By SEMA News Editors
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President (center); Matt Daigle, SEMA senior director of communications-government affairs (second from right); and Luis Morales, SEMA Director, vehicle technology and product-dt vehicle technology (right).
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has announced SEMA as champions of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2026.
Announced at the FIA American Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, SEMA received the award for its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) research initiative, helping the automotive industry better understand how vehicle modifications interact with modern safety technologies.
As ADAS technologies become standard in modern vehicles, uncertainty remains around how aftermarket modifications, repairs, and recalibration procedures can affect the performance of critical safety systems. SEMA's initiative addresses this challenge through independent, evidence-based research, testing, and industry collaboration.
The program combines controlled laboratory testing, real-world validation and policy engagement to generate objective data that supports manufacturers, regulators, repair businesses, and vehicle owners.
Through this work, SEMA is helping ensure that life-saving safety technologies continue to function as intended while supporting responsible innovation across the automotive aftermarket.
"Congratulations to SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola and SEMA on being named a Region III Champion in this year's FIA Innovation Challenge," said FIA President H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem. "SEMA's ADAS research initiative demonstrates how Member Clubs and organizations can play an important role in helping industry and policymakers understand emerging technologies, ensuring innovation continues to advance alongside road safety."
"When meeting current and future mobility challenges, our Member Clubs are our greatest assets, enabling us to support road users with genuine local understanding," said Tim Shearman, deputy president for automobile mobility and tourism. "SEMA is demonstrating how independent research and industry collaboration can provide the evidence, knowledge, and confidence needed to support innovation while maintaining high standards of safety for road users."
"As vehicle technologies become more sophisticated, it is essential that industry, regulators, and consumers have access to clear and reliable information to support informed decision-making," said FIA Region III President Frank Fotia. "Through its ADAS research initiative, SEMA is helping build that understanding, creating practical pathways that support safety, encourage innovation and benefit the wider mobility ecosystem."
"As advanced driver assistance systems become standard across the vehicle fleet, the automotive industry faces a shared responsibility to ensure innovation and safety continue to move forward together," said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola. "By providing independent, evidence-based insights, our research is helping close critical knowledge gaps for manufacturers, policymakers and vehicle owners as they continue to use and interact with these potentially lifesaving systems on the road."
SEMA joins the Alberta Motor Association (AMA, Canada) and the Jamaica Automobile Association (JAA, Jamaica), which have also been named Region III Champions of the FIA Innovation Challenge 2026.
A global judging panel will now select one Global Winner from these three champions, who will receive their award at FIA General Assemblies week in Shanghai, China, in December.
Now in its third year, the FIA Innovation Challenge has seen member clubs throughout Region III continue to demonstrate leadership and innovation in delivering safer, more sustainable and more affordable mobility solutions.
