Toyota recently announced plans to release 13 new model variations of the fullsize Tundra pickup for the 2008 model year. The automaker says the biggest change will be increased availability of the two most popular cab styles—Double Cab and CrewMax—in the newly-named "Tundra Grade," aimed at price-conscious customers. The new additions are set to hit dealerships in mid-October.

The Double Cab is the top-selling Tundra configuration, Toyota says, accounting for 68% of non-fleet sales, while the larger CrewMax accounts for 26% of Tundra sales. The Tundra's 381-hp, 5.7L V8 is chosen by 72% of customers, making it the most popular engine choice and helping push new Tundra sales to double-digit growth through September 2007, compared to the year prior.

From January to September 2007, consumers purchased 144,480 new Tundras, a 57.9% jump from the 91,525 sold during the same 2006 period. The Cadillac Escalade EXT was the only other fullsize truck to experience a double-digit gain.



Results from SEMA’s 2007 Automotive Lifestyles survey of enthusiasts, which garnered nearly 3,000 complete responses, showed that the Tundra and Tacoma topped the list of Toyota models owned and accessorized. Bedliners, trailer hitches, air intakes, exhaust kits, tonneau covers and side steps ranked among the parts and accessories most purchased by this small sample (0.5% of the entire survey sample) of Tundra owners.

SEMA is cosponsoring with the U.S. government to conduct a webinar on Thursday, November 15, to educate SEMA members on improving their bottom line by minimizing regulatory problems associated with exports. Learn how to avoid typical problems encountered in automotive exports, including common Harmonized Tariff Schedule misclassifications, NAFTA compliance issues and export-compliance issues. Find out how to research duty and tax rates around the world, how to use Free-Trade Agreements and other related topics. During the Q&A session, participants will be able to interact and ask questions through the computer or via telephone. To register, visit www.buyusa.gov/auto/webinar.html or contact Ed Roytberg, U.S. Commercial Service Automotive Team, at eduard.roytberg@mail.doc.gov, 909/466-4138. 

Hundreds of international buyers are going to be looking for new suppliers at the SEMA International Happy Hour on Wednesday, October 31, in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Where will you be? For more information and a registration form, contact tradeleads@sema.org and request document #8004. The deadline to RSVP for the SEMA International Happy Hour is Tuesday, October 16.

More than 7,000 international buyers are pre-registered to attend the SEMA Show/AAIW. See what products they are seeking and invite them to visit your booth by using the online International Buyer Locator available free of charge to all 2007 SEMA Show exhibitors. Download the free database, and contact the buyers now to invite them to visit your booth. To get started, visit  www.semashow.com/tradeleads.

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Once again, the SEMA Show has been selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to participate in the International Buyer Program (IBP), a service that significantly enhances our ability to make the Show a truly global marketplace. Through this program, SEMA offers a number of services to help international attendees make the most of their experience at the Show.

Through the IBP and its globally integrated network, the U.S. Commercial Service assists small- and medium-size U.S. businesses to export their products and services worldwide. Overseas staffs in U.S. embassies and consulates work to recruit foreign buyer delegations and help advertise the SEMA Show in regional media outlets. More than 20 official DOC delegations have been recruited to attend the Show, including those from Australia, Mexico, the Philippines, Jordon and Costa Rica, to name a few.

During the Show, trade specialists from the Commercial Service will manage the International Center located in the SEMA Center For International Commerce (LVCC Room S229), along with international registration assistance, where buyers may negotiate with sellers, use the meeting rooms (free of charge, first-come first-serve) and use the facility to plan their visits around the exhibit floor. We also encourage exhibitors to visit the International Business Center for our interpreter services and export counseling from the Commercial Service.

And with its network of domestic and international offices, the Commercial Service uses its presence and marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. This assistance includes export counseling, market research, matchmaking, pre-arranged business appointments abroad through its Gold Key Service, advocacy, video conferencing, international partner searches, trade events and more.

"SEMA appreciates the efforts of the U.S. Department of Commerce in helping to drive international buyers to the SEMA Show,” says Linda Spencer, SEMA Director of international and government relations. “Dozens of automotive industry specialists from U.S. Commercial Service offices abroad will be attending the SEMA Show. Meet with these representatives during the Show for information on their respective markets or contact these U.S. government employees beforehand to learn more about the products the businesses in their delegations are seeking to buy while in Las Vegas.”

Intellectual property rights is another area of international commerce foremost on the minds of many specialty-equipment companies. According to SEMA research, 30% of member companies surveyed ranked knockoff and counterfeit products as a primary obstacle facing their businesses today. Additionally, 37% registered an "increase" or "very large increase" in the number of counterfeits/knockoffs of company products over the past year.

It is SEMA's objective to ensure proper protection of intellectual property rights of its members and Show exhibitors. This includes the protection of trademarks, service-marks, copyrights and patents. With the support of the SEMA Board of Directors, a stringent policy has been put in place, and every effort will be made to eliminate product conflicts and protect those that have legal rights to the products involved.

If you suspect another company has copied your product or has infringed on your legal rights, contact Show Management at 702/450-7662, ext. 104 or cschwartz@convexx.com.

To learn more about protecting your IPR overseas, click here to download SEMA webinars on the subject.

For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, visit www.export.gov or call 800/USA-TRADE. 

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the hit improvisational comedy show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” will be the featured entertainers at the 2007 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 1, in Las Vegas.

Colin Mochrie (left) and Brad Sherwood

Attended by 3,000 professionals in the automotive specialty-equipment market, the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet is the largest and most recognized awards banquet in the industry. The event is where several prestigious industry awards are announced, including the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Warehouse Distributor of the Year, SEMA Manufacturers’ Rep of the Year and Chairman’s Service Award.

Mochrie and Sherwood are best-known for starring in ABC’s hit show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The comedians are also famous for their performance at the Presidential Correspondents Dinner, where they brought Karl Rove onstage with them to rap. The Colin & Brad show, now in its fifth year, maintains a tour schedule of 100 theater shows per year.

Tickets to the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet have been on sale since August. Details will be available at www.SEMAShow.com or can be obtained from Lisa Moreno at lisam@sema.org.

The 2007 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday, October 30–Friday, November 2. The Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from 100 countries each year. In addition to thousands of manufacturers, the event features professional development and technical seminars, product demonstrations, special activities and networking events.

Ford Design Awards

Ford Motor Company will once again recognize the most significant design achievements at the 2007 SEMA Show with its Ford Motor Company Corporate Design Awards. These prestigious awards are given to those vehicles that make a significant contribution to vehicle design and stand apart from all the others at the SEMA Show.

Awards will be presented for the most significant accomplishments in the following vehicle categories:

• Best of Show
• Best of Show on Ford Corporate Display Stand
• Best Ford Heritage Vehicle
• Outstanding Achievement(s)

Formal presentation of the awards will be on Tuesday, October 30, immediately preceding the Ford Motor Company Press Conference in the Ford Motor Company Show Stand located in the Racing & Performance section of Center Hall.

Ford Motor Company's Corporate Design judging team will review all Show vehicles on display at the Show on Sunday and Monday (during Show setup). To assist the judging team in these efforts, exhibitors are encouraged to submit descriptions of their vehicles, pictures and the vehicle's Show location to Sherry Kollien (cars), skollie1@ford.com, or to Sandy Walsh (trucks/CUVs/SUVs), swalsh2@ford.com.

General Motors Design Awards

General Motors will again be giving out design awards for various categories at this year’s SEMA Show. Categories will be divided into two groups:

A) Vehicles: Cars, SUVs, Trucks, Restored Vehicles

B) Component/System Designs

The entry form is available by clicking here.

The form can copied to allow exhibitors to apply for more than one vehicle or component award. The form can also be forwarded to any suppliers that have contributed to your GM Show vehicle, or who have a new/innovative component design.

Note: Component design awards will be presented to the design/manufacturing company, not the displayer.

Judging will be done on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. An award breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m.–9:00 am on Thursday in the Convention Center.  Since there will be hundreds of applicants, only the winners will be notified of the breakfast invitation, due to the short time to complete the judging and get back with the winners.

If your vehicle will be displayed as a feature vehicle, it is understood that locations will not be provided until Sunday or Monday afternoon. Fill out the form now, and provide the location information to Bob Kern at 313/300-9471 as soon as it is known.

The deadline is noon on October 23. GM requests that only one vehicle or component be submitted per application sheet.  Fax the form(s) to the number on the form.

Questions? Contact Bob Kern 313/300-9471 (cell).

If you missed today's webinar "Unlocking Hidden Profits Through OEM CAD Data," stay tuned for the download next week. Does your organization have access to OEM CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data? Do you or your coworkers want to learn how you can benefit from this valuable resource? This SEMA webinar, presented by Gordon Booth, will show you how OEM CAD data can help your company design, manufacture and create installation and marketing materials more quickly and efficiently for less and with improved quality. Members interested in learning more about what CAD data can do for their company are encouraged to to download this webinar by visiting www.sema.org/webinar.

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