Your essential guide to designing and building an exhibition stand at Automechanika
Make the most of your exhibition stand at Automechanika Birmingham 2025
3 – 5 June 2025, NEC, Birmingham
Automechanika is an automotive trade show like no other in the UK. In 2025 it will bring together 500+ leading brands from 25+ countries and 15,000 senior UK based visitors from across the automotive industry, for three days of networking, learning and opportunities to do serious business.
Held every other year, this spectacular show returns in 2025, on 3-5 June at the NEC, Birmingham. Whether you’re a veteran or a first-time exhibitor, here’s what to expect from this unmissable event:
Need a price for your Automechanika 2025 exhibition stand?
How to make Automechanika a successful exhibition for your business
Start with clear goals. What do you want to achieve at Automechanika Birmingham? With stand space costing anywhere from £250m² to £1,250m², you need to be sure it’s worth the spend.
Budget wisely. You’ll need to factor in both floorspace and your exhibition stand. There’s no point booking a huge space if you don’t have the budget left to create a stand that draws in and engages your visitors.
Know your audience. Are you aiming for 50 quality leads to follow up on post-show, or do you need to connect with 10 decision-makers ready to buy? Set a clear, realistic target = you can’t measure success without one.
Get your stand brief right. Whether you’re working with a stand partner (like us!) or handling it in-house, a strong exhibition brief keeps everything on track. We’ve helped countless businesses through the “where do we even start?!” phase with our guide.
Manufacturers, dealers, OEMs, tier 1 engineers, R&D, procurement and distributors will be flocking to Automechanika 2025, taking over 3 NEC, Birmingham halls and showcase the latest in automotive aftermarket and supply chain innovation.
With high numbers of decision-makers attending, it’s the perfect event to launch new products – just ask the 120+ brands already planning to do so.
The sold-out Automechanika 2023 drew thousands of visitors and top industry names. 2025 looks set to be just as big, with over 90% of exhibitors already booked in.
Mann & Hummel, Bosch, DAYCO, Valeo, Mobil, Comline ZF, Bosch, Hella, Alliance Automotive Group, Snap-ON and Castrol have secured their spots, and with 67% of visitors attending no other event, this is your best chance to get in front of key decision-makers.
We’ve seen first hand how varied spaces and stand designs can be at Automechanika Birmingham.”
“What’s our advice? Don’t blow 90% of your budget on floor space and leave yourself hardly any options for your stand.”
“It’s better to go smaller and make an impact than to go big for the sake of it.”
David Hennessy, Motive Exhibitions Managing Director
Launching a product? Bringing vehicles, machinery, or tools? We’ll make sure your brand gets noticed.
Every exhibition stand we create is completely bespoke and designed to attract your target customers with a memorable experience.
We’ll craft a space that’s immersive, engaging, and tailored to your budget and goals – whether you need a hands-on demo area, a place to connect with buyers, or a high-impact showcase.
Promote your core values with a highly sustainable Motive Exhibitions stand.
Exhibition stands we can build at Automechanika 2025
The NEC’s modern, spacious layout provides the perfect setting for any exhibition stand, big or small.
Here are the stand types we recommend for Automechanika Birmingham 2025.
Built from the ground up to match your brand and business goals, bespoke stands give you complete creative freedom.
Whether you opt for a single or double-deck stand, bold graphics, interactive elements, or a sleek product showcase, this option ensures you make a lasting impression.
A flexible, cost-effective solution, modular stands can be reconfigured for different events.
Made up of interlocking components, they create a seamless, professional display without the price tag of a fully custom build. Ideal for venues like the NEC, where space comes at a premium.
The most budget-friendly option, shell scheme stands are compact yet high-impact. They’re perfect for first-time exhibitors or those working with limited space.
With smart design, a small stand can be just as eye-catching as a larger setup. If Automechanika 2025 is your first show, this could be the ideal choice.
Exhibition stand hire
Not ready to commit to purchasing a stand? Hire a full setup or just key elements like furniture, props, or AV equipment.
A hybrid approach—mixing custom-made pieces with hired components—offers a cost-effective, sustainable option, especially if this is your first big exhibition.
Can’t decide which stand option is best?
Everything you need to know about exhibiting at NEC, Birmingham
We’ve built (and dismantled!) dozens of stands at the NEC, one of the UK’s busiest exhibition venues.
With 600+ businesses competing for attention at Automechanika 2025, your success depends on visibility. Stands near networking and presentation areas get the most foot traffic but come at a premium.
Our tip? Book floor space at the front of the halls – but not right by the entrance, where visitors tend to rush past.
The NEC is a fantastic, modern event and exhibition space, so there isn’t much to complain about. But, as with every facility, there are a few things to be aware of before you arrive.
Based on our experiences at the venue, our team has put together a handy list of pros and cons:
Pros of exhibiting at the NEC:
- Pros of exhibiting at the NEC:
- Central UK location, making it easy to get to.
- All stands are on the main show floor, ideal for networking and increasing visibility.
- Attracts a large audience of potential customers.
- Can accommodate a variety of stand sizes, from large custom builds to smaller, flexible shell-scheme.
- Ideal venue for showcasing food demos, with plenty of room for trailers and large displays.
- Free parking for exhibitors and contractors during setup and teardown.
- Complimentary shuttle buses between the car parks and exhibition halls.
- Free visitor Wi-Fi.
- A wide range of hotels nearby to suit all budgets.
Cons of exhibiting at the NEC:
- Floor space can be expensive.
- The venue’s food and drink are priced at a premium.
- The traffic management system can be a hassle.
- It’s a popular venue, so you need to book early – especially for large or custom stands.
- There’s no on-site storage, so you’ll need to arrange separate storage for packing cases, equipment, etc.
- The venue doesn’t provide logistics equipment (trolleys, pump trucks, etc.). However, if you work with us, the project costs will cover all of this!
- Smaller stands can sometimes be overlooked in such a vast space. But don’t worry, with smart design and the right partner, you can still make a big impact.
The end to end process of working with Motive was seamless.
We needed them to do everything from designing, and building the stand, setting up on day one, assisting throughout the show, dealing with the venue, and most importantly, managing the budget.
And they managed everything. No problem was too big or small for them and they were always on hand to support us.”
Clients we work with
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FAQs
Do you have other clients exhibiting at Automechanika 2025?
We’re excited to bring our expertise to Automechanika Birmingham 2025 and are working with several exhibitors who want creative and distinctive stand designs.
Whether you’re a long-term client or working with us for the first time, you’ll get the same expert project management, logistical support, and attention to detail that goes into every stand we create.
Looking for a stand to get you noticed at Automechanika? Let’s chat!
How much do exhibition stands cost?
Stand costs vary depending on:
- The size of the space you’ve booked.
- Whether your stand is for a one-off event or built for multiple shows.
- Your exhibition goals—brand awareness, lead generation, product demos, etc.
- Whether you’re hiring or buying.
Bigger isn’t always better – clever stand design makes the biggest impact. We’ll help you create something that’s visually striking, practical, and on budget.
Should I hire or buy a stand?
It depends on your long-term plans. Hiring is ideal if:
- You don’t have space to store a stand.
- You want to test ideas before committing to a custom build.
- Your business doesn’t exhibit regularly.
- Different teams exhibit at different events and need customisable graphics.
If you exhibit more than three times a year, owning your stand is usually more cost-effective. We can design for reusability, so you get the most out of your investment.
What makes a great custom exhibition stand?
A custom exhibition stand should do more than just look impressive – it needs to work hard for your business. A great stand:
- Showcases your brand’s identity and grabs attention.
- Engages the right visitors with smart features like demos, interactive displays, or meeting spaces.
- Makes the most of your budget and space, ensuring impact without wasted costs.
- Stands apart from the crowd, no matter how flashy the competition.
The key to getting this right is a well thought-out exhibition stand brief. This shapes the design from the start, making sure your stand delivers exactly what you need – whether for a one-off event or multiple shows.
Can we take vehicles and machinery onto an exhibition stand?
Yes, but it requires careful planning. Getting large machinery into the NEC (and back out again!) takes logistical expertise.
If you want to showcase large-scale machinery at Automechanika Birmingham, then working with experienced exhibition stand builders is essential. Let us handle all the paperwork, health & safety, and logistics, then you can focus on the show.
Motive Exhibitions, 3 Orion Court, Ambuscade Road, Colmworth Business Park, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, PE19 8YX
