FIAA 2024 showcases the power of a bus and coach industry with a clear projection abroad

A total of 100 companies, including all the leading firms in the bus and coach sector, will meet from 22 to 25 October at the largest trade event in southern Europe. FIAA, the International Bus and Coach Trade Fair, will hold its fifteenth edition, organised by IFEMA MADRID. This brings together the latest innovations from vehicle manufacturers, coachbuilders and auxiliary industry and technology, in an event that will lend visibility to the definitive recovery of this industry, after years of slowdown.

The bus and coach sector is the backbone of mobility in Spain. According to the employers' organisation, CONFEBUS, 1 out of every 2 public transport journeys in Spain is made by bus. A sector made up of 2,787 operating companies, 44,852 public service buses, which annually transport 3,144 million passengers, connect 8,000 towns and cities, and spend around 800 million euros a year on fleet renewal. In addition, half of national production is earmarked by manufacturers for export, bearing testimony to the growing external projection of an industry that is highly committed to sustainability and efficiency.

This potential is on show in a new edition of FIAA, which has grown by 34% compared to the previous edition, with these hundred or so exhibitors bringing together 85% of the national market share. What's more, the exhibition area has taken on an extra pavilion to accommodate this high demand, representing 79% growth in exhibition space. The show will occupy pavilions 8 and 10, with a net exhibition area of 38,700 m2. In addition, there will be business representation from 12 countries. There could be no better example of the growing international scale of the event and its wide recognition around the world, also contributing to the powerful programme of buyers from the main markets of interest to the national industry (coming from 30 countries), which has been implemented for the occasion.

Furthermore, all the associations of this sector are renewing their support to FIAA, as their Fair of reference: the Spanish Confederation of Bus Transport, CONFEBUS; the National Association of Coach Transport Entrepreneurs, ANETRA; the National Association of Coach and Bus Manufacturers, ASCABUS; the Association of Urban and Metropolitan Public Transport, ATUC, and the Association of Coach Companies, DIREBUS. Internationally, thePortuguese National Association of Passenger Transport, ANTROP, the Belgian Federation of Bus and Coach Operators, and the Moroccan Association of Coachbuilders are also involved.

The companies participating in FIAA 2024 will be putting on show their capacity for innovation, with a broad showcase of innovations organised into the sectors of: Full Vehicles; Framework; Bodywork; Components, Accessories and Technology; Maintenance; Transportation Infrastructure; and Associations, Organisations and Services.

. Activity programme

In recognition of the bus and coach industry's R&D efforts, FIAA will once again present its fourth Minibus of The Year 2025 awards and the eighth Sustainable Bus Awards. They are set to take place on the eve of the Fair's opening, Monday, 21 October 2024, at 7 p.m. at a Special Gala that the Fair has specifically scheduled to afford special prominence to the sector's recovery. The juries for both awards are made up of a broad cross-section of leading trade magazines from around the world, further proof of the show's international scale.

FIAA 2024, set to be inaugurated on Tuesday, 22 October at 11:00 by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, will have an intense agenda of activities. As usual, a Press Day has been scheduled - a tour of a selection of exhibitors, who will present their latest innovations to the media - which on this occasion, due to the high demand for participation, will be divided into two days: all day on the 22nd and in the morning on Wednesday, the 23rd.

In turn, the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium; Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid, EMT, and CONFEBUS, are organising the round table - on Wednesday, 23 October, at 12 noon - "What will the buses of the future be like in Madrid?", where public transport in Madrid will be analysed.

Furthermore, the Association of Coach Companies, DIREBUS, has scheduled an act of homage to the Director of FIAA, David Moneo, for his dedication to the bus and coach sector. The event will take place on 24 October at 12:00 noon in the Auditorium of Pavilion 8.

In turn, the company E-RESCUE will present, as it did in 2022 and during the four days of the Fair, the "Recreation of a Coach Rescue", (stand 8B10). This is a practical demonstration of a rescue with "Rescue Seats" designed to evacuate the injured, with the participation of firefighters and health workers from the Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council. Rescue drills will be held on Tuesday 22nd at 11 a.m. and on Wednesday 23rd at 1 p.m. at stand 8-B10.

In turn, Carrilbus will hold open debates in the Auditorium of Pavilion 8, with the participation of the heads of the Departments of the sector from various autonomous communities. These will look at the issues of the current situation of urban and metropolitan mobility (buses, rail, taxis, vtc, bikes...); the current situation of interurban and rural mobility (bus lines, rail, on-demand transport, shared transport...); technologies, vehicles, payment systems and access to the different means of transport, and the present and future projects and plans of the Administration related with the improvement of mobility in these autonomous communities.

The companies on show will also have access to the Auditorium in Pavilion 8 for presentations of their products and new items.

Link to the list of exhibitors in the FIAA -

HERE CLICK

Visitor register, where there is currently an online promotion:

CLICK HERE

Advance registration is required to obtain a pass that will be valid for all days of the Fair. The fee for this pass is 3 euros. Tickets will be available for purchase at the box office on arrival at the event at 15 euros.

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More information at:  www.fiaa.ifema.es