After three years, Automechanika Shanghai 2023 opened  centered around the theme of “Innovation 4 Mobility.” The event highlighted industry trends, with a particular focus on sustainability, featuring the Green area. Almudena Benedito, CEO of GiPA Group, took the stage offering an overview on opportunities within the global green repair market.

GiPA’s comprehensive studies focuses on critical insights and emerging patterns within the new energy vehicle aftermarket. A recent study in Norway underscored the increase wear of certain components, such as tires on electric vehicles (EVs), with a 24% increase compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

“The underlying reason behind this discrepancy lies in the inherent characteristics of EVs. Their increased weight, relative to conventional cars of comparable size, apply greater stress on tires. When coupled with the instantaneous torque delivery inherent in electric motors, accelerated tire wear becomes an inevitable outcome”, as explained by Eric Devos of GiPA Group during the conference.

Shifting focus to the Southeast Asian market, Roger Chen shed light on the remarkable growth of the EV sector, recording an astounding 116% surge. This impressive increase is especially noteworthy considering the relatively modest number of car registrations, totaling 200,000, in comparison to other global markets.

While the EV trend continues its upward trajectory, it coexists with a rapidly aging car parc, emphasizing the imperative for maintenance in older ICE vehicles. Trained and certified mechanics possessing expertise in both traditional and emerging technologies emerge as indispensable resources, poised to address the evolving needs and challenges of today and tomorrow’s aftermarket landscape.