Tuning show opens in Sharjah

A premier tuning show in Sharjah is set to cash in on the growing rage for car customisation in the region, as the doors were thrown open to the Middle East Motor Tuning Show (MEMTS) at Expo Centre Sharjah on Thursday.The fourth edition of MEMTS was opened by Shaikh Salim bin Abdul Rahman Al Qassimi, director of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office, in the presence of Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general of Expo Centre Sharjah; senior executives of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (Sema) from the United States, industry representatives and invitees.“If one goes by the sales of luxury cars, which are mostly used for customisation, then the regional tuning market is certainly on an overdrive. Most luxury car makers have seen high Middle East sales, much higher than their global figures. MEMTS will be a barometer that reflects the health of the regional car customization industry,” said Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa.Luxury car makers have reported record sales figures in 2012, with Bentley logging a 44 per cent increase in regional sales as against 22 per cent increase in its global sales. Jaguar and Land Rover regional office saw an increase of 27 per cent, while Audi registered 16.4 per cent year on year growth and BMW Group 14 per cent.“We have a very unique market for customisation over here. In most parts of the region no one likes to drive stock. Youth have enough disposable income to fuel their expensive personalisation tastes, which often borders on classy but could also often veer off to wacky and weird too,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.Set to cash in on the craze for customisation, global aftermarket giants have descended on Sharjah, led by Sema, which is bringing together no less than 70 firms representing the US automobile aftermarket and tuning industry. The show concludes on March 16.   source : khaleejtimes.com