Region’s biggest automotive aftermarket and services awards set
to recognise and reward excellence and innovation
Almost 400 award entries from regional and international
companies are now down to 30 finalists
Dubai, UAE: The Automechanika Dubai Awards has returned for its
third edition, celebrating and honouring the crème de la crème of the
region’s automotive aftermarket and service industry.
Held on the second morning of the three-day Automechanika Dubai, the
Middle East and Africa’s largest international trade exhibition for the
automotive aftermarket industry, from October 2-4 at Dubai World Trade
Centre (DWTC), this year’s awards have attracted a record-breaking
399 entries across ten awards.
Now narrowed down to 30 finalists by an esteemed panel of regional
and international senior industry judges, this year’s event also includes
several new categories, including a special recognition award to be
announced during the award ceremony with the exhibition on the
morning of October 3.
As the MENA region’s first-ever platform to recognise the people and
organisations creating significant impact within the automotive sector,
the 2023 awards celebrate service providers, people, digitalisation,
products, and leaders making a difference in the industry.
Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Portfolio Director at Automechanika Dubai
organisers Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “Our awards this year
very much reflect the changing nature of the industry – for the first time
we are featuring an award for the digitalisation project of the year, as
well as the digital product of the year.
“Our new Start-up of the Year category also throws a spotlight on all the
innovation we’ve seen in the sector in recent times, and interest has
once again grown in our ground-breaking ‘Women in Automotive’
category.”
Finalists for the Women in Automotive Aftermarket category are Mary
Munyao, YNA Kenya; Nisreen Akhter, Star Composed Chemicals MFG
LLC; and Shubhra Srivastava, GaragePlug Inc.
For the new Digitalization Project of the Year category, the judges
narrowed the entries to three finalists: GaragePlug Inc., Autobia and
Arabian Automobiles Company. The Start-Up of the Year award puts
Autobia, AutoSmart Technology and Ennoventure up against each
other.
The companies in the final three for the Digital Product of the Year
accolade are AutoSmart Audit by Autosmart Technology, Encrypto by
Ennoventure and Frondesk Digital Platform by Frondesk Technology
and Solutions.
An international line-up of finalists representing Germany, Italy, France,
Spain, the UAE, and Australia will compete in the Product of the Year
category. Brembo Beyond Geenance Kit, Encrypto by Ennoventure;
GS27’s eco-certified care line ‘PURE’; the GuniWheel by Martech
Corporation, SSL HD lighting by Hella, and UniClutch by Clutch
Industries.
Elsewhere, Al Shirawi Enterpises LLC, Munich Motor Works and
Arabian Automobiles Company – Aweer, Royal Swiss Auto, Eurodiesel
Services, and Orient Motors LLC have been shortlisted across the
Bodyshop of the Year, Workshop of the Year – Passenger Cars, and
Service Provider of the Year – Commercial Vehicles categories.
Rounding out the awards, Performansion and D Luxe Car Care have
been shortlisted in the widely anticipated Customization Specialist of the
Year category.
The Automechanika Dubai Awards 2023 are sponsored by Bridgestone
Middle East and Africa. Jacques Fourie, Vice President and Managing
Director, said: “Bridgestone is deeply honoured to partner with the
Automechanika Dubai Awards 2023. In collaboration with the esteemed
Automechanika Dubai platform, our goal is to foster diverse
opportunities for individuals and organisations to thrive.
“These awards serve as a testament to the hard work, dedication, and
ingenuity of all participants. We recognise that success in this industry is
not attained in isolation; it arises from collaboration, the pursuit of
excellence, and the unwavering quest for improvement.
“As Bridgestone, we eagerly anticipate continuing our journey of
innovation and excellence, hand in hand with the dynamic automotive
community. Together, we will address challenges and seize
opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape. We remain steadfast in our
commitment to advancing the automotive industry to new horizons.”
Highlighting a recent report from market research analysts, Technavio
suggests the region’s automotive market will accelerate at a CAGR of
6.74% between 2021 and 2026. “There is much to celebrate in our
industry as the sector continues to go from strength to strength,” added
Bilikozen.
The landmark 20 th edition of Automechanika Dubai is set to attract over
1,912 exhibitors from 61 nations, showcasing a diverse range of
innovative products, services and technologies to a global audience of
thousands.
This year’s judges’ panel comprises:
Graham Threlfall, Global Key Account Manager – Vehicle
Refinishes, AkzoNobel
Abdulla Rashed Obaid AlDahail Almheiri, Strategies and
Organizational Excellence Office Manager, Dubai Government
Workshop
Nasir Saif Sultan AlSeeri, Head of VIP Vehicles Maintenance
Section, Dubai Government Workshop
Dr. Nima Mehrdadi, Vice President Aftermarket Middle East,
Africa, CA & India, Managing Director, Hella Middle East
Alan Whaley, Founder and Chairman, AMENA Professional
Vishal Pandey, Partner, Automotive & Mobility Practice, Glasgow
Research & Consulting
Michel Malik, CEO, BodyShop News International
Zuhri Yusof, Automotive Industry Expert
Tufan Baysal, Director, Middle East/Africa/Eurasia Aftermarket
EMEA, Niterra
