Explore International Markets

Please check back in the coming months for our next trade mission schedule.

The Auto Care Association has hosted eight successful trade missions as part of the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The association received the award to help U.S. companies in the automotive industry increase exports to free trade agreement partners in Latin America. Read more about them:

• Trade Mission to Colombia - June 5-6, 2019
• Trade Mission to Chile - August 21-22, 2018
• Trade Mission to Costa Rica - May 21-22, 2018
• Trade Mission to Honduras and Nicaragua - September 26-28, 2017
• Trade Mission to Colombia - June 7-8, 2017
• Trade Mission to Guatemala - June 21-22, 2016
• Trade Mission to Peru - May 17-19, 2016

For more information regarding the Auto Care Association’s trade missions or other international opportunities, please contact Carolina Arregoces.

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what attendees have to say about trade missions

“The high level of engagement from the Auto Care team and AmCham Colombia before and during the trade mission far surpassed our expectations. They were able to secure in-person meetings with top-notch customers that will lead to the distribution of our products. It would have taken us multiple phone calls, trips to the country and thousands of dollars to engage with customers, all without having the required inside knowledge that the team brought to the table.”

Luis Perez Morales, senior manager, international sales and operations, Interstate Batteries 
2019 Colombia trade mission

“We have had great success in finding highly motivated individuals and locally established businesses to meet with us face-to-face and discuss acquiring our products. This adds more credence by being there, rather than just conference calls and emails. If you want to grow your business or industry outside of your comfort zone, act quickly. Based on our experience, I highly recommend trying your best efforts to do the same by joining the Auto Care Association and participate in their trade mission program.”

Santiago Estrada, international account executive, Warco Products 
2018 Costa Rica trade mission

“The trade mission was extremely well organized, from the personalized meeting agenda, qualifying the prospects to the logistical help from Auto Care and the U.S. Commercial Service. Not only did we make some great contacts, we had the ability to see the market and the only way to do that is to be on the ground. The trip completely met and exceeded my expectations, and I hope to participate again in the future.”

Harold Menke, director of sales/special markets, Centric Parts 
2017 Honduras - Nicaragua trade mission

“For a small company like the Murray Corporation, we do not have all the resources to organize a fact-finding mission ourselves. If I attend a trade show and talk to a distributor, I do not have anything to demonstrate my credibility. Through Auto Care’s trade mission, the U.S. Embassy requested meetings on our behalf, automatically boosting our credibility as a legitimate company.”

Mike Sre, international sales manager, Murray Corporation 
2017 Colombia trade mission

“The meetings we’ve had were certainly worthwhile. The trade mission value was very appealing, especially the turnkey element of having all meetings, local transportation, hotel and meals arranged. We are very interested in participating in future Auto Care trade missions as long as there is a market for our product.”

Tim Williams, VP, commercial sales, Penda Corporation 
2017 Colombia trade mission

“I had not anticipated that this trade mission to Lima, Peru would be as productive as it has been. The briefings presented Tuesday by Peruvian and U.S. Embassy officials, and from the representative from the Automotive Association of Peru, were thorough and very informative. They clearly put into context the opportunities and challenges that exist in the Peruvian aftermarket. The site visits, as well as the one-on-one meetings that were pre-arranged, were very effective. I am certain that I will develop significant new business from this trade mission. The Auto Care Association did an excellent job in organizing and executing this event.”

Mick Jordan, vice president, marketing, Cloyes Gear and Products 
2016 Peru trade mission

“We would like to extend our thanks to the Auto Care Association for setting up the trade mission to Guatemala. Our experience during this event has been of a positive outcome. Having the opportunity to meet with the leading companies in the automotive industry in Guatemala has opened a wide range of business venues we were long due to achieve. We would like to support this program and hopefully participate in the upcoming missions to other countries scheduled for the future, and encourage all the companies in the auto care industry to participate in these trade missions.”

Jorge Amaya, delegate from Herko Automotive Group 
2016 Guatemala trade mission

“The Auto Care Association and the U.S. Commercial Service did a magnificent job of setting up productive meetings with local businesses which are eagerly ready to create business relationships with our U.S. organization.”

Daniel Moroles, sales and market development manager, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. 
2016 Guatemala trade mission

“I feel that the meetings were all done professionally, with people I am looking to do business with. I personally think I will be doing business with everybody that I met, without a doubt. The trade mission was priced right. For what we got, it was a pure benefit – a good bang for the buck.”

Albert Montaner, regional manager, The Parts House 
2018 Chile trade mission