By SEMA News Editors
Shawn Cun, owner of EV Rods in Long Beach, said a pleasant surprise was learning that SEMA business members can access SEMA Garage shop facilities at no cost.
As the founder of EV Rods in Long Beach, California, Shawn Cun is developing suspension products for electric vehicles (EVs), which often require unique engineering considerations due to their increased weight compared to traditional internal-combustion vehicles.
While developing a lowering kit for the Ford F-150 Lightning––set to launch at an industry event this month––Cun turned to SEMA Membership to secure liability insurance for his growing business.
"That's what initially drove me to seek SEMA Membership," Cun said. "As I continued building momentum, I realized I was going to need liability insurance. During my research, it was recommended that I look into becoming a SEMA member because it would provide access to discounted insurance rates through SEMA's partner, RevPro."
Liability coverage was Cun's main introduction into SEMA Membership, but he would soon uncover additional benefits that delivered even greater value.
Cun set up a meeting with RevPro and was not disappointed. "We had a very detailed conversation. They answered a lot of my questions, and I felt much better after that meeting."
"Having peace of mind knowing there's an insurance carrier behind me, supporting me through that process, and that I'm not by myself is important," Cun continued. "I have to consider safety throughout the entire process. I think about the fact that I'm putting this system on my own truck and driving around with my daughter in it. It needs to be safe. That's the mindset I have going into this."
Soon enough, Cun was back to his business, attempting to scan his F-150 for EV Rods' new lowering kit. He had heard about SEMA Garage's Tech Transfer program––a paid subscription that offers OEM-provided CAD files to minimize or even eliminate the need for reverse engineering––but thought he would take a spin with the F-150 and his own 3D scanner.
Shawn Cun of EV Rods is developing a lowering kit for Ford F-150 Lightnings, which will debut at an industry event later this month.
"Then I spent hours scanning a part and trying to figure out why things weren't transferring correctly," Cun said. "When I finally accessed Ford's OEM files through the Tech Transfer program, I found not only the part I needed but also the entire frame and suspension components."
"Honestly, the value I received from a single file essentially paid for the entire cost of access. My only regret is that I didn't access it sooner," Cun shared.
With the lowering kit nearing completion, Cun is already preparing for the next phase of growth. Interested buyers can visit ElectricVehicleRods.com or check out the Instagram page to learn more about EV Rods and join the company's waitlist for future product announcements.
For Cun, the experience reinforced that SEMA Membership offers more than a single service or discount. What began as a search for business liability insurance quickly expanded into access to industry expertise, engineering resources and business tools that are helping move EV Rods closer to market.
That's a lesson Cun believes can benefit businesses of any size. While EV Rods is currently a one-person operation, he found that many of the same resources used by established aftermarket companies were immediately available through his membership.
SEMA Membership provides access to a wide range of programs and services designed to help businesses save money, work more efficiently, and grow within the automotive aftermarket. Benefits include cost-saving programs, networking opportunities, market research, insurance solutions, access to SEMA Garage resources and much more.
Current members are encouraged to explore their member portal and ensure they're taking full advantage of available benefits by logging into sema.org and visiting the "My Benefits" page.
Businesses interested in becoming SEMA members can learn more by visiting sema.org/membership-business. Have questions? Contact the SEMA Membership Team at 909-610-2030 or members@sema.org.
