Attendance increases at NACE | CARS 2016

NACE | CARS experienced continued growth at its 2016 expo in Anaheim, California this past month.

More than 7,000 automotive industry professionals visited the expo, and over 8,000 attended educational programs and related industry events.

The turnout was strong, as expected, with the co-location and support of industry groups and associations, including I-CAR, CAA, ASCCA, CIC, NABC, SCRS, CREF, 1Collision Network, Assured Performance Certified Network, and many others.

Educational programs are a highlight of NACE | CARS. A diverse collection of special programs, including the MSO Symposium, Service Repair Leadership Forum, and Technology & Telematics Forum, were joined by the largest collection of AMi-approved classes, and numerous attendees completed their AAM certification. A new series of classes were also offered covering heavy duty repair for both collision and mechanical professionals.

“The ASA board and management were pleased to see the great turnout and positive response to NACE | CARS 2016,” said Donny Seyfer, ASA chairman. “Although we will continue to make improvements, we are very pleased with the results, and we appreciate the support of everyone involved. There is no other industry resource that offers this depth of educational programs, and we will continue to build on those for the benefit of the industry, our members, and the association.”

The Expo grew by 20% from the 2015 event. The show floor included more content than previous years, with the addition of the OE stage, return of I-CAR educational programs and interactive demonstrations, and the Central Stage, which featured vital information and well-attended panels. The live programs throughout the Expo included spraying, welding, rivet bonding, and a variety of repair demonstrations. Ford brought their 2017 Super Duty Trucks for their Drive the Future of Tough Tour, and Toyota provided ride-alongs and information on their fuel-cell vehicle, the Mirai. Many exhibitors reported sales exceeding the previous years, as well.

“Our focus for NACE | CARS is to bring together industry-leading collision and service repair professionals and deliver high quality educational programs, collaboration, and networking, all for the benefit of the industry and, ultimately, the consumer,” stated Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director. “The show is about the quality of the people attending. Our goal is to assemble the top 15 or 20% of the industry. Our attendees are the shop owners, managers, insurers, and association leaders – the decision-makers with purchasing power who are shaping the future of the industry.”

It was announced that NACE | CARS 2017 will be held in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia World Congress Center. Educational programs will take place August 2 – 4, and the Expo will run August 3 – 4.