Despite talk of the pickup market taking a big hit this year, specialty-equipment companies actually showed more of these trucks, and products to install on them, at the 2007 SEMA Show. Sales of pickups are down 12% for the first two months of 2008 compared to the year prior, but exhibitors at the SEMA Show displayed more pickups in 2007 than in 2006.
Ford's F-Series, the Chevrolet Silverado and the Toyota Tundra were the most popular, the latter two increasing their presence at the Show most likely due to redesigns. In fact, 19 of the top 20 pickups sold during January and February of this year had a presence at the Show, and for good reason: pickups still rank high as the vehicle targeted for personalization by custom parts and accessories consumers.
SEMA’s latest Performance Parts and Accessories Demand Index (PADI) shows that 19% of consumers intending to purchase specialty equipment plan to accessorize a pickup, the second most popular choice after midsize cars. Specialty-equipment companies know that consumers still need pickups, whether for work or lifestyle, so even a declining truck market still allows growth of specialty-equipment products.
For more from the SEMA Research & Information Center, visit www.sema.org/research.