Deep dive: why MotorEx delivers ROI for automotive brands
18 September 2025 · 5 min read
Cost per square metre, audience composition and purchase behaviour — the numbers behind a trade decision, rather than the enthusiasm.
MotorEx has carved a niche by delivering an exceptional return on investment compared with other automotive aftermarket trade expos. The case rests on three variables: audience, investment and duration.
On audience, MotorEx carries both automotive professionals and enthusiasts — research recorded 9,000 automotive professionals alongside 21,000 automotive enthusiasts.
On investment, average trade expo space at MotorEx has run at $145 + GST per square metre. Comparable shows attracting a similar number of automotive professionals frequently exceed $450 + GST per square metre.
On duration, MotorEx runs across two days rather than three. Shorter duration reduces staffing cost as well as space cost, without reducing access to the audience.
The commercial behaviour of the audience matters most. 41.5% of attendees made purchases from exhibitors, rising to 50.6% among entrants. Attendees reported an average annual spend of $8,661 on aftermarket modifications and upgrades; entrants averaged $14,448.
Social recall was also strong, with 78.4% of attendees recalling event promotion and advertising on social channels.
The conclusion for a brand assessing its trade calendar is straightforward: MotorEx is not just an event with passion, it is an event with commerce.
The question is never 'should we do a show'. It is 'which show returns the most per dollar committed'.
