500 suppliers vying for BMW sourcing on Day 1 CIAPE

Shanghai, November 13 (Gasgoo.com) On November 12, the opening day of the 2008 China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE), more than 500 suppliers were vying for the auto-parts sourcing orders of BMW at the buyer-supplier matching event organized by Gasgoo.com, a renowned e-commerce portal of auto parts, said state media today.

BMW Group and British Alexander Dennis started their auto-parts sourcing’s matching sessions simultaneously at 10 in the morning, with BMW focusing on its China sourcing of car body parts and electrical and electronic products, while Alexander Dennis sourcing chassis and general parts. Over 500 companies took part in the matching sessions on the opening day.

During the four-day 2008 CIAPE, Gasgoo.com will hold four similar meetings for auto-parts buyers and suppliers. Following the Day 1 matching sessions for the sourcing of BMW and Alexander Dennis, the three global buyers -- Vibracoustic, Ellamp and Draexlmaier – had their sourcing meetings on Day 2 (November 13), their sourcing items including cast parts, plastic parts, stamping parts, engines, and forging parts. On Day 3 the four parts giants Sinamotive Vertriebs GmbH, Gentex, Valeo and KAZ Auto will take the stage, and on the last day, or Day 4, ESSAR will hog the spotlight, sourcing engines and car body parts.

In the build-up to the 2008 CIAPE, Gasgoo.com had promoted this auto-parts event to many suppliers among its online members, but the attendance is much greater than expected, said a staffer of the B2B portal. In addition to the 500 suppliers who attended the opening day’s sourcing sessions, there will be more than 1,000 Chinese auto-parts makers coming to meet the sourcing companies on the stage set by Gasgoo.com during the four days of the 2008 CIAPE.

The match-making sessions for auto-parts buyers and suppliers have drawn much media attention as well. “In times of financial crisis, many global sourcing companies have tried to cut their long travel expenses and thus have shifted their sourcing businesses onto the online B2B platforms like the Gasgoo.com. This means an opportunity as well as a challenge to a lot of companies,” said Gasgoo.com CEO Kevin Chen to Chinese and international reporters.

To better meet auto-parts sourcing needs during the financial crisis, Gasgoo.com has decided to launch the sourcing promotion events for auto-parts buyers who have agreed the portal to act in their capacity for urgent large sourcing projects. There are about 5,000 sourcing items, covering 90% of the parts of a car, Chen said. 

Gasgoo.com will put these sourcing projects under close scrutiny to ensure that they are true and effective. As soon as any suppliers of matching auto-parts are found, they will be arranged to meet the buyers face to face for their sourcing business.