From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

President Trump recently nominated Apple executive Jonathan Morrison to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bringing back to Washington, D.C., a leader with extensive experience in the automotive sector. Before joining Apple, Morrison served as chief counsel for NHTSA from 2017 to 2021 and had previously worked for the California New Car Dealers Association as director of legal and regulatory affairs. 

As the head of NHTSA, Morrison will have a prominent voice in the intersection of motor vehicles and technology, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).  

In a statement, SEMA expressed the following: 

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) looks forward to supporting Jonathan Morrison's nomination to serve as the next administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Jonathan was a proven leader as the agency's general counsel. He is highly qualified and an excellent choice to serve as NHTSA administrator. We look forward to working with Jonathan and will share with him the important perspective of the automotive aftermarket industry and that of the nation's community of automotive enthusiasts.  

We are at a critical juncture for vehicle technology; the emergence of ADAS presents a transformative opportunity for our industry and vehicle safety. As Mr. Morrison looks to take the reins at NHTSA, we ask that he regard the automotive aftermarket as a resource for understanding how these systems interact with modified vehicles and ways to preserve automotive enthusiasts' ability to engage in legal racing and off-road use. The aftermarket, after all, gave birth to many of the safety features that are ubiquitous in today's vehicles; our unparalleled ability to innovate and meet the needs of our customers will offer highly valuable insights to Mr. Morrison and his team for the coming conversations about safety and technology.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder, SEMA's senior director for federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org.
 

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

Join the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) on Tuesday, February 18, for a webinar to hear attorneys from Barnes & Thornburg discuss the evolving landscape of United States trade policy and recent tariff announcements by President Trump. 

• This webinar is free for SEMA members. 

The webinar will discuss recent announcements on steel and aluminum, as well as discussion on the president's proposed reciprocal tariffs.  

Register for the webinar here, which takes place February 18 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. EST. 

Go Deeper: The Trump Administration recently announced new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, two important raw materials used in the manufacturing of motor vehicles, parts and accessories. 

• In response to recent developments, SEMA urged members to review the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of codes for your products and imports. Most automotive parts fall under HTS Chapter 87: "Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof." Download the 2025 version of tariff rates for the various automotive subheadings here. 

About the SBLC: The SBLC is an independent, permanent coalition of trade and professional associations that share a common concern for the future of small business.  

• SEMA is a founding member of the SBLC.  

The purpose of the SLBC is twofold: to consolidate the strength and maximize the influence of business on legislative and federal policy issues of importance to the entire small business community; and secondly, to disseminate information on the impact of public policy on small business.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder, SEMA's senior director of federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org. 

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

Join the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) on Tuesday, February 18, for a webinar to hear attorneys from Barnes & Thornburg discuss the evolving landscape of United States trade policy and recent tariff announcements by President Trump. 

• This webinar is free for SEMA members. 

The webinar will discuss recent announcements on steel and aluminum, as well as discussion on the president's proposed reciprocal tariffs.  

Register for the webinar here, which takes place February 18 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. EST. 

Go Deeper: The Trump Administration recently announced new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, two important raw materials used in the manufacturing of motor vehicles, parts and accessories. 

• In response to recent developments, SEMA urged members to review the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of codes for your products and imports. Most automotive parts fall under HTS Chapter 87: "Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof." Download the 2025 version of tariff rates for the various automotive subheadings here. 

About the SBLC: The SBLC is an independent, permanent coalition of trade and professional associations that share a common concern for the future of small business.  

• SEMA is a founding member of the SBLC.  

The purpose of the SLBC is twofold: to consolidate the strength and maximize the influence of business on legislative and federal policy issues of importance to the entire small business community; and secondly, to disseminate information on the impact of public policy on small business.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder, SEMA's senior director of federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org. 

By Kenny Wright

You've got the goods. We've got the crowds.

Exhibit at the 2025 SEMA Show, November 4–7, Las Vegas, to showcase your latest and greatest products to 70,000-plus qualified buyers and decision-makers and 2,550-plus members of the media from around the world.

Influence the professionals who want your products and the storytellers that share what's trending in the market today.

"I came here last year as a spectator. It's a very different Show [now] as an exhibitor… We know from a brand perspective it makes total sense. It's a no-brainer, zero regrets," said 2024 exhibitor Isaac Bunick.

Reserve your 2025 SEMA Show booth here, and learn more, including why to exhibit, at semashow.com/exhibitor.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) Hot Products Showcase at the Spring Carlisle Show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, this April, will feature a dedicated display of cutting-edge products from top restoration brands. ARMO members who would like to have their products included in the showcase and exposed to thousands of consumers at the event can sign up now at the ARMO Hot Products Showcase Registration Form. 

"The ARMO Hot Products Showcase is a popular feature of Spring Carlisle, giving manufacturers an opportunity to connect with passionate automotive enthusiasts at one of the largest collector car events in the world," said ARMO Council Director Marcy Yanus. "We are thrilled to open product entries for innovations that highlight the creativity and hard work of our members."  

Benefits of having a product in the showcase include:  

• Free participation for ARMO members 
• Product exposure to an estimated 100,000+ Spring Carlisle attendees 
• Increased visitors to your booth if exhibiting at the event 
• A chance to win a New Product or People's Choice Award 

Manufacturers are only responsible for shipping their products in advance with a return label or dropping off and picking up their products on-site. ARMO volunteers set up and take down the product display, providing the manufacturer with a seamless, minimal-effort experience. During the event, Carlisle attendees will vote for their favorite products in the categories of exterior, interior, engine, accessory item, drivetrain/brakes/suspension, and People's Choice.  

Product award winners will be recognized on SEMA's digital channels and honored at the ARMO Reception at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November. The awards provide added value to the manufacturer, setting them apart as leaders in innovation within the automotive restoration market.  

Click here to start the product submission process.  

For more information on the ARMO Hot Products Showcase, visit here.

Story and photos by Andreas Conradt, Automedia

Jaguar Begins Public Testing of Gran Turismo Type 00

Jaguar has been spotted testing its upcoming Gran Turismo, an all-electric model, in the north of Sweden, according to new images acquired by SEMA News.

Expected to debut in 2027, the Gran Turismo will be a four-door GT with a long hood and will signal the brand's change from a volume business to an electric luxury brand, according to Jaguar Managing Director Rawdon Glover.

The new model, which is more than 16 feet long, has an unusually long hood for an electric car and a completely new face. The Brits are also breaking new ground on the inside, focusing primarily on a small number of screens and new materials, said Head of Design Gerry McGovern.

Although many details have yet to be released, the GT is expected to have a range of more than 500 miles, be able to recharge for more than 190 miles in 15 minutes and be the most powerful Jaguar ever built, according to insiders.

Genesis GV90 Ends Up in Deep Snow

The slippery Swedish winter roads claimed a prototype of the new, all-electric Genesis GV90, according to new images.

The brand's largest SUV is being transformed into an electric vehicle (EV) and is due to arrive in 2026 with huge proportions, as evidenced by the recent photos. The prototype features some typical Genesis details, like thin, dual light strips for the headlights and taillights, as well as some other new design cues.

For example, one of the characteristics of these thin luminous stripes is that they are completely horizontal, but the images show a slight curvature at the innermost edges of the fronts. The downward deflection is necessary to backlight the edge of the grille and is reminiscent of the Neolun Concept. Additionally, the prototype is a faithful reproduction of the concept model, although the production model has central pillars and conventional rear doors.

A serious competitor to the Mercedes-Maybach EQS, the GV90 has air suspension, 22-in. alloy wheels and 285-mm tires to support a four-seat model, with two individual rear seats separated by a huge transmission tunnel with cup holders, an inductive charger and a large infotainment screen.

Net-Gen Range Rover Velar Going All-Electric

The first medium-size, all-electric Range Rover will be out in 2026, and a photographer near the Arctic Circle managed to snap new shots of the vehicle undergoing cold-climate tests in Lapland.

Likely the successor to the Range Rover Velar, it is said to be reinvented as a luxurious electric SUV, targeting the new Porsche Macan EV with improved endurance, performance and practicality.

It will be the first of several new electric Land Rover models to run down the firm's revamped production line in Halewood, United Kingdom, followed soon after by EV successors to the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. Work to convert the factory into an EV production facility is underway and the electric Velar is expected to enter production later this year.

Details of its technical makeup and capabilities have not yet been released.

By SEMA News Editors

For the first time ever, SEMA Magazine is now available to everyone at no cost in a digital format. While previously only available in print to SEMA business members, the publication is now available digitally across the globe. Whether you're an industry member staying on top of trends or an enthusiast interested in learning more about the specialty-equipment market, the digital magazine is available in current and past issues.

Below is a step-by-step guide to claiming your free digital subscription on your phone.

Visit the link below or scan the QR code to claim your coupon voucher:

Claim your free SEMA Magazine digital subscription here.

Fill in the mandatory fields and three questions regarding your automotive interests.
 

Hit subscribe to claim your free subscription. Now, you're able to activate your account by downloading the SEMA Magazine app. Tap the IOS link for Apple devices and Google Play for others.

Download the app and open it to bring you to the home page. On the bottom right, hit "Profile" to sign up using the same email address you used to claim your coupon.

Once you sign up, you'll have full access to a year's worth of valuable industry knowledge and insights. Get to reading!

Be sure to sign up for notifications on the latest issue coming in January, featuring highlights you might have missed from the 2024 SEMA Show and so much more.

Questions? Contact members@sema.org or call 909-610-2030.

By SEMA News Editors

Cosmo Tires & Astro Tires Celebrate 30-Year Anniversary

Cosmo Tires and Astro Tires, proprietary brands of Tire Group International, are celebrating their 30-year anniversary in 2025.

Since their inception in 1995, Cosmo Tires and Astro Tires have expanded their offerings to cater to a wide range of vehicles and applications, including passenger cars, light trucks, specialty segments and more.

To commemorate the anniversary, the brands will be hosting events, special promotions and customer-appreciation initiatives throughout the year.

For more information, visit tiregroup.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Doug Boles Named President of INDYCAR, IMS

Penske Entertainment, the Indianapolis-based parent company of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), has named Doug Boles as president of both INDYCAR and IMS, succeeding Jay Frye.

Boles has served as president of the speedway since 2013, overseeing the sellout of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, the first full-capacity crowd in the event's history. He has also managed more than $150 million in strategic investments at IMS. Including his previous positions as a founding partner and COO of former NTT INDYCAR SERIES team Panther Racing, and as former INDYCAR and IMS owner Hulman & Company's vice president of communications, Boles brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in motorsports to the position.

Boles will report to Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles and will manage strategic vision and priorities across both INDYCAR and IMS.

Frye is departing INDYCAR after 10 years in the role, during which he oversaw two entitlement sponsorships, the development of the AK18 aero kit, the implementation of the aeroscreen and the introduction of hybrid technology to the series.

The sanctioning body has also announced several other organizational changes in addition to Boles' appointment as president.

Mark Sibla has been named senior vice president of INDYCAR competition and operations. He has been a senior member of INDYCAR’s management team for more than a decade and will lead general operations and special initiatives such as development of the new car.

Kyle Novak begins an enhanced role as vice president of officiating and race control and will lead both the race control and race tech teams at INDYCAR. He has served as INDYCAR's race director since 2018.

In addition, Alex Damron has been named chief marketing officer, charged with fully implementing a maximized and unified promotional plan for the sport. In this role, he will lead the marketing and communications teams at INDYCAR. He will also continue as vice president of corporate communications for Penske Entertainment, responsible for overseeing IMS PR efforts and Penske Entertainment’s photo and editorial operations.

Lastly, Louis Kissinger has been named general manager, IMS operations, leading teams responsible for suite/hospitality sales, track operations and event operations.

For more information, visit indycar.com.

Image courtesy of Penske Entertainment -- Joe Skibinski

Corvette ZR1 Sets Five U.S. Lap Records

Chevrolet has announced the Corvette ZR1 has secured five new production car lap records during a U.S. track tour with four different General Motors drivers behind the wheel.

Below are the five tracks and the Corvette ZR1's lap times:

• Watkins Glen Int'l (Schuyler County, New York) Long Course: 1:52.7. Driver: Bill Wise, lead performance engineer, Chassis Controls.
• Road America (Sheboygan County, Wisconsin): 2:08.6. Driver: Brian Wallace, lead vehicle dynamics engineer.
• Road Atlanta (Braselton, Georgia): 1:22.8. Driver: Chris Barber, lead development engineer.
• VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) (Alton, Virginia) Full Course: 1:47.7. Driver: Aaron Link, global vehicle performance manager.
• VIR Grand Course: 2:32.3. Driver: Link.

The drivers set out with a pre-production Corvette ZR1 equipped with the optional ZTK Performance Package, which is designed to add an aggressive, high-downforce rear wing, front dive planes, and a tall hood Gurney lip – all constructed from woven carbon fiber. Underneath, underbody strakes replace the standard front underwing stall Gurney to increase front downforce substantially, according to Chevrolet. The suspension tuning included in the ZTK package also incorporates stiffer springs and adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R ZP tires.

Corvette ZR1 with the ZTK Package boasts a top speed of 233 mph on the race track, 0-60 mph time of 2.3 seconds*, and a quarter-mile time of 9.6 seconds. With these figures, no current production car under $1 million rivals Corvette ZR1, Chevrolet stated.

“Corvette ZR1 continues to showcase how this nameplate elevates at every corner,” Corvette executive chief engineer Tony Roma said. “From design, engineering, development, validation, to driving and setting incredible lap records like these – we do it all in house.”

For more information, read the Chevrolet press release here.

Image courtesy of Chevrolet

By SEMA News Editors

The '25 Nissan Armada at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

The 117th edition of the Chicago Auto Show opened last week and continues through Monday, February 17, at McCormick Place complex in Chicago. The event, which features special events throughout its 10 days, is attended by manufacturers of domestic and imported passenger cars, trucks, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and experimental and concept cars (click here for a complete list of vehicles on display at the 2025 event).

Special days included the First Responders/Military Appreciation Day (February 11) and the Automotive Career Day (February 12). In addition, SEMA, the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) and the Chicago Auto Show collaborated with DPS Custom Garage to bring several vehicles to the event, like the stellar blue Hummer SUV seen below.

Take in some of the sights of the long-running automotive event below and get excited for the 2025 SEMA Show returning to Las Vegas, November 4-7, featuring an estimated 1,400 vehicles on display across 1.2 million NSF of exhibit space in and outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Exhibitor booth space for the 2025 SEMA Show is available online here, and attendee, buyer and media registration for the 2025 SEMA Show will open on Monday, April 28, 2025. Hotel reservations in the official SEMA Show hotel block are also open here. More details can be found at semashow.com.
 

SEMA, the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) and Chicago Auto Show collaborated to bring several DSP Custom Garage vehicles, like this Hummer SUV, to the event.

All EV Chrysler Halcyon Concept at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

A custom wrapped Mustang RT at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

The all-new '25 Toyota 4Runner at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

Toyota Gazoo Racing showcased the GR86 at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

Subaru Motorsports USA was represented at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

Ford showcased its latest Mustang at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

This Cybertruck Basecamp showcases the camping capabilities of the vehicle at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

The Dur Interceptor is described as the world's first fully custom vehicle, seen here at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.

Chevy had fun with this Lego display at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.