Comtrans set to stun visitors next week!

Comtrans 2017, the international commercial vehicle show, takes place in Russia next week. FOCUS will be there – of course. According to Sergey Alexandrov, general manager of ITEMF Expo (the company organising the show), there will be lots to see and do.

The show is set to be a massive success. In fact, Alexandrov tells FOCUS that it will be the leading commercial vehicle show this year – not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The exhibition takes place from September 5 to 9 in Moscow.

According to Alexandrov, the fair is taking place at an especially interesting time. “As at the beginning of 2017 there are 8,09-million commercial vehicles registered in Russia. Since 2009 the number has increased by over 13 percent (or by almost one million vehicles). Every second commercial vehicle in Russia is more than 15 years old. Russian brands dominate with over 70 percent of the market

“The market peaked in 2012. It then suffered a dramatic downfall in subsequent years, bottoming out in 2015. This year, the market has shown enormous growth; sales were 40 percent up in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period last year,” he explains.

In keeping with the growth in the market, Comtrans exhibitors boast stands that are bigger and better than ever before this year. Also, some companies that did not exhibit in 2015 (Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, DAF and Hyundai, for instance) are returning this year.

Local companies such as Kamaz, Gaz and UAZ will, of course, be there and they’re being joined by PJSC Avtovaz for the first time.

In addition, a flagship conference – Moscow Commercial Vehicle Summit – will take place alongside the show for the first time this year.

Yet another first is the establishment of a new organising company, ITEMF Expo, which is a joint venture of the ITE Group (Great Britain) and Messe Frankfurt (Germany). This has resulted in the globalisation of the exhibition. Accordingly, visitors will be able to visit stands from 12 countries, including Turkey, Germany and those in Asia.

The major Russian original equipment manufacturers will launch new models (including electric vehicles) at the show, while Scania, MAN and Isuzu will lift the lid on new products for the Russian market, too.

We’ll be sharing all the news with FOCUS readers – so watch this space!