Automotive Supply Chain Forum and Meet the Buyer remain key highlights
The automotive industry’s supply chain leaders turned their focus firmly towards the future at Automechanika Birmingham 2025, with the Automotive Supply Chain Forum and Meet the Buyer - held in partnership with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) - attracting record levels of engagement and enthusiasm.
With more than 15,000 visitors attending the show overall, and over 2,000 of those walking the floors at the Forum, the hub proved to be a critical meeting point for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), tier one suppliers and buyers eager to navigate the challenges and opportunities posed by rapid technological change, sustainability demands and strategic risk.
SMMT’s Meet the Buyer also made a comeback for this year’s Automechanika Birmingham and was the busiest it’s ever been. This programme enables one-to-one meetings between aftermarket suppliers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and tier-one buyers. Brands who took part included the likes of BMW, McLaren, Nissan and Bentley.
From battery innovation and electrification to AI-driven supply chain resilience and next-generation materials, attendees were immersed in practical, future-focused content that responded directly to the sector’s most urgent priorities. Hands-on demonstrations and strategic keynote speakers gave visitors a rare opportunity to experience the future of mobility up close - and understand the evolving role of UK manufacturing in delivering it.
Over the three days, the Innovation4Mobility stage became the home of the Forum’s thought-leadership content, with sessions led by LKQ Euro Car Parts, Marsh McLennan, TotalEnergies, Hyperbat, Cox Automotive, and Aston University, among others. Topics ranged from ADAS and autonomous robotics, to supply chain localisation, fuel cell development, and the road to net-zero.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of SMMT, commented: “Automechanika Birmingham is now firmly established as the UK’s unmissable event for the aftermarket sector and automotive supply chain. At a time of significant transformation for the industry, it provides a vital platform to come together, share ideas, attract new talent and unlock future opportunities.”
The energy across the Forum reflected a collective willingness to embrace change and take a more proactive approach to everything from regulatory alignment and digitalisation to talent retention and green manufacturing practices.
Joanne Knowles, Event Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of Automechanika Birmingham, added: “This year’s Supply Chain Forum and Meet the Buyer programme were a huge success once again. The industry showed up in full force to exchange insight, forge new relationships and take practical steps towards long-term growth. The overall mood was one of forward-thinking optimism and collaboration.”