By Ashley Reyes

Manufacturers, retailers and builders can gain exposure through sponsorships, but of course, the partnership must benefit both parties. Understanding the give and take of these relationships is essential to a successful experience in sponsoring a vehicle, manufacturer, team, event or other similar avenues.

SEMA members are invited to the SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) General Membership Meeting and Panel Discussion on Thursday, June 22, at 10:00 a.m. PDT to learn the ins and outs of sponsorships and how to navigate the landscape.

Featuring speakers Amy Fitzgerald (Cool Hand Customs), Kevin Oeste (V8 TV) and Ben Tucker (Camaro Central), the online event will help members gain an understanding of the following:

• Donations of product and labor in turn for exposure in different areas such as print, web, in-person events and television.
• What to expect and how to negotiate deals.
• How to ensure your company gets proper exposure
• How to protect your investment if the other party does not follow through.
• How to put a deal together, protect both parties and filter out the "I just want free parts" crowd.
• How to set and meet expectations for sponsorships.

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

Designing wheels can be challenging. So what can designers do--within the confines of a circle--that will meet buyers' needs for both style and functionality?

Wheel and tire industry members can learn new approaches to knowing when to keep, refresh or create new wheel designs that will sell in the live webinar "How to Design the Latest Wheels Fashion" on Thursday, June 15, at 9 a.m. PDT. Led by industry experts and presented by the SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC), the webinar will inspire participants to create new designs.

Attendees will discover the following in the webinar:

• New design inspiration, from classic styles to cutting-edge innovations.
• Key principles of the design process.
• Examples of design failures and successes.
• How to overcome the challenges of creating something new within the confines of a circle.
• Physical challenges to designing wheels.
• The lifespan of design trends.

The webinar includes a Q&A with presenters Aston Liyanarchi (Liyanarchi Design), Scott Weiss (Konig American), George Finch (The Carlstar Group LLC) and Alex Martinez (MetaMartini). Register now!

By Ashley Reyes

The recent SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) Professional Development Program provided valuable knowledge and insights to FLN members for becoming more impactful, empathetic and effective leaders in their organizations. Facilitated by trainers from the world-renown Dale Carnegie Institute, the training prepared participants to communicate more confidently in business situations and gave them the tools to communicate more effectively, build rapport and gain willing cooperation by influencing others.

All SEMA members can now share the program's exclusive insights by tuning into the FLN Facebook and Instagram live chat on Wednesday, June 14, at 12:00 p.m. PDT. Viewers will learn how to boost their professional development and apply the program to their own careers and personal lives.

This will be a fun and candid conversation with a chance to connect with the speakers live. Visit here to sign up for Facebook event reminders.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the Auto Care Association, the CAR Coalition and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Aftermarket applaud a new group of bipartisan co-sponsors of the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act" (H.R. 906), a bill that will ensure choice, fairness and safety in the vehicle repair market. Initially introduced by lead bill sponsor Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and co-sponsors Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on to support the REPAIR Act in April. 

An additional 16 members of Congress were officially added as co-sponsors in May, bringing the total to 28 U.S. House members who support vehicle owners' right to choose where they get their vehicles maintained and repaired. The new co-sponsors include:  

• Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-NC-1) 
• Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL-5) 
• Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) 
• Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) 
• Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-2) 
• Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL-8) 
• Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-1) 
• Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24) 
• Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR-At Large) 
• Rep. Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3) 
• Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN-3) 
• Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI-6) 
• Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-2) 
• Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) 
• Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4) 
• Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1) 

Bipartisan support for the bill continues to grow. The REPAIR Act is the only bill that addresses vehicle maintenance and repair restrictions. Specifically, the REPAIR Act will:  

• Preserve consumer access to high-quality, affordable vehicle repair by ensuring that vehicle owners and their repairers of choice have access to necessary repair and maintenance tools and data as vehicles continue to become more advanced. 
• Ensure cybersecurity by allowing vehicle manufacturers to secure vehicle-generated data and requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standards for how vehicle-generated data necessary for repair can be accessed securely.  
• Provide transparency for consumers by requiring vehicle owners to be informed that they can choose where and how to get their vehicle repaired. 
• Create a stakeholder advisory committee and provide them with the statutory authority to provide recommendations to the Federal Trade Committee (FTC) on how to address emerging barriers to vehicle repair and maintenance. 
• Provide ongoing enforcement by establishing a process for consumers and independent repair facilities to file complaints with the FTC regarding alleged violations of the requirements in the bill and a requirement that the FTC act within five months of a claim. 

Click here to send your U.S. Representative a letter asking them to support the REPAIR Act by co-sponsoring the bill. 

While the REPAIR Act is important to repair and replacement businesses, we still have more work to do. The current legislation does not extend to a right to modify. SEMA is committed to protecting the right to modify vehicles by prohibiting automakers from locking down ECUs and ensuring aftermarket companies have access to the information needed to recalibrate vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) after they have been modified.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the Auto Care Association, the CAR Coalition and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Aftermarket applaud a new group of bipartisan co-sponsors of the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act" (H.R. 906), a bill that will ensure choice, fairness and safety in the vehicle repair market. Initially introduced by lead bill sponsor Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and co-sponsors Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on to support the REPAIR Act in April. 

An additional 16 members of Congress were officially added as co-sponsors in May, bringing the total to 28 U.S. House members who support vehicle owners' right to choose where they get their vehicles maintained and repaired. The new co-sponsors include:  

• Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-NC-1) 
• Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL-5) 
• Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) 
• Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) 
• Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-2) 
• Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL-8) 
• Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-1) 
• Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24) 
• Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR-At Large) 
• Rep. Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3) 
• Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN-3) 
• Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI-6) 
• Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-2) 
• Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) 
• Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4) 
• Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1) 

Bipartisan support for the bill continues to grow. The REPAIR Act is the only bill that addresses vehicle maintenance and repair restrictions. Specifically, the REPAIR Act will:  

• Preserve consumer access to high-quality, affordable vehicle repair by ensuring that vehicle owners and their repairers of choice have access to necessary repair and maintenance tools and data as vehicles continue to become more advanced. 
• Ensure cybersecurity by allowing vehicle manufacturers to secure vehicle-generated data and requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standards for how vehicle-generated data necessary for repair can be accessed securely.  
• Provide transparency for consumers by requiring vehicle owners to be informed that they can choose where and how to get their vehicle repaired. 
• Create a stakeholder advisory committee and provide them with the statutory authority to provide recommendations to the Federal Trade Committee (FTC) on how to address emerging barriers to vehicle repair and maintenance. 
• Provide ongoing enforcement by establishing a process for consumers and independent repair facilities to file complaints with the FTC regarding alleged violations of the requirements in the bill and a requirement that the FTC act within five months of a claim. 

Click here to send your U.S. Representative a letter asking them to support the REPAIR Act by co-sponsoring the bill. 

While the REPAIR Act is important to repair and replacement businesses, we still have more work to do. The current legislation does not extend to a right to modify. SEMA is committed to protecting the right to modify vehicles by prohibiting automakers from locking down ECUs and ensuring aftermarket companies have access to the information needed to recalibrate vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) after they have been modified.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the Auto Care Association, the CAR Coalition and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Aftermarket applaud a new group of bipartisan co-sponsors of the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act" (H.R. 906), a bill that will ensure choice, fairness and safety in the vehicle repair market. Initially introduced by lead bill sponsor Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and co-sponsors Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on to support the REPAIR Act in April. 

An additional 16 members of Congress were officially added as co-sponsors in May, bringing the total to 28 U.S. House members who support vehicle owners' right to choose where they get their vehicles maintained and repaired. The new co-sponsors include:  

• Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-NC-1) 
• Rep. John H. Rutherford (R-FL-5) 
• Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) 
• Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) 
• Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-2) 
• Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL-8) 
• Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-1) 
• Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24) 
• Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR-At Large) 
• Rep. Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3) 
• Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN-3) 
• Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI-6) 
• Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-2) 
• Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) 
• Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4) 
• Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1) 

Bipartisan support for the bill continues to grow. The REPAIR Act is the only bill that addresses vehicle maintenance and repair restrictions. Specifically, the REPAIR Act will:  

• Preserve consumer access to high-quality, affordable vehicle repair by ensuring that vehicle owners and their repairers of choice have access to necessary repair and maintenance tools and data as vehicles continue to become more advanced. 
• Ensure cybersecurity by allowing vehicle manufacturers to secure vehicle-generated data and requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standards for how vehicle-generated data necessary for repair can be accessed securely.  
• Provide transparency for consumers by requiring vehicle owners to be informed that they can choose where and how to get their vehicle repaired. 
• Create a stakeholder advisory committee and provide them with the statutory authority to provide recommendations to the Federal Trade Committee (FTC) on how to address emerging barriers to vehicle repair and maintenance. 
• Provide ongoing enforcement by establishing a process for consumers and independent repair facilities to file complaints with the FTC regarding alleged violations of the requirements in the bill and a requirement that the FTC act within five months of a claim. 

Click here to send your U.S. Representative a letter asking them to support the REPAIR Act by co-sponsoring the bill. 

While the REPAIR Act is important to repair and replacement businesses, we still have more work to do. The current legislation does not extend to a right to modify. SEMA is committed to protecting the right to modify vehicles by prohibiting automakers from locking down ECUs and ensuring aftermarket companies have access to the information needed to recalibrate vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) after they have been modified.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Ashley Reyes

Battery management systems (BMS) are essential to safe electric vehicle (EV) operation--but did you know they also significantly affect performance and battery life?

Knowing why these systems exist, what they do and how to use them is critical to prevent battery damage and maintain battery life when modifying an EV for increased performance.

During the webinar "Battery Management Systems: Functions and Calibration" on Wednesday, June 7, at 1:00 p.m. PDT, automotive aftermarket engineers and product developers will learn how to utilize and control the battery pack in EVs--including how to control the temperature of the BMS, track the battery's state of charge and balance performance during operation. In addition, attendees will hear from Eddy Borysewicz, CEO and founder of Revolt Systems and an expert in EV conversions, and walk away with a deeper understanding of BMS and the importance of proper battery care.

Borysewicz led his team to power the fastest EV on the planet in 2021, shattering world records at Bonneville for a top speed of 359 mph. Tap into his expertise and register for the webinar here. 

By SEMA Editors

Our sources have captured the '25 Cadillac CT5 with an all-new, "refreshed face" front fascia that includes an updated front grille (no more of the "semi-smiley" aesthetic) and headlights that appear in line with the '24 XT4.

The '25 is expected to offer three engine options: the turbocharged 2.0L, rated at 237 hp and 258 lb.-ft.; the twin-turbo 3.0L V6, with 335 hp and 405 lb.-ft. of torque; and the 6.2L with 668 hp and 659 lb.-ft. of torque in the CT5-V Blackwing.

By SEMA Editors

"The Smoking Tire" podcast--the weekly 90-minute radio show covering the car industry with behind-the-scenes experiences--recently invited SEMA CEO and President Mike Spagnola to sit down with hosts Matt Farah and Zack Klapman. 

"We had a compelling discussion on all things automotive, from industry trends to the explosion of new market segments, including electric vehicle (EV) technology. We also covered topics like how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is impacting the car hobby; how SEMA's Garages are helping small businesses build and test new parts that the California Air Resources Board can approve; and how this year's SEMA Show is bigger and better with the addition of new programs like SEMA Fest," Spagnola told SEMA News.

"The Smoking Tire" podcast episode featuring Spagnola is available on YouTube (below) and on all podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) invites its members to a virtual general membership meeting on Thursday, June 8, at 10:00 a.m. PDT.  

Taking place online, the meeting will provide updates on events and resources available to help young aftermarket leaders succeed in their careers.

Participants will learn about new volunteer opportunities, discover networking events to get involved in the industry and discover benefits offered exclusively to FLN members.

Aftermarket professionals aged 39 and under who are not current FLN members are encouraged to attend, as the meeting is also a great way to learn about the FLN and the many available resources.

Join fellow FLN members and connect with the FLN select committee on Thursday, June 8. Register here.