BETHESDA, Md. (Oct. 29, 2002) — Registrations for the upcoming Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) trade shows in Las Vegas are up more than 6,000 over the same time period last year.
According to officials with the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the overall number of individuals registered for the shows is up six percent—more than 6,000—to a total of nearly 82,000 attendees. AAIW includes the AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) show at the Sands Expo Center and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)/International Tire Expo (ITE) event at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Both run Nov. 5-8.
Alfred L. Gaspar, AAIA president and CEO, said the association is “extremely pleased with the level of exhibitor and buyer participation at this year's AAPEX, especially in light of the economic climate and world tensions.” More than 1,700 companies will be exhibiting at that show—including 480 firms for the first time. He added that international and domestic buyer registrations for AAPEX and the SEMA/ITE shows have risen, 13 percent and 5 percent respectively.