Hosted by industry personality Jarod DeAndra, known by many as the voice of Formula DRIFT, the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast included—for the first time—the announcements of SEMA Manufacturer of the Year and SEMA Channel Partner of the Year (formerly SEMA Distributor of the Year) award winners.
Receiving the awards at the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast provide the below winning companies weeklong exposure at the Show:
Manufacturer of the Year
- Baja Designs Inc.
Channel Partner of the Year
- Turn 14 Distribution
Winners of the SEMA New Products Awards were also announced, including those in the new Electric Vehicle and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) categories.
Baja Designs Inc. received the award for Manufacturer of the Year.
In addition, Ken Block and Brian Scotto joined the SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast to talk about “Electrikhana,” the new video that dropped last week. The annual breakfast, formerly known as the SEMA Show New Products Breakfast, had a fresh, new feel. Featuring a new, all-electric Audi S1 Hoonitron and shot on the streets of Las Vegas, “Electrikhana” is the newest video in the Gymkhana series. The video, produced by Scotto and released on October 25, featured drifting superstar Block behind the wheel of an 800-volt AWD, 1,400hp one-off custom-built prototype.
Turn 14 Distribution was named Channel Partner of the Year.
Later this week, a shorter SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m., at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Event Center. The annual gathering of the specialty-equipment industry will be highlighted by a networking cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment. The event marks the celebration of the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Gen-III Innovator of the Year and Automotive Influencer of the Year. An important announcement regarding the future of the SEMA Show and the association will be made. Register now.