What Has SEMA Done for You Lately?

SEMA Leadership Gives Members an Exclusive Look Into the State of the Industry

By Ashley Reyes; Video Edited by Fredy Ramirez

SEMA Chairman Tim Martin and SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting shared essential updates on the state of the industry, the association’s programs and what to expect from this year’s SEMA and PRI Shows during last week’s SEMA General Membership Meeting.

Those who were unable to attend the virtual event and would like to discover how SEMA is continuing to support the industry and establish new initiatives to assist the membership can watch the full meeting online.

Among the new initiatives shared during the meeting was the Board approval of a new SEMA Garage & Vehicle Technology Center in Detroit. This facility will expand and build upon the product-development services available in the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. Martin noted during the meeting that the Detroit SEMA Garage facility will include a new emissions test lab and new equipment and resources to help members develop aftermarket products that are compatible with advanced driver assistance systems and other new vehicle technology.

SEMA is also moving forward with expanding services and support for racing businesses, suppliers, tracks and sanctions bodies. As part of this initiative, a new president position for the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) was created earlier this year, and Dr. Jaime Meyer was hired to lead the PRI division, including establishing a PRI office in Indianapolis.

Kersting and Martin also shared how SEMA is helping members during the pandemic. Kersting reported that market research shows that many companies are actually prospering, but the challenges remain. SEMA launched an online Back-to-Business Resource page, released the 2020 SEMA Market Report and introduced safety guidelines for the 2020 SEMA Show.

Additionally, year-round benefits available to SEMA members are listed on the member benefits homepage. For the latest news and updates on the association, visit www.sema.org. For updates on the Performance Racing Industry, visit www.performanceracing.com.