With less than a month to go before the official opening on June 7th of Automechanika 2022 at the National Exhibition Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg and excitement around the Innovation Awards building, the deadline for entering the competition has been extended to midday on Friday, May 13th, 2022.
Product innovation is synonymous with the Automechanika brand and as such, the Innovation Awards have been a highlight of the local event since it was first held in 2009. Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors are thus invited to submit automotive products they deem to be innovative and pioneering in their respective fields for scrutiny.
Over the years the finalists and winners in the Innovation Awards have been showcased in a special exhibit at the show and have garnered huge interest from industry representatives and the public alike. Winners have been able to successfully harness their achievements in the competition to bolster their marketing programmes and – as a result – have tasted local and international success.
“Entries will be judged by an independent jury of highly qualified and respected automotive experts representing recognised organisations and representative bodies within the industry,” explains Michael Dehn, Managing Director of exhibition organisers Messe Frankfurt South Africa. “They will score products on a predetermined list of criteria. These include design, quality, efficiency, functionality, practicality, value for money, environmental friendliness and – of course – innovation.”
Organisations represented on the panel of judges include the Retail Motor Industry (RMI), the Automobile Associated (AASA), the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), the Automotive Industry Export Council (AIEC), the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) and Absa, which is also a sponsor of the event.
In keeping with the latest automotive trends, the 10 categories of the 2022 Innovation Awards are:
- Parts
- Accessories & Customising
- Driver Assistance & Safety
- E-mobility
- Data & Connectivity
- Diagnostics & Tuning
- Repair & Maintenance
- Original Equipment Products & Services
- IT & Management
- 10. Service Station & Car Wash equipment
Prospective entrants must submit photographs and a detailed description of any automotive aftermarket or original equipment product they have developed, manufactured, imported, or distributed in South Africa. There is no entry fee.
The description of each product must include its country of origin, when it was introduced to the South African market, the category of the aftermarket in which it competes, as well as the following:
- Perceived innovative quality
- The solution the product aims to provide
- Its functionality and user benefits
- Perceived economic efficiency
- Safety aspects it promotes
- Environmental aspects it promotes
- Its relevance to the automotive sector in which it competes
Representatives of the companies whose products have been selected as finalists will be asked to submit – on Monday, May 23rd – two examples of the items for physical scrutiny by jury members. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony which will form part of the trade fair’s official opening on Tuesday, June 7th.
HOW TO ENTER
Entrants are requested to submit by e-mail on or before midday on Friday, May 13th 2022, their product motivations, along with hi-resolution pictures of at least 1 Mb in size of the items. Each entry must include the e-mail address and telephone number of the person responsible for the submission, along with details of the company he or she represents.
Entries must be sent to the competition’s convenor, Liana Reiners, at the following e-mail address: reinersliana@gmail.com. Alternatively, she can be contacted on 083 407 4600.
