SEMA-Supported Bill to Expand Outdoor Recreation Introduced in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, DC (03.24.23) – The bipartisan America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (AORA), S. 873, was reintroduced in the 118th Congress by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY). This SEMA-supported public lands and recreation legislation is the first comprehensive recreation package since 1963 that will improve and expand America’s outdoor recreation economy while delivering sustainable economic boosts to rural communities.

2017 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 LE

The bill requires federal land management agencies to increase opportunities for motorized and non-motorized access to public lands, and it includes provisions to streamline the process and expenses associated with obtaining special recreation permits. The bill also directs the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to make maps available to the public depicting where vehicles are allowed and where they are prohibited, as well as to update them periodically to ensure that the maps do not become outdated.

SEMA, along with our partners that comprise the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, urge swift approval of AORA so that many more Americans can enjoy outdoor spaces and their associated benefits to health and wellness. Studies have shown that enjoying time outside helps benefit a person’s mental and physical health. Additionally, outdoor recreation is a key driver of the U.S. economy with an $862 billion annual economic impact. It is also a major employer throughout the country providing 4.5 million American jobs.

For more information on the American Outdoor Recreation Act, please contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

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SEMA Hall of Fame Nominations Due Tomorrow

DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.17.23) – The SEMA Hall of Fame is an honor bestowed upon individuals who have improved the automotive specialty-equipment industry. These individuals have gone above and beyond the normal course of business to enhance the stature of the industry and/or the association’s growth.

While many well-known names are often nominated for the program, it’s important that SEMA doesn’t overlook leaders and innovators who may not be as well known. There are many unsung heroes who contribute to and impact the industry greatly—and the association needs input from members to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.

Nominate an industry trailblazer who deserves the prestigious honor before March 17 at sema.org/hof

To qualify, the candidate must have been involved in the specialty-equipment automotive industry and/or SEMA for a minimum of 10 years, be at least 50 years of age prior to the 2023 SEMA Show and their contributions must have extended throughout the national or international level.

Candidates who are deceased qualify for nomination at any age, as long as the nomination is presented at least one year posthumous.

Visit sema.org for more.

SEMA Businesswomen’s Network Celebrates 30 Years of Advancing Women in the Automotive Aftermarket

DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.14.23) – The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN), a subset network of the Specialty Equipment Market Association that supports and raises awareness of women in the automotive industry, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023.

The network, which encourages and supports women pursuing careers in the automotive field, represents over 700 female and male members spanning across various occupations and markets in the aftermarket industry.

Since 1993, the SBN has developed and managed industry-focused programs for women, including networking and recognition opportunities. Most recently, it completed its second all-female vehicle build, hosted its second annual Women’s Leadership Forum, and continues to spotlight the stories and careers of women in the automotive industry though its #SheIsSEMA campaign.

“SBN’s history is one of ambition and progress, and we couldn’t be more excited for the community that we have created,” said SBN Director Nicole Bradle. “It’s a network where all women are recognized and supported for their contributions to this thriving industry.”

To celebrate the milestone, the SBN launched a campaign to highlight the stories and members of the network throughout SEMA and SBN communication channels. The campaign will run throughout 2023 and culminate at the SBN 30th Anniversary Reception and Party at the SEMA Show in November.

“There is no better time than now to reflect on what the SBN has achieved,” added Bradle. “Looking to the future, we aspire to further foster growth, support, and community for women.”

To learn more about the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network, visit www.sema.org/sbn.

The Value of SEMA Show Face-to-Face Meetings

DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.09.23) – The SEMA Show is driven by connections, and brings exhibitors, buyers and media from around the world together for the automotive aftermarket’s most valuable, in-person, transformative business experience.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is annually reshaped into the definitive gathering place of the world’s professional automotive community, where the industry’s sights and sounds combine to create an energy that fuels the imagination, sparks new trends, expands business relationships and drives the industry forward.

Exhibitors have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with buyers from all segments of the aftermarket, and can conduct multiple meetings each day to create new business, or reinforce existing customer relationships. Meeting face-to-face is the ideal way to build trust and to communicate ideas more clearly, and it helps avoid potential distractions or the technical difficulties that can disrupt online meetings.

Here are some additional advantages of meeting in person.

• When you meet in person, you can read body language, see facial expressions, use context clues and better get to know someone’s personality.
• The automotive aftermarket prefers to meet face-to-face, without potential distractions or technical difficulties.
• It’s more effective to brainstorm, generate ideas and discuss what is working, and what is not, face-to-face.
• Conducting business in person provides the opportunity to engage in purposeful small talk, deepening relationships, loyalty and trust.
• Research shows face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than those sent by email, and that a physical handshake promotes cooperation and influences negotiation outcomes for the better. (MIT’s Human Dynamics Lab)
• According to a study by Forbes Insight, 85% of people say they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships during in-person meetings and conferences.
• According to a study by the Harvard Review, 95% of people say face-to-face meetings are a key factor in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships.

The 2023 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 31–November 3. For more information about the 2023 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. To exhibit, get started at www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

SEMA: Supply-Chain Insights and The Road to Recovery

DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.24.23) – The supply-chain issues that impacted the United States over the past few years largely peaked and are starting to recover.

According to the new “2023 SEMA Future Trends – January 2023” report, supply-chain issues are expected to improve in 2023, but it will take time to return to pre-pandemic levels, especially with supplies that affect the automotive sector like semiconductors (or chips).

According to the SEMA study:

The specialty-equipment industry has been affected. More than 90% of companies have been moderately or severely impacted by supply-chain issues. Most expect things to normalize by the end of 2023 or into 2024.
Ports are less congested. Container ports in the United States, like in Los Angeles or Long Beach, are no longer as congested with container ships waiting for berths. As a result, prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Trucking is improving nationwide. Demand for cross-country hauling by truckers has eased and the number of trucks available to ship things has increased. Prices have also dropped from their record highs.
Semiconductor, or chip, shortages continue. Shortages, most notably for the automotive sector, continue to linger. Average lead delivery times for chips decreased but remain high, at approximately 25.5 weeks as of October 2022.

For an in-depth analysis on how port congestion has eased, projections for supply-chain improvement by manufacturer / distributor / retailer, and prices for shipping by truck, download the “SEMA Future Trends – January 2023” for free at www.sema.org/research.

Register Now for All-New 2023 Honda Civic Type R Measuring Session

DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.17.23) – In partnership with Honda, the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, will host a measuring session for the all-new ’23 Honda Civic Type R, to be held February 28–March 2.

The event will allow SEMA members to test-fit prototypes, 3-D scan, measure and have a close-up experience ahead of the vehicle’s public release.

This event will include a ’23 Honda Civic Type R equipped with:

A 2.0L Turbo: 315 hp and 310 lb.-ft.
Limited-slip differential
13.8-in. front rotors and 12-in. rear rotors
6MT with rev-matching
Weighted aluminum shift knob
Adaptive dampers
Four drive modes, including Comfort, Sport, +R and a new Individual mode
19-in. alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires
LED headlights and taillights
Rear spoiler
Exhaust system features a straight through design and active exhaust valve
Honda Sensing
Type R-exclusive red racing seats and carpet
10.2-in. configurable digital instrument cluster
9-in. color touchscreen with navigation
LogR Performance Datalogger
12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless charging
Sirius XM satellite radio
Active sound control

Please note that this will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage and will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time-limited. Please only register for one attendee per member company, and a follow-up email will be sent to confirm additional attendees.

Click here for event registration details.

SEMA: Post-Pandemic Workforce Trends

DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.17.23) – If anything, The Great Resignation is teaching us that finding and keeping “right-fit” talent is harder than we could have imagined. Hiring managers and recruiters find themselves negotiating a realm of developing benefits like flexible work arrangements, philanthropy and even mental well-being.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to attracting talent,” says executive Angelia Pelham. “Every industry is struggling to find right-fit talent, and every industry is struggling to figure out how to retain this talent.”

And she should know: For more than three decades, Pelham has held upper-management and vice president positions in manufacturing, human resources and sales at giants like PepsiCo Frito-Lay, Yum! Brands, CineMark Holdings and Dave & Buster’s. In addition, she is the Mayor Pro Tem of Frisco, Texas, and founder and CEO of the executive coaching and mentoring firm Real-Talk (www.real-talkcoaching4women.com). “I’ve been around when it comes to talent,” she says. “I cut my teeth on what it takes to attract and retain in any industry.”

At last November’s SEMA Show, Pelham presented “Proven Strategies to Recruit and Retain Top Talent,” a seminar designed to help employers build their talent game. In her presentation—now available as a SEMA Education on-demand video—she explained how best-in-class companies use flexibility, compensation, engagement initiatives, and cultural factors to make their organizations compelling places to work.

“The smaller the organization, the more critical it is for you to have right-fit talent,” she said. “When organizations like Disney and Pepsi lack talent in one area, chances are they can absorb that missing head count until they can fill the job. When you are in a smaller organization, every head counts. And when you have one person or two people that are missing, you feel it every day.”

Pelham recommended appealing to prospective employees with the single most important component to a company’s presence in the community: reputation.

Click to continue reading this article by Chris Shelton on sema.org

SEMA Education Speaker Applications Due Next Week

DIAMOND BAR, CA (01.24.23) – SEMA is planning its 2023 education program and has issued a call for speakers for its annual SEMA Show—taking place in Las Vegas, October 31–November 3—and its year-round virtual education program. Dynamic and entertaining presenters have until January 27 to apply to share new skills and ideas targeted to the automotive aftermarket at www.sema.org/speakers.

Organizers are seeking experts who can facilitate thought-provoking, forward-thinking seminars that will help industry members take their businesses and careers to the next level.

SEMA’s year-round virtual program provides relevant, engaging and inspiring information on the industry’s complex issues and topics through online events and informational webinars. Likewise, the educational seminars make up one of the key pillars of the SEMA Show, where thousands of industry professionals come to learn new business strategies.

Topics of focus for 2023 include:

• Aftermarket updates and future trends
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Electric vehicles
• Emerging and executive leadership
• Legal and regulatory
• Sales and marketing
• Small-business strategy
• Vehicle technology
• Specific industry segments

Speaker proposals for the 2023 SEMA Show must be submitted by January 27. Virtual education proposals can be submitted at any time throughout the year. Submit proposals at www.sema.org/speakers.

For more details, contact Gary Vigil, senior manager of professional development, at garyv@sema.org or 909-978-6738.

SEMA Future Trends Report Gives Industry Outlook for 2023 and Beyond

DIAMOND BAR, CA (01.13.23) – The automotive aftermarket is evolving—from vehicle trends to shifts in consumer spending to new vehicle technology. As the automotive specialty-equipment market enters 2023, companies need to be informed on what to expect in the new year and beyond to make the best decisions for their business.  

Set to be released on January 26, the new “2023 SEMA Future Trends Report” will give members thorough insight into where the industry is heading. SEMA members are invited to download the report at www.sema.org/research when it becomes available, and to register now for the SEMA Future Trends: Outlook for 2023 and Beyond webinar, February 2 at 11:00 a.m. (PST).  

By attending the webinar, members will gain insight from Gavin Knapp, SEMA director of market research, and Kyle Cheng, SEMA market research manager, as they cover key findings from the report in detail, including:   

• SEMA’s updated market size projection and industry forecast. 
• New data on new- and used-car trends (sales, prices, projections). 
• An updated forecast on the growth of EVs and ADAS/autonomous technology.
• The status of the ongoing supply-chain disruptions, its impact on the industry and where it’s going.
• Outlook and forecasts for the overall economy—including metrics on economic growth, consumer spending, inflation and consumer confidence. 

Don’t miss out—register for the webinar now.

2023 SEMA Scholarship Applications Now Open

DIAMOND BAR, CA (01.11.23) – The 2023 SEMA Scholarship application period for students preparing for careers in the automotive or performance parts industries is now open and will run through March 1. Interested applicants can review and complete the scholarship application at www.sema.org/scholarships.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to foster future leaders and innovators in the automotive aftermarket industry. A loan forgiveness component is also available to employees that work for SEMA-member companies who have completed and are currently paying off a loan for a program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical school within the United States.

“Education can be expensive, but that shouldn’t limit students from getting ahead in their careers,” said Pamela Brown-Matthis, SEMA director of education. “There are so many career options in the automotive aftermarket, and it’s a thriving industry to be in. We encourage students who have a passion for cars a to apply for a SEMA scholarship so that we can help jump-start their careers.”   

The annual scholarship program is a cornerstone of SEMA’s efforts to support career development and access in the automotive industry. Scholarship winners will have the opportunity to attend the 2023 SEMA Show, providing unparalleled networking and education opportunities at the world’s largest trade show for the automotive aftermarket.  

Applicants must be U.S. citizens 18 years or older and demonstrate a passion for automotive hobbies and careers. Scholarships are available in a variety of categories, including but not limited to, accounting, sales, marketing and engineering.

Eligible students and SEMA-member company employees can apply until March 1 at www.sema.org/scholarships.