Haymarket Exhibitions is launching a Low Carbon Racing and Automotive Show (LCRA) for January 2015, held at Birmingham’s NEC in the UK. The event will showcase innovations, provide networking opportunities and cement the UK’s position as a global hub for low carbon technologies across both the motorsport and automotive industries.
With low and ultra-low carbon vehicle technologies vital for the growth of the UK automotive sector, the government is planning a £150bn [1] investment over the next 20 years, expected to result in a 60% share of the market by 2030 [2]. The UK has already witnessed rapid proliferation of hybrid and electric vehicles sales, up 17.4% year-on-year [3], with the technology having been proven in global motorsport series, such as Formula One and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
LCRA will take place alongside Autosport International, Europe’s largest motorsport show, which attracts over 82,000 visitors including 27,000 trade buyers from over 50 countries. The new show will further reinforce the event’s presence as a catalyst for global automotive engineering opportunities in a year when Autosport International will celebrate its 25th anniversary (8-11 January 2015).
Gavin Brown, Managing Director of Haymarket Exhibitions, commented, “We have been greatly encouraged by the response received from various government trade bodies and organisations to our new initiative. LCRA will be co-located alongside Autosport Engineering, for specialist suppliers to the motorsport and automotive industry, and will showcase companies with the latest and most innovative low carbon technologies being used across both the motorsport and the mainstream automotive sectors.”
Chris Aylett, CEO of the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), added, “The motorsport industry has an exciting part to play in developing solutions and technologies to meet the demands of a low-carbon automotive and transport future. Successful new business partnerships have already been formed and more will, undoubtedly, follow. LCRA 2015 provides a timely and helpful opportunity for all relevant low carbon business communities to come together and is an excellent initiative from Haymarket, which we welcome.”
Alongside the MIA, Haymarket Exhibitions is actively discussing collaborations to showcase technology at the show, in addition to seminars from industry leaders. Among the first exhibitors to sign-up are Greenpower and Emissions Analytics, “As the leading organisation for educational and sustainable motorsport for young people worldwide, we are delighted to learn about the new Low Carbon Racing and Automotive Show. We feel there is great synergy between our organisation, industry and this exciting new event and were delighted to sign up as one of the first exhibitors.” said Jeremy Way, CEO of Greenpower.
Jane Thomas, Global Sales Manager for Emissions Analytics added: “The calibre of exhibitors and attendees at LCRA makes it an exciting prospect for us to promote our services to the low carbon sector. It is rare to have the opportunity to reach so many people at once and we hope to capitalise on the opportunity this event provides by demonstrating the benefits of real-world testing.”
For further updates on the Low Carbon Racing and Automotive Show visit www.autosportinternational.com
[1] SMMT Motor Industry Facts 2014
[2] SMMT, New Car CO2 Report 2014
[3] Sales from January-September 2013 were up 17.4% on the same period in 2012 with 25,156 electric cars being sold (Mintel, November 2013)