Last week at AAPEX, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) held a press conference to announce the creation of Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW), which will make its debut in November 2008. The overall goal of ASRW is to bring together buyers and sellers of automotive products and services in one venue that includes both education and trade show activities. ASRW will grow to include activities for other organizations and industry segments, thereby creating a home for all that work in or cater to the automotive service and repair industry.
As part of this initiative, the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) will co-locate to create an industrywide event that includes both the collision and mechanical segments of the automotive service and repair industry.
Both NACE and CARS are sponsored by the Automotive Service Association and were previously held at separate locations. Starting next year, NACE and CARS will be co-located at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. While each event will retain its own identity, the broader banner of ASRW will clearly indicate and promote to both the exhibitor and attendee segments of the industry that the focus will be on the shop owners and technicians who perform mechanical and collision service and repair. The inaugural event will take place Nov. 5-8, 2008.
“This is a watershed moment for the automotive service and repair industry,” said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. “Our longstanding CARS and NACE events will be even better with expanded opportunities for education, training and networking. ASA and Hanley Wood, which will manage ASRW, have a 25-year history of working together to produce high-quality industry events. 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.”
ASRW will grow to include activities for other organizations, industry segments and events with the goal of creating a “mega” service and repair event that will touch all aspects of the automotive service and repair industry. Initial industry feedback from key organizations and industry segments has been extremely positive and validates the need for an umbrella event for manufacturers, insurance representatives, information service providers, and service and repair professionals.