By Rob Simons
The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology (ETTN) education programming continues to focus on one core goal: helping aftermarket engineers, programmers, and product developers navigate increasing complexity with confidence. This spring, two upcoming virtual education sessions address some of the most pressing challenges facing technical teams today – regulatory uncertainty and the growing volume of engineering data – while additional AI-focused learning opportunities help build the foundation for deeper technical application.
“Regulatory Navigation for the Aftermarket,” taking place Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. PT, will provide critical insight into the evolving compliance landscape. Over the past year, manufacturers have experienced regulatory shifts, increased scrutiny, and uncertainty around what lies ahead. This session brings together expert panelists to deliver situational awareness on current and anticipated activity from both the EPA and CARB.
Attendees will gain clarity on CARB Aftermarket EO challenges and strategies to overcome them, how to comply with EPA regulations without a CARB EO, and what enforcement trends manufacturers should be monitoring. For performance product manufacturers, staying current on regulatory compliance is essential to mitigating risk and avoiding costly enforcement actions.
Register for the session here.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ETTN will turn its attention to data-driven decision-making with “Using AI to Turn Engineering Data into Clear Decisions: Reducing Iterations Across Design, Testing, and Calibration.” As engineering teams generate increasing volumes of test, scan, calibration, and validation data, the challenge is no longer access, it’s interpretation. This session examines how AI is being applied in practical, disciplined ways to reduce noise, uncover meaningful patterns, and support clearer decisions across design, testing, tuning, calibration, and customer technical support workflows. Importantly, it also addresses validation requirements, limitations, and where traditional engineering methods remain essential.
Registration will be available soon – Check SEMA’s event page here.
To support this conversation, ETTN members are encouraged to participate in two SBN-hosted AI education sessions available to ETTN members. The series begins Tuesday, February 10, 2026, with “AI for Beginners: Understanding the Basics and Building Confidence,” an accessible introduction that demystifies AI, explores where it adds value (and where it doesn’t), and provides foundational prompt-writing skills. Register here.
The learning continues Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with “AI in Action: Practical Applications, Risks, and Opportunities,” which dives deeper into real-world use cases, ethical considerations, data risks, and best practices for adopting AI responsibly. Registration will open soon here.
In addition to live programming, members can explore the ETTN Virtual Education playlist on YouTube, featuring past sessions on emissions compliance, ADAS, battery systems, EV technologies, testing methodologies, and more. These sessions offer a comprehensive, on-demand learning pathway as technology, regulation, and expectations continue to evolve.
Visit the ETTN YouTube playlist here.
Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com