Eleven representatives of American automotive supply companies were greeted by US Consul General Todd Holmstrom at the opening of the Automechanika Jeddah show on Jan. 26.

The US companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) that are either new to the Saudi market or looking to significantly expand their operations in the Kingdom.

The show, held for the first time in Jeddah, is ongoing at the Jeddah =nternational Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The exhibition represents the first time US auto manufacturing and supply companies have exhibited in the Kingdom.

Automechanika is a worldwide franchise of automobile trade exhibitions held annually in 14 countries.

The next Automechanika show in the GCC will be in Dubai from May 8-10.

The automotive sector represents the largest category of American exports to the Kingdom. In 2014, out of $19 billion in exports to the Kingdom, nearly $5 billion were exports of vehicles and vehicle parts. Since 2009, the US automobile exports to Saudi Arabia are up 143 percent.

The commercial service office at the US Consulate in Jeddah is stated to be recruiting Saudi automotive firms interested in traveling to the SEMA auto show in Abu Dhabi (March 31-April2) and Auto-mechanika Dubai (May 8-10) in order to meet the many US auto firms exhibiting at these shows.