International

Car ownership in China is growing, and just like auto enthusiasts everywhere, Chinese drivers like to make their cars stand out. From expensive sports cars to off-road warriors, customization is increasingly popular among a wide segment of consumers in China.

The December issue of SEMA News is dedicated to business technology, future hot-rodding trends and business opportunities in China.

On Monday, November 1, from 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., in room N252 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, longtime exporters will come together to address 10 of your thorniest questions regarding attracting and maintaining overseas customers.

SEMA Chairman–Elect Scooter Brothers, who serves as the COO of Competition Performance Group, and K&N Peformance/AEM Air Intake Systems’ International Business Manager Kevin Floody will provide tips to SEMA Showgoers on how to take advantage of the dropping value of the dollar against most major currencies, including the Japanese yen (15-year low) and the euro, the Australian and Canadian dollars and the Brazilian real at the second-annual "Global Growth: Successful Aftermarket Companies Show the Way to International Success" seminar.

Twenty-one SEMA members just returned from Beijing where they participated in the inaugural SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference. Each SEMA member participated in pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with Chinese distributors and retailers from throughout China.

Companies that wish to extend their reach beyond U.S. borders can branch into emerging automotive markets that offer huge potential for increased sales. The keys to successful international ventures are careful research and reasonable expectations. The first step is to discover what vehicles are available in the target locale, and the second is to discover what products resonate with customers there. SEMA offers several programs that can help get member companies started. [Read more]

The U.S. Department of Commerce is offering free export promotion and assistance for SEMA Show exhibitors whose products contain a minimum of 51% U.S. content. The deadline to register is September 10.

Please note the U.S. government definition: 51% of the total pre-margin value of the product or service. Marketing, packaging and domestic transportation that are included in the pre-margin cost can be included in the 51%.

Visit the SEMA booth Hall 4.1 booth F69 at the upcoming Automechanika Frankfurt Show taking place September 14–19. SEMA will also display a number of fully customized American, European and Japanese vehicles throughout the Accesssories and Tuning Hall 4.1.

Thanks to the European Tuning Association (ETO) and the German association (VDAT) for their assistance.

Subaru is a popular brand for modification in China, says Liu Qingfeng, owner of the online aftermarket company carnet.com.

“We found that about 40% of Subaru consumers seek high performance products,” he said. Subaru owners are also enthusiastic car club members; Liu reaches them through those clubs.

The Subaru brand is thriving in China—sales in the first seven months of 2010 rose 78% on-year to 31,234 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The best selling model was the Forester SUV at 20,124 units. The Outback was a distant second with sales of just more than 6,000 units.