If you have already registered for the 2008 SEMA Show you should have received a confirmation e-mail that includes a link that ensures Show badges will be mailed two weeks prior to the event. Attendees who have not done so are encouraged to access the link to receive their badges in the mail, providing quicker access to the Show, November 4–7 in Las Vegas. If you don't have your registration confirmation, you can reprint it by visiting www.SEMAShow.com and click on the link to check your registration status. You can resend the confirmation to yourself in order to complete the process.

For complete information on the 2008 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

Questions about the registration process? Contact customer service at 866/229-2386 (U.S.) or 001-301-694-5243 (outside the United States), or e-mail aiw081.attendee@experient-inc.com.

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During the SEMA National Education Conference, April 10–11 in Nashville, Motor Age interviewed SEMA Vice President of Market Research and Information Jim Spoonhower about the specialty-equipment industry’s expansion.

"The big thing is a shift from an industry that is driven by enthusiasts to one that is driven by everyday consumers,” Spoonhower said. “[SEMA] member companies are accustomed to marketing for enthusiasts and their response to the message and the product. With mass customization, [members] may have to find new message points and ensure that the product is just right for non-enthusiast customers."

Specialty-equipment companies can profit from mass customization in much the same way as several consumer products that allow the end user to put their name, picture or logo on the final product. Performance parts and accessories can be marketed similarly.

For example, manufacturers could structure a way to custom order the chrome tubing on a cold-air intake so that consumers can get the name of their car club etched on the product prior to being shipped. The costs of integrating mass customization into the specialty-equipment market is likely to be outweighed by the added mainstream consumer base acquired, which is becoming an even bigger part of the industry today compared to years past.

Mainstream consumers are modifying their vehicles with aftermarket parts more than ever, and this change has helped industry sales more than double over the past decade, according to SEMA research. During this same period, the appearance and accessories segment has grown to a 13% market share. Mainstream consumers are a growing part of the industry and are not only turning to the industry for appearance products, but also mobile electronics and other car customizing options.

More specialty-equipment manufacturers have taken notice of the growth experienced by the GPS market, for example. In the 2007 SEMA Show New Products Showcase, manufacturers introduced 192% more GPS products than at the 2006 Show.

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Brenda Priddy's spy photographer network recently caught the third Cadillac CTS variant, a wagon, during testing. Codenamed GMX 206, GM will start building this luxury wagon next spring, Priddy says. It will be built alongside the CTS sedan and coupe at the Lansing (Mich.) Grand River Assembly Plant. Expect GM to build around 10,000-12,000 units a year, a significant portion of that run earmarked for European sales.

Back in the United States, GM is expected to kill the SRX in the first or second quarter of 2009, and replace it with the forthcoming BRX. The CTS wagon is expected to slot between the sedan and sport-ute segments of Cadillac's lineup.

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SEMA-supported legislation to create classic motor-vehicle project titles was approved by the Kentucky State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Steve Beshear. The new law applies to vehicles at least 25 years old, not road-worthy and currently without a title or with a title from another state. Under the law, a classic motor-vehicle project title would prohibit the use of vehicles bearing these titles on the highway but, once restored, a regular title could be issued.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a dramatic increase in fuel economy standards to be phased-in between model years 2011 and 2015. The NHTSA would set average fuel economy standards at 35.7 miles per gallon for passenger cars (currently 27.5 mpg) and 28.6 mpg for light trucks (currently 22.5 mpg) by model year 2015.  When averaged together, the combined car/light-truck standard would be 31.6 mpg. The NHTSA estimates that it would add an average cost of $650 per new passenger car and $979 per new truck by 2015, while saving about $100 billion in gas costs for consumers.

The NHTSA’s proposal translates into a 4.6% annual increase in fuel economy gains through model year 2015. This is a more aggressive approach than the anticipated 4% time table established by lawmakers under the SEMA-supported federal energy law enacted last December, which mandates an industry car/truck fleet average of 35 mpg by model year 2020. 

Under the new regulations, the NHTSA would set an industry-wide fleet target but fuel economy numbers for specific models would be based on vehicle-size attributes. The NHTSA first established this approach when it revised the light-truck fuel rules in 2006. Individual car companies would have flexibility on how to achieve the rules, whether placing more emphasis on hybrids or reducing vehicle size and weight. The regulations would include a program allowing automakers to apply and trade credits when they exceed fleet requirements.

The NHTSA’s rule would also prevent any state from regulating tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles since CO2, a byproduct of burned fossil fuels, is directly related to fuel consumption. The federal government has sole jurisdiction for establishing fuel economy standards. Last December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited the new energy law as justification for denying California’s waiver request to regulate CO2 emissions from automobiles starting in 2009. The EPA contends that the federal law would be more effective and have the added benefit of taking a federal approach, which provides a national solution as opposed to a potential patchwork of state rules.  The EPA ruling is subject to lawsuits filed by California and a number of other states and legislation in Congress to overturn the decision.

The NHTSA will accept public comments through early summer. It intends to issue a final rule by January, 2008.  For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

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ON HOLD: The Old School Racing Series has postponed its inaugural season until 2009. The series, which will feature legendary drivers racing stock cars on short tracks, was scheduled to debut this spring.

FAST LADY: Ashley Force defeated her father John in the final round of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals to become the first female Funny Car winner in NHRA history. Her victory came one week after Danica Patrick’s triumph in an IndyCar Series event.

FULL THROTTLE: The NHRA and Coca-Cola announced that Full Throttle energy drink will replace POWERade as the title sponsor of the NHRA Drag Racing Series prior to the 2009 season. The series will be known as the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

GAS PRICES: What are some race track promoters doing to offset high gas prices and attract competitors and fans to their events. Find out in this week’s National Speed Sport News.

EXPLORING OPTIONS: Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart confirmed that he is exploring his options and listening to offers, including team ownership for when his contract runs out at the end of 2009.

NO TO ALONSO: Ferrari officials maintain the team is not interested in two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso joining it in 2009.

A NAME: The dragstrip at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, will be known as zMAX Dragway @ Concord.

DIED: Road-racing pioneer Cameron Argetsinger died April 22 at age 87.

POWER RANKINGS: With his second Sprint Cup triumph of the season, Kyle Busch jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings. The National Speed Sport News Power Rankings are published weekly in the 74-year-old motorsports publication.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.