By SEMA Editors
 The Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage, will be held Thursday, April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. |
As vehicle technology continues to evolve rapidly, so do the tools that can take your product from a concept to a working product. Knowing that tomorrow’s consumers will look for different capabilities in their vehicles, the challenge becomes understanding how connectivity influences the user experience. The Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage, is one of the tools that will help you remain knowledgeable about the newest technologies and developments in the industry, setting your business up for long-term success in a rapidly changing market.
"The race to define future vehicles is on," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. "Competition for the future of the auto industry is rapidly evolving between Silicon Valley and Detroit. The recession accelerated the auto industry’s transformational changes required for growth as well as reinvention and product development of vehicles—from mechanical to electrical systems, from standalone to connected, and from mass markets to personalization and customization. The changes we are going through today will impact the performance aftermarket industry for decades to come. SEMA's Product Development Expo is your chance to learn how to compete and win as new technologies, tools and applications are deployed."
During the SEMA Product Development Expo, industry experts—including automakers, tier suppliers and association leaders—will discuss the future of the accessory market, including how products will be integrated into new vehicles and why automotive apps, such as Ford’s Open XC platform, matter.
Cosponsored by the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) and the Emerging Trends & Technology network (ETTN), the SEMA Product Development Expo takes place April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the future of product development and product planning, current emissions certification requirements, how to access high-tech tools at a reduced cost and other ways to make products cost efficiently.
The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $47 for SEMA members and $97 for non-SEMA members. For details, visit www.sema.org/product-development or contact Juliet Marshall, 909-978-6655.
Register now.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00 a.m. | Welcome to the SEMA Garage-Industry Innovation Center – Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs |
| 9:15 a.m. | Engaging Automotive Technology: What Trends Do Drivers (and Passengers) Really Want? – Gavin Lew, executive vice president, GFK Consumer Experiences North America |
| 10:30 a.m. | Toolbox 1: Fuel Your Sales with Better Product Data—SEMA Data Co-op Update – Jon Wyly, CEO, SEMA Data Co-op |
| 10:45 a.m. | Toolbox 2: SEMA-Clemson Performance Product Development Update – John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology |
| 11:00 a.m. | Cost-Effective Product Development Tools and Resources – SEMA Garage Tours |
| 12:15 p.m. | Lunch Keynote: You Can’t Fake Cool—Next-Generation Design and Customization – Stewart Reed, chairman, Transportation Design, Art Center College of Design |
| 1:15 p.m. | The Future of Transportation & Mobility – Garry Golden, founder, Forward Elements Inc. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Toolbox 3: Untangling the Emissions Web – Jim McFarland, McFarland Consulting, SEMA Technical Consultant
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| 3:00 p.m. | Toolbox 4: SEMA Market Research—Resources to Drive Your Business – Gavin Knapp, SEMA senior market research manager |
| 3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:45 p.m. | Silicon Valley Versus Motor City: Automotive Aps & Driving Connected
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| 5:15 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | Networking Reception |