Spy photographers caught one of the first looks at the '24 Silverado EV on the road.

After its official debut at the 2022 CES,  there’s been little to no info on the development of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the prototype seen in our shots doesn’t have the same stature as the RST that was shown in Vegas, but rather looks similar to the Avalanche circa 2010. Judging by its looks, this appears to be an LT model of the Silverado EV.

Chevy estimates that the Silverado EV will be able to achieve 400 miles on a single charge by using the largest Ultium battery pack in a production vehicle to date. Twin motors will power all four wheels, and 0-60 is said to be achieved in under 4.5 seconds. The Silverado EV will also be able to reclaim 100 miles of range within 10 minutes thanks to DC fast charging.

The Silverado EV will be built at GM’s Factory ZERO in Detroit and will likely hit dealer lots by mid 2023.

By SEMA Editors

Exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.

The list, which will be updated in SEMA eNews, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2022 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.

Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2022 SEMA Show.

View the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Awards Gala returns to Anaheim, California, July 29, to honor industry leaders and volunteers, and celebrate the newest members of the SEMA Hall of Fame. The gala is open to the industry. Tickets for the event are available at www.sema.org/gala.

The prestigious SEMA Awards Gala will return to Anaheim, California, on July 29, to honor industry leaders and SEMA Hall of Fame inductees.

“The SEMA Awards Gala is a great opportunity for the industry to come together at mid-year to connect in person and have meaningful conversations in an intimate setting,” said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola.

Among those to be honored at this year’s Gala are incoming and outgoing board members, and 2022 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Walker Evans, Jack Roush and “Gene” Winfield.

“Gene” Winfield, Jack Roush and Walker Evans.

The SEMA Cares Pinewood Drags, a cherished Gala tradition, will also return to offer industry participants the chance to sponsor a child-built pinewood racecar or challenge industry colleagues in head-to-head competition.

The races, which are run throughout the Friday reception and into the evening, support the fundraising of SEMA Cares.

Tickets for he gala are available at www.sema.org/gala.

Immediately following the gala, there is a private SEMA PAC reception scheduled. For more information, contact Samantha Large at samanthal@sema.org or 202-796-2252.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Senate Committee on Governance and Finance unanimously passed SEMA-supported legislation (AB 1951) that would provide a full sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of manufacturing and research and development (R&D) equipment not exceeding $200 million. The bill currently awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. SEMA members are encouraged to register their support for the bill by clicking here.

If enacted, the exemption would change the current, narrowly applied exemption, and focuses on improving cost competitiveness to spur investment in California. Accounting for both local and state taxes, California’s ranks among the highest tax rates in the country.

AB 1951 is authored by Assembly Member Tim Grayson (D-Concord). Asm. Grayson is a member of the SEMA State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus and was the 2019 winner of SEMA’s Stephen B. McDonald Legislator of the Year award. In addition to being a lawmaker, Assembly Member Grayson, along with his wife Tammy, is also an enthusiast. Included in the Grayson’s collection are two classic Ford Mustangs.

For more information, please contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that Congress did not grant the EPA the authority to devise carbon emissions caps for power plants that would shift the way they generate energy away from coal. The case, West Virginia vs. EPA, is unusual in that it centers around the 2015 Clean Power Plan that never went into effect. The Obama administration plan was blocked in court and subsequent Trump administration plan struck down. The Biden administration has yet to release a new power sector regulation, and this decision impacts any such regulation as the EPA is no longer allowed to compel power plants to switch their energy generation from coal to natural gas, wind turbines, or solar energy.

This decision, while limiting how the EPA can use its authority to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, has no effect on current EPA regulation of aftermarket performance products or mobile source emissions. It could have future implications for how much authority government agencies have to enact substantial policy without congressional approval.

The Supreme Court ruling restricts the EPA’s authority to regulate emissions controls to individual power plants rather than regulating the sector as a whole. The EPA had claimed it had this power under the Clean Air Act, while the Supreme Court ruled that Congress would need to explicitly direct the EPA to take this action. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that “It is not plausible that Congress gave EPA the authority to adopt on its own such a regulatory scheme”.

For further details, contact Daniel Ingber at danieli@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

AccuTune Off-road Inc.
Sales Manager or Sales Director

AccuTune Off-road Inc. is looking for a Sales Manager or Sales Director to join the team. The ideal candidate has at least 10 years of sales experience, and at least five years experience managing an inside sales team or as a store manager in the automotive industry. Experience managing employees, cultivating a team environment, and motivating them to achieve sales and customer service goals is required.

Power Automedia
Automotive Editor, Diesel Army

Power Automedia,  a leading digital media company in the automotive industry, has an opening for an Automotive Editor, Diesel Army (www.DieselArmy.com). Looking for a passionate and knowledgeable diesel truck expert with a strong basis in writing and photography. This position is based in Temecula (Murrieta), California, with a hybrid in-office schedule, but also open to remote applications.

Custom Trucks Unlimited
Automotive Technician

Technician is responsible for installation of aftermarket accessories, including lift and leveling kits;  alignments; mount and balance wheels and tires; bed covers; grille guards; bumper replacements; winch and winch Mounts; cab lighting; LED lighting; all hitch types (Goosenecks, Fifth Wheel and Receiver); step bars; toolboxes; cargo management systems; fiberglass products, etc.

 SEMA News—July 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

 Photos courtesy SpiedBilde, Brian Williams. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

’23 Land Rover Defender 130

’24 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Sources confirmed that the 6.6L Duramax V8 will make at least 500 hp and 1,000 lbs.-ft. of torque, which is a substantial upgrade compared to the current specs of 445 hp and 910 lb.-ft. of torque.

Expect an official debut this fall.

Next-Gen Cadillac CT6

According to a 2019 report by enthusiast website GM Authority, the next-gen CT6 is assigned program code 7ESL, meaning that it will move to the VSS-R platform. The website reported that the next-gen model is destined for the Chinese market, but its presence in the U.S. market is still unclear with the discontinuation of the CT6 in North America after the ’20 model year.

SEMA News—June 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

FAST FACTS

Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) announced that Ray Polentz was promoted to senior director of supply chain and logistics. He will report to Yokohama President and CEO Jeff Barna. Polentz, who works out of YTC headquarters in Santa Ana, California, joined Yokohama in October 2017 as regional distribution center manager. He was promoted to director of distribution operations in July 2018. Before joining Yokohama, Polentz had more than 15 years of supply chain and logistics experience. He previously held senior positions at JCPenney as well as Stein Mart in both operational and transportation roles.

R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. (RRMCI) announced the recent hire of John Keller as sales and marketing representative. Keller will join the RRMCI West Coast sales team. Keller began his career in the aftermarket with Goodguys Rod & Custom in 2009. Twelve years later, he moved to Arizona, where he worked as a sales manager for an aftermarket billet company.

Hyundai Motorsport announced a change to its senior management, with Sean (Seon-Pyung) Kim taking over the role of president. He replaces outgoing President Scott Noh, who is set to take up a new position at Hyundai Motor Company in Korea. During Noh’s tenure, Hyundai Motorsport secured consecutive world titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (2019 and 2020) and the FIA World Touring Car Cup (2018 and 2019).

Fullbay, a turnkey platform designed to improve the operational efficiency of heavy-duty repair shops, acquired Dieselmatic Digital Inc., a digital marketing agency focused exclusively on diesel repair shops. The acquisition layers the digital marketing services of Dieselmatic onto the shop management software Fullbay already offers in order to help drive demand for repair shop businesses.

World Products appointed Lance Stillwell as its director of operations. Stillwell will oversee the development and manufacturing of World Products’ engine blocks and cylinder heads. In 1997, Stillwell founded parts provider and engine builder Motorsports Unlimited in Terre Haute, Indiana. Today, he has more than 25 years of engine machining experience and in-depth knowledge of World Products’ product line, the company stated.

Wheel Pros, backed by Clearlake Capital Group LP and in partnership with management, announced that it acquired TeraFlex, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket suspensions, shocks and other components for automotive and off-roading enthusiasts. TeraFlex operates three domestic U.S. facilities.

Hemmings announced that President Jonathan Shaw appointed Douglas R. Glad as head of editorial. Terry McGean, who had acted as editor-in-chief since 2005, will remain at the company in an editorial capacity. Glad’s employment will commence this month. Glad has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive publishing industry.

DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc., an affiliate of DENSO Corp., promoted Reggie Cruz to director of corporate planning and Manny Rodriguez to senior manager of product development. Cruz, who has been with DENSO for more than 16 years, is now responsible for overseeing business and corporate planning, financial services and new-business strategy development. Rodriguez, who has been with DENSO more than 22 years, is responsible for collaborating with DENSO’s engineering, procurement and supply chain teams on product development.

Reggie Cruz

Manny Rodriguez

PFC Brakes announced the promotion of Luis Maurel to the role of director of global motorsports. Maurel will manage the company’s race department and help expand into sports cars and other professional motorsports segments across the world, the company stated. He will also manage PFC Brakes’ involvement as providers for racing series, including the NTT IndyCar Series, the Superstar Racing Experience and the Renault Sport Series.

Senior business executive and sales professional Devron Jeffers returned to Speedway Motorsports as vice president of business development for the company’s
national sales team, as announced by Speedway Motorsports Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer Kevin Camper. Jeffers will be based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and will focus on national sales opportunities for companies headquartered in Texas and the central United States.

Race Winning Brands Inc. (RWB), a portfolio company of MiddleGround Capital, announced the acquisition of PAC Racing Springs (PAC), a manufacturer of high-performance valve springs serving the automotive and powersports performance and racing aftermarket. PAC represents the ninth add-on acquisition for Race Winning Brands. RWB also announced the acquisition of RevMax, TransGo and Transmission Specialties Inc. (TSI).

SEMA News—July 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

SEMA Industry Report: Specialty-Equipment Sales Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels

Consumer demand for automotive specialty-equipment parts has exceeded pre-pandemic levels for a majority of companies, according to the latest SEMA “State of the Industry Report.”

The automotive specialty-equipment industry continues to experience strong growth and demand as the United States puts COVID-19 in the rearview mirror. According to SEMA’s new “State of the Industry—Spring 2022” report, 75% of manufacturers, 68% of distributors and 53% of retailers/installers report that sales are currently above where they were prior to the pandemic, and consumer demand is equally higher for most companies than it was in 2019.

Additional key findings from the report include:

• More than half of companies expect sales to continue to grow in the coming year.
• Supply-chain issues remain a challenge for more than 90% of the industry, and most don’t see things returning to normal until at least 2023.
• The current inflation rate of 8.5% is the highest it has been in 40 years, yet consumers continue to spend.
• Amid record consumer demand, 70% of manufacturers, 56% of distributors and 45% of retail installers have had difficulty filling open positions due to a shortage of qualified applicants to hire.

For more details, see our coverage starting on page 34. The complete “State of the Industry” report is available to download for free at www.sema.org/research.

BMW Invests in Smart Technologies to Identify Counterfeit Parts

Counterfeit auto parts are a growing challenge for the aftermarket, but cloud-based smart technologies may soon provide a solution.

Counterfeit automotive parts are a growing problem confronting the specialty-equipment aftermarket. They’re also a huge global business. A recent estimate from the U.S. Department of Commerce puts the value of trafficking in fake parts at some $45 billion annually. The problem becomes even more acute in the online retail arena; according to Amazon, the company confiscated more than two million counterfeit products in 2020 alone. But a potential solution may soon be at hand.

BMW iVentures, the investment arm of BMW, has made a substantial investment in a company that uses what it calls “digital fingerprinting” technology to detect fake parts. Altheon, a technology company based in Washington state, uses its proprietary FeaturePrint software and cloud computing capabilities to compile a database of legitimate production parts, which can then be used to compare to parts of unknown origin. With a single camera image, retailers and distributors can know whether the parts they are being sold are in fact legitimate or counterfeit.

For the present, Altheon operates in only the B2B and B2C realms, but it aims to make its software available to the public in the future via a downloadable smartphone app. More information is available at www.altheon.com.

Registration Open for SEMA Nordic Trip

The Nordic region hosts a thriving automotive enthusiast scene. Join SEMA this summer for the inaugural SEMA Nordic trip.

Join SEMA on the first SEMA Nordic trip, August 24–28, in Stockholm, Sweden. Participants will learn the potential for their products in this performance and classic-car paradise. Meet with top trade buyers enabling the half-century-old craze in Sweden and the surrounding countries of Norway, Finland and Denmark to restore and upgrade American classic cars. Trade buyers are expected from throughout Europe.

Performance is among the top upgrades sought for a range of vehicles. The region hosts the headquarters of the European drag-racing championship, and rally racing and drifting also have their passionate fans. High disposable income and a love of American vehicles and products, coupled with a passion for personalization, make this an attractive region.

The SEMA Nordic trip is the fifth region for the popular SEMA Business Development Programs. These low-cost, turnkey overseas events bring together SEMA-member manufacturers and buyers from key global markets. The price of the upcoming trip includes hotel accommodations, a table-top display, meals and networking events. Prices start at $3,860 per company, not including flights to/from the United States (for qualified companies taking the instant $1,200 U.S. government grant).

More information is available at www.sema.org/nordic, or contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org to schedule a call.

Goodyear to Develop Domestic Source of Natural Rubber

Goodyear announced a partnership with the U.S. Defense Department and other government agencies to develop a domestic source of rubber from a species of dandelion.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced a multi-year, multi-million-dollar program supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Air Force Research Lab and BioMade to work with Ohio-based Farmed Materials to develop a domestic source of natural rubber from a specific species of dandelion.

Natural rubber has been classified as a strategic raw material that serves as a critical ingredient in military, aircraft and truck tires. Today, more than 90% of the world’s natural rubber is made from latex derived from rubber trees and is primarily sourced from tropical locations outside of the United States.

The program will build on research that analyzed more than 2,500 species of plants but found only a few with properties suitable for use in tires. Taraxacum kok-saghyz, a species of dandelion known as TKS, is a proven alternative to natural rubber trees. Farmed Materials has shown positive results in pilot programs for TKS, yielding strong harvests that necessitate the need for additional funding.

While rubber trees typically take seven years to produce the latex needed for rubber production, dandelions can be harvested every six months. TKS dandelions are also resilient and can grow in non-tropical climates. If additional testing provides promising results, Goodyear sees potential for use in all tire applications.