 Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) makes its debut in Las Vegas Nov. 5-8.
ASRW is the umbrella under which the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) and the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) will be held at the same time and in the same place in Las Vegas. They will be co-located at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center.
As Reggie Denny, AAM, chairman of the board of directors of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), explained in his chairman's message in AutoInc.'s September issue: "NACE and CARS were already going to be held that week in Vegas, but at separate places. Now they will be co-located at the Mandalay Bay. This is to better serve you, our members."
ASRW will be an industrywide event that includes both the collision and mechanical segments of the automotive service and repair, yet it will enable each event to maintain its own unique market identity. It will simply allow both collision and mechanical service professionals to benefit from both NACE and CARS.
More and more collision repair shops are handling their mechanical repairs in-house. They're holding on to their profits by doing such repairs versus subcontracting the work. That growing trend and NACE's co-location with CARS makes perfect sense, said event planners. NACE attendees will benefit from having the opportunity to visit with companies that can help them succeed in that endeavor. On the other hand, CARS attendees will benefit from exposure to the NACE exhibiting companies - perhaps considering options to diversify the services they currently offer in their businesses.
Co-location of CARS and NACE will provide an unmatched opportunity for attendees to shop and compare all the products, services, equipment, state-of-the-art technologies and innovations available today.
Beyond the trade show floor, the co-location of CARS and NACE will bring attendees the opportunity to attend both conference programs.
The overall goal of ASRW is to bring together buyers and sellers of automotive products and services in one location that includes both education and trade show activities. ASRW will grow to include activities for other organizations and industry segments, thereby creating a mega-event for all who work in or cater to the automotive service and repair industry.
"This is a watershed moment for the automotive service and repair industry," said Ron Pyle, president of ASA. "Our longstanding CARS and NACE events will be even better with expanded opportunities for education, training and networking. ASRW will cater to the repair shop owner, manager and technician - and any group that relies on these professionals and the products and services they use to stay successful."
Jerry Raskind, wholesale development manager for Toyota Motor Sales USA, said: "Toyota Motor Sales USA is very pleased to show support for ASRW. We have long supported NACE and CARS, and look forward to this expanded opportunity to support both shows and the service and repair industry overall. ASRW will allow us additional ways in which we can partner with the independent service and repair segment, and will be a welcomed event."
Jeff Lagges, president of ALLDATA LLC, said: "ALLDATA is thrilled to hear that NACE and CARS will be combined in the same venue in 2008. The fusion of these shows demonstrates how vehicle technology has blurred the boundary between the mechanical and collision worlds. This change will bring new excitement to the combined shows, and will be advantageous to both exhibitors and attendees alike. Automotive professionals in all areas of the industry will benefit." |
Nov. 5-8, 2008
