LTAA News

A new element was added to this year’s Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) New Product Showcase in the form of a vehicle buildup. Dubbed “Stock Jeep to Show Jeep,” the event featured a mountain of LTAA member company products being installed on a ’12 Jeep Rubicon in front of a live audience during the Carlisle Truck Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Truck Nationals, which took place on August 3–5, is one of the largest light-truck enthusiast gatherings in the country.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) and Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Councils announced that the next "Collector Car Appreciation Day" will be celebrated on July 12, 2013. The date marks the fourth consecutive commemoration in what has become an annual event to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, today announced the winners of the New Products Showcase Awards held at the 2012 SEMA Show. The event recognizes the most cutting-edge automotive products either on the market or about to hit the market. This year, more than 2,000 new products were submitted for consideration.

This year's SEMA Award for the top trending vehicle models in four categories were announced today at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Ford Mustang was named Hottest Car, the Scion FR-S took the Hottest Sport Compact honors, the Ford F-Series won Hottest Truck and the Jeep Wrangler received the Hottest 4x4-SUV award.

The SEMA council that serves manufacturers' reps in the automotive specialty equipment industry has changed from the Manufacturers' Representatives Council to the Manufacturers' Representative Network (MRN). The new name reflects the group's change to better serve the needs of the membership by becoming an individual-based professional network, compared to it's previous agency-based membership format.

The Leo Kagan Scholarship has been established as part of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a group that promotes industry leadership by supporting the educational efforts of current and future automotive professionals.

SEMA has partnered with UPS to introduce a new member benefit that will help lower shipping and delivery costs. The new member benefit includes up to 34 percent off many package deliveries, more than 70 percent off Less than Truckload (LTL) freight, and special offers on other UPS business services such as parcel insurance, cargo finance loans, design and test labs and more.

As the industry evolves and businesses seek to work smarter, the 2012 SEMA Show education days feature several comprehensive conferences focused on specific topics, dozens of product trainings and more than 50 free sessions.

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered By Women, better known as "High Gear," will debut in the Ford Motor Company booth on Tuesday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m., the opening day of the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2013 Mustang GT made national headlines during the summer when more than 40 women volunteered their time and expertise to customize the vehicle in less than two months. Immediately after the unveiling, the vehicle will be auctioned to raise funds for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Details about the auction are available at www.SEMA.org/Auctions.

As one of the industry's key market segments, the restyling industry is on track to make a strong presence at the 2012 SEMA Show taking place Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After just five months, the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has reached a milestone with its 100th supplier member joining the group. The program which launched its beta phase in April now includes 100 manufacturer members, 40 data receivers and exports from more than 25 brands. The list of all 100 supplier members is available at www.SemaDataCoop.org.

Automotive experts are speculating on what the top vehicle models will be at the upcoming SEMA Show taking place Tuesday-Friday, October 30-November 2, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jim Graven has been named as Director of Membership for the SEMA Data Co-op. Graven, who has more than 15 years of experience in the specialty parts aftermarket, will play a key role in growing the industry-owned and operated data management solution - particularly as it transitions into a full system launch in January.

Company Descriptions and History: 100% strictly wholesale warehouse distributor (WD). Founded in 1937 as Meyer Body building truck bodies and later distributing truck parts and equipment; became Meyer Distributing in 1983.