Busworld Turkey 2020 returns to its old roots in Istanbul for the first Busworld exhibition of 2020.
Deepti Thore
Busworld Turkey 2020 will be the first Busworld Exhibition of 2020. It also marks Busworlds’ return to its old roots in Istanbul. After all, the first-ever edition of Busworld Turkey was held in Istanbul in 2007 and was host to a total of six grand editions of the bus and coach fair post which the venue was shifted to Izmir. Known to reflect the cultural influences of the empires that once ruled there, Istanbul will return to host the eighth edition of Busworld Turkey from March 05-07, 2020 at the Istanbul Expo Centre. It is expected to build on the successful last edition, held in Izmir, in 2018 with 115 exhibitors known to have participated from over 18 different countries. 10,040 visitors from 107 countries had descended at the venue then.
Organised in collaboration with a Turkish partner, HKF Trade Fairs and TOHOB, ISTAB, WRI, UCLG and the Turkish Ministry of Commerce, the eighth edition of Busworld has zeroed in on the ‘Sustainable bus systems for smart cities’ theme in 2020. The eighth edition will host 114 companies with the bus, coach and minibus builders like Anadolu Isuzu, Karsan, Otokar, Bur-Can, Can Can, Erduman and Karadağ as key exhibitors. Isuzu is expected to display the Citiport 18, the Citiport 12 CNG, the Novociti Volt, Novo Lux and Turquoise this year. It is expected that the Citiport 18 in particular designed for public transportation and with a capacity to ferry 155 passengers will create quite a stir. Karsan’s focus on zero-emission will have the company display the popular six-metre Jest Electric and the eight-metre Atak Electric both of which were showcased at Busworld Europa 2019 drew the crowds. With no less than 40 exhibitors expected to participate, companies from Turkey, China, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Taiwan will include names like Makersan expected to win over the crowds with a single-key solution. The auto-component manufacturer’s list includes Automobile Air Conditioning Co. Ltd. Allison Transmission, BRIST AXLE SYSTEMS, Cummins, Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection, Shanghai Magelec Propulsion Ltd., AKG Turkey, and ZF to name a few. The 2020 edition of Busworld Turkey will mark its return to the host country after a hiatus of 12 years. The Busworld Academy Congress will be held for the fourth time in its history at Turkey. From local topics for operators, presented by TOHOB, to general information about electric buses by WRI, over an in-depth market analysis by Frost and Sullivan and an impressive mayor’s meeting with the mayors of six important Turkish cities: Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Şanlıurfa, Kocaeli, and Eskişehir by UCLG-MEWA is also on the cards.
The Turkish market, home to one of the largest bus and coach communities in the world, has shown early signs of a unique market opportunity. It is said to have the potential for business models built around the market’s need for affordable mobility, high safety standards, and superior levels of service. That Turkish exports hit an all-time high, courtesy the Government support of 3.2 billion liras (USD 540 million) last year, the largest ever Government contribution in Turkish history, all eyes are on the performance in 2020. Expected to benefit domestic manufacturers is also the recent announcement made by Ruhsar Pekcan, Trade Minister, Turkey. Pekcan announced revised support of 3.8 billion liras (USD 640 million) for 2020. With an 85.9 per cent export/import ratio coverage in 2019 compared to 76.5 per cent in 2018, it is also noteworthy that motor land vehicles constituted the largest export item at an export trade valuation of USD 26.88 billion. At USD 16.6 billion, Germany proved to be a major export destination for Turkey. Russia, in contrast, continues to remain the largest import destination at an import trade valuation of USD 23.1 billion.
