The 23rd edition of the Automechanika Network, which recently took place at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, brought together the industry’s leading policymakers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers and innovators to discuss the trends reshaping the global automotive aftermarket.

The event organised by Automechanika Dubai and co-sponsored by DP World was held under the theme ‘Shifting Gears – Navigating Tech, Sustainability and Transformation’.

The event explored how digitalisation, electrification, and sustainability are transforming the value chain.

The event opened with a keynote address by Section Head – Alternative and Sustainability Mobility at Abu Dhabi Mobility, Anan Al Amri, titled ‘Accelerating the Future: How Sustainable Mobility is Reshaping the Automotive Aftermarket’, where she highlighted the evolution of the aftermarket with a focus on creating a sustainable future where every component and service is designed with minimal environmental impact, and underscoring the collective effort needed to shape the industry’s future.

She said: “I like to say we are no longer talking about the aftermarket, and are in fact talking about the after future – a future where every component is designed with its second life in mind. Every service is data-driven and delivered with precision, and every kilometre leaves a smaller footprint than the one before. In the past, the aftermarket existed to sustain the journey. Today, we are on the journey. How we maintain, repurpose, and innovate will determine the lifespan of vehicles, as well as the sustainability of our cities.

“With the combined efforts of operators, innovators, policy makers, and strategic partners, we have the chance to shape the industry for the future.”

A strong lineup of sessions addressed a range of topics, including a panel on ‘The Connected Aftermarket – Telematics, Data, and Digital Innovation,’ moderated by Subhashree Ramarathnam of Frost & Sullivan.

Speakers, including Mohamed Yagoub Mastoor of Ruptela, Vijay Gummadi of Autorox, and Maneesha Bhatnagar of LeasePlan Emirates, examined how telematics, data, and digital innovation are redefining the aftermarket and the need for a connected ecosystem to enhance trust and efficiency.

“The primary challenge we are facing, from a repair shop perspective, is a highly fragmented ecosystem – repair shops not connected to suppliers, car owners, insurance companies, and fleet operators,” said Gummadi.

“Due to this lack of a connected ecosystem and its fragmented nature, the primary issue is trust – car owners don’t trust repair shops in the independent aftermarket. We have to enhance the trust by bringing connectivity to all the main players,” he added.