LAS VEGAS — The organizers of the education program at this year's Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) have scheduled 18 sessions throughout the show's three-day run covering trends, challenges and opportunities in the automotive aftermarket.
One of the highlights will be NPD Group Inc.'s annual presentation of its latest Consumer Outlook Survey during the "2019 Aftermarket Outlook" sessions, the organizers said, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 30. This will be 13th straight year for the NPD presentation.
AAPEX runs Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.
In addition, IHS Markit will return with session titled, "Five Trends in Five Minutes: Key Trends Impacting the North American Automotive Aftermarket," covering the hottest trends shaping the industry, the organizers said.
Other sessions will cover varied topics such as emerging vehicle technologies; shifts in vehicle ownership and fleet management; autonomous vehicles and ongoing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations; the connected future and the secure vehicle impact; the digital transformation of China's automotive aftermarket; predictive part failure; advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS); and Transportation as a Service (TaaS) and Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
In all, the AAPEX organizers have scheduled 50 sessions, organized under nine tracks: Technology, Industry Trends, Service Professionals Program, Business Management, Import/Export, Heating/Cooling, Heavy Duty, Paint & Body, and a Young Professionals Program.
AAPEXedu sessions are accredited by the University of the Aftermarket toward the Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) and Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations. All AAPEXedu sessions are included in the AAPEX online registration fee, which is $40 (U.S.) through Oct. 12. To register, visit: aapexshow.com/attendee.
The educational sessions run parallel to the AAPEX trade show, which organizers said should feature more than 2,500 exhibiting companies and 47,000-plus targeted.
AAPEX is co-owned by the Auto Care Association and Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).