Meet the Buyer

Thursday 19 January, 2023

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) Meet the Buyer event will return to Automechanika Birmingham 2023 in June, as part of an all-new Automotive Supply Chain Forum from Messe Frankfurt.

Meet the Buyer brings together automotive purchasers with suppliers who can meet their specific requirements. With automotive supply chains increasingly squeezed by global disruption and the industry undergoing a rapid transition to zero emission motoring, the event will provide a crucial opportunity for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to develop new partnerships.

The event forms a central part of Automotive Supply Chain Forum, a new standalone event co-located with Automechanika Birmingham, the UK’s largest supply chain and aftermarket trade show. More than 12,000 visitors are expected to attend at the NEC Birmingham from 6-8 June 2023, with Automotive Supply Chain Forum itself expected to draw more than 1,500 senior buying professionals from throughout the UK automotive supply chain.

SMMT’s Meet the Buyer has been critical in creating new supply chain relationships. As a regular fixture of the automotive events calendar, and a fixture at Automechanika Birmingham since 2015, it has delivered more than 1,400 successful business introductions between manufacturers and suppliers, helping drive growth.

The UK is home to one of the most diverse automotive industries in the world, with more than 80 vehicle manufacturers covering everything from passenger cars and vans to trucks and buses, as well as being the world’s leading location for the design, prototyping, engineering and manufacturing of high luxury, sports and specialist vehicles. Supporting the sector are more than 5,000 supply chain companies, providing well paid jobs for around 79,000 people, generating £15.5 billion in revenue and adding value of £4.2 billion to the UK economy.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,

Britain’s dynamic automotive industry depends on its diverse and dedicated supply chain – and that supply chain depends on its ability to forge new relationships while growing existing ones. The new Automotive Supply Chain Forum at Automechanika Birmingham will provide a platform for suppliers and buyers to come together, with Meet the Buyer accelerating those vital conversations as vehicle manufacturers look to a zero emission future and ever-increasing local content requirements.

Automechanika Birmingham takes place 6-8 June 2023 at NEC Birmingham, with Meet The Buyer taking place on 7 June.