The automotive aftermarket picks up where it left off due to the pandemic and relies on resilience and passion to drive the change

Mission accomplished. After a long period of uncertainty, the automotive aftermarket sector met physically during the Mission Restart event to relaunch the sector. With a spectacular entrance, simulating the landing of a Cosmos 2104 space satellite (the same type that took Gagarin and Titov into space and donated by the former USSR to BolognaFiere) on the main straight of the International Enzo and Dino Ferrari Racetrack in Imola, Renzo Servadei, Autopromotec's managing director, announced the start of the two-day convention and workshop held on October 13 and 14. The event, organized by Autopromotec, BtheOne Automotive, Duessegi Editore and Quattroruote Professional, attracted a large number of visitors, including specialists and company directors, who had the opportunity to finally meet exhibitors and professionals face-to-face once again. The event kicked off from a double-decker bus used as a stage and placed on the starting grid of the Autodromo and was chaired by the President of Aica (Italian Garage Equipment Manufacturers Association) Mauro Severi and, representing the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Councillor for Economic Development Vincenzo Colla. Severi underlined the importance of meeting again after a rather long and troublesome period, but also pointed out how companies in the sector have not stopped working throughout this time but have continued to work focusing on research and development in order to become more competitive. "Italy - said Severi - is made of entrepreneurs who with flair and refined skills have been able to adapt to changes very quickly. Resilience and passion are the key words driving a new start".

 

A statement also shared by the Councillor Vincenzo Colla, who underlined the importance of investments and training to create new job opportunities in a constantly evolving world. "The Motor Valley is located in a region, our region, made up of small and medium-sized enterprises, whose passion and knowhow allow larger companies to be present on global markets - said Colla -. Autopromotec acts as a link between the public system and the companies in this sector, as it is able to understand and explain the changes taking place in the automotive world. To capitalize on these changes, we need ongoing investments in research and innovation". Workshop digitization, electric mobility, circular economy, transport and logistics, roadworthiness tests and post-pandemic scenarios were the topics addressed by the speakers during the two-day event. "With Mission Restart we wanted to give not only a sense of a fresh start but also some ideas on what direction the sector should take in a world that is constantly evolving - said Servadei -. We must not forget that the automotive sector accounts for 10% of our national GDP. Our country is the second European manufacturing powerhouse whose components for the automotive industry and workshop equipment are exported all over the world".