AAIA represents more than 100,000 repair shops, parts stores and distribution outlets.

Other sponsors of AAPEX include the Auto International Association, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada, the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association, the International Heat Transfer Association and the Overseas Automotive Council.