By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

As summer 2017 kicks off, support for the RPM Act is heating up. The bipartisan bill has more than 160 co-sponsors in the House and Senate combined. Meanwhile, SEMA members continue to do their part to protect the rights of our industry and push for a vote on the bill.

Hear from some of our members about what they are doing to stand up for our right to race:

Stay up-to-date on the RPM Act. Get the latest video, news clips and information on the bill at www.sema.org/epa-news.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Steve Rogers

Edelbrock Appoints New President

Edelbrock has announced the appointment of Steve Rogers to the position of president of Edelbrock LLC. He succeeds Wayne Murray, who will assume the role of chief operating officer. Previously, Rogers was the president and CEO of K&N Engineering Inc., from 2003–2014. At Edelbrock, Rogers will focus on product strategies and marketing initiatives to continue growing the brand. Murray will continue to focus on overseeing Edelbrock’s manufacturing and foundry operations. John Colaianne will remain chief executive officer. Further, along with the entire aftermarket industry, Rogers expressed his sorrow for the recent loss of Vic Edelbrock Jr. He is committed to supporting the legacy for quality products that Edelbrock Jr. and his father built around the brand.

Insane Audio Added to Meyer Distributing’s Line Card

Insane Audio, an American-made audio solution that caters primarily to Jeep enthusiasts, is the latest addition to the 12-volt category at Meyer Distributing. Insane Audio builds in-dash multimedia and navigation solutions for the off-road aftermarket specifically designed for the Jeep JK, Jeep TJ, and Toyota FJ Cruisers.

Mike Hallmark

Hellwig Suspension Products Names Mike Hallmark as Marketing and International Sales Manager

Hellwig Products, a manufacturer of sway bars and tow/haul suspension products, has announced that its West Coast and International Sales Manager Mike Hallmark will transition to marketing and international sales manager. In this new capacity, Hallmark will oversee all marketing functions, and will work closely with Hellwig’s agency of record, Kahn Media. As the West Coast and international sales manager, Hallmark has led the company into new segments, such as the Overland market. Hallmark has also pioneered Hellwig’s international expansion into Australia and the Middle East countries through SEMA development conferences. Hallmark brings years of automotive aftermarket experience, working with both Advanced Clutch Technology and T-Rex Grilles prior to joining the Hellwig Suspension Products team.

Royal Purple Synthetic Oil Presents $5,500 Donation Check to Lupus Foundation of America

Royal Purple Synthetic Oil presented the Indiana chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America with a $5,500 donation, June 12. Attending the presentation were J.P. Hyden, marketing and event coordinator at Royal Purple Synthetic Oil; Jason Penix, director, development series, Indy Lights at INDYCAR; John Brunner, Belardi Auto Racing team manager; and Emilee Hunt and Lisa Kelly, representing the Lupus Foundation of America. At the Grand Prix of Indianapolis all 50-plus cars across the Mazda Road to Indy series displayed a decal in support of the Lupus Foundation of America, and a special hashtag—#RaceToEndLupus—was utilized throughout the event. Throughout the weekend, $5,500 was raised, and the check was presented to the Indiana chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America at the organization’s Indiana headquarters.

The Yokohama Nitro Circus “Get Trucked Up Giveaway” grand prize will be a custom-built, ’17 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Crew Cab 4x4

Yokohama Tire to Give Away Custom ’17 Ram 2500 Power Wagon

The Yokohama Nitro Circus “Get Trucked Up Giveaway” grand prize will be a custom-built, ’17 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Crew Cab 4x4 featuring Yokohama’s all-new GEOLANDAR M/T G003 mud-terrain tires. The sweepstakes, in conjunction with Yokohama marketing partner Nitro Circus, runs through October 15. The truck made its debut at the Nitro Circus show in San Diego, and will be on display at all 20 Nitro Circus Live events across the country through the end of September. To enter the contest, visit Yokohama’s website.

HELLA and ZF Form Strategic Partnership

ZF and HELLA are entering into a strategic partnership in which both automotive suppliers will cooperate on sensor technology, particularly for front camera systems, imaging and radar systems. ZF will further strengthen its portfolio as a systems supplier that offers both modern assistance systems and autonomous driving functions, whereas HELLA will drive technological development and benefits from a broader market access. The first joint-development project in camera technology will start immediately, with the objective of a market launch in 2020.

Danielson Fuel Services Joins VP Racing Fuels Retail Brand Program

VP Racing Fuels has introduced Danielson Fuel Services as the newest partner in its retail branding program. Based in Norman, Oklahoma, Danielson supplies 100 independent locations in a region comprised of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. In partnering with VP, Danielson is attempting to respond to its dealers in the midst of a changing landscape, according to Steve Hopkins, vice president, fuel operations for Danielson.

DENSO’s Athens and Maryville locations Recognized by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TGSP) has recognized DENSO’s Athens and Maryville locations for outstanding environmental conservation and vision for creating a sustainable automotive society. A recent article from the Tennessee Green Star Partnership highlighted key environmental initiatives at each facility, including DENSO’s EcoParks and continued focus on recycling, energy management and diverting waste material from landfills. TGSP also recognized how each facility’s environmental efforts align with DENSO’s worldwide Eco-Vision initiative, which provides local facilities with a blueprint to achieve a sustainable automotive society and the decisions to implement non-traditional methods and technologies to improve energy efficiency and waste diversion.

RealTruck Recognized for Mobile Commerce Excellence

RealTruck.com was recently recognized as a finalist in the third annual Internet Retailer Excellence Awards, which highlight outstanding and innovative online retailers and business-to-business e-commerce companies for significant strides made in their nominated category over the past year. Selected by a panel comprised of Internet Retailer senior editors and e-commerce experts, RealTruck joined eBay, Lancôme, and Wayfair as a Mobile Commerce finalist. RealTruck submitted a nomination for the Mobile Commerce award after the website completed a significant mobile website upgrade. The two month-long process included a logo redesign, sleeker and more modern graphics, a more prominent vehicle selector that allows the user to view the most applicable products for their vehicle, inclusion of Pay With Amazon and the redesign of a number of pages guided by heat mapping and A/B testing data.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

By Chad Simon

SEMA measuring sessions provide manufacturing members access to new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut.

In partnership with the SEMA Garage, 23 specialty-equipment manufacturers showed up at Mazda’s Technical Research Facility in Irvine, California, to obtain the specs needed to prepare parts for the ’17 CX-5 during a June 15 measuring session.

Decked out in the newly developed Soul Red Crystal paint, the fully redesigned CX-5 prioritizes passenger comfort, with a quiet cabin and G-Vectoring Control—the first of the SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics vehicle motion control technologies. The powertrain lineup comprises the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and 2.5L gasoline and SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engines. According to Mazda, all three options offer powerful, linear driving and outstanding environmental performance.

SEMA measuring sessions provide an integration platform for different sectors of the aftermarket community. Members acquaint themselves with new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut. Participants can question manufacturer representatives and offer their feedback regarding the new vehicles. 

SEMA acquires first-production or pre-production test vehicles for the sessions, allowing wheel companies, performance groups and cosmetic restyling businesses to shorten the lead-time for new products. SEMA often gathers two or more vehicles for each session, increasing the value of each event.

“SEMA Garage measuring sessions continue to play an important role in the product-development process for SEMA-member companies,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA’s senior director of OE relations. “The Mazda CX-5 measuring session held at Mazda’s facility in Irvine was no exception, as two-dozen SEMA-member companies representing a wide array of manufacturers took advantage of exclusive access to this vehicle.”

Measuring sessions have also been a valuable part of SEMA’s Tech Transfer program, which grants SEMA manufacturing members access to vehicle CAD files provided directly from participating OEMs. The intent of the program is to help streamline production by minimizing or completely eliminating the necessity for reverse engineering.

In addition to access to upcoming vehicles, SEMA measuring session participants can also ask questions of the participating OEM staff to learn more about the vehicles, the automaker's marketing plans, the intended audience and more.

The next SEMA Measuring Session will feature the ’18 Ford F-150, Mustang and Expedition, to be held July 13, at Ford’s Product Development Benchmarking Center in Allen Park, Michigan, and again July 24–25, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

By Chad Simon

SEMA measuring sessions provide manufacturing members access to new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut.

In partnership with the SEMA Garage, 23 specialty-equipment manufacturers showed up at Mazda’s Technical Research Facility in Irvine, California, to obtain the specs needed to prepare parts for the ’17 CX-5 during a June 15 measuring session.

Decked out in the newly developed Soul Red Crystal paint, the fully redesigned CX-5 prioritizes passenger comfort, with a quiet cabin and G-Vectoring Control—the first of the SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics vehicle motion control technologies. The powertrain lineup comprises the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and 2.5L gasoline and SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engines. According to Mazda, all three options offer powerful, linear driving and outstanding environmental performance.

SEMA measuring sessions provide an integration platform for different sectors of the aftermarket community. Members acquaint themselves with new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut. Participants can question manufacturer representatives and offer their feedback regarding the new vehicles. 

SEMA acquires first-production or pre-production test vehicles for the sessions, allowing wheel companies, performance groups and cosmetic restyling businesses to shorten the lead-time for new products. SEMA often gathers two or more vehicles for each session, increasing the value of each event.

“SEMA Garage measuring sessions continue to play an important role in the product-development process for SEMA-member companies,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA’s senior director of OE relations. “The Mazda CX-5 measuring session held at Mazda’s facility in Irvine was no exception, as two-dozen SEMA-member companies representing a wide array of manufacturers took advantage of exclusive access to this vehicle.”

Measuring sessions have also been a valuable part of SEMA’s Tech Transfer program, which grants SEMA manufacturing members access to vehicle CAD files provided directly from participating OEMs. The intent of the program is to help streamline production by minimizing or completely eliminating the necessity for reverse engineering.

In addition to access to upcoming vehicles, SEMA measuring session participants can also ask questions of the participating OEM staff to learn more about the vehicles, the automaker's marketing plans, the intended audience and more.

The next SEMA Measuring Session will feature the ’18 Ford F-150, Mustang and Expedition, to be held July 13, at Ford’s Product Development Benchmarking Center in Allen Park, Michigan, and again July 24–25, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

By Chad Simon

SEMA measuring sessions provide manufacturing members access to new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut.

In partnership with the SEMA Garage, 23 specialty-equipment manufacturers showed up at Mazda’s Technical Research Facility in Irvine, California, to obtain the specs needed to prepare parts for the ’17 CX-5 during a June 15 measuring session.

Decked out in the newly developed Soul Red Crystal paint, the fully redesigned CX-5 prioritizes passenger comfort, with a quiet cabin and G-Vectoring Control—the first of the SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics vehicle motion control technologies. The powertrain lineup comprises the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and 2.5L gasoline and SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engines. According to Mazda, all three options offer powerful, linear driving and outstanding environmental performance.

SEMA measuring sessions provide an integration platform for different sectors of the aftermarket community. Members acquaint themselves with new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut. Participants can question manufacturer representatives and offer their feedback regarding the new vehicles. 

SEMA acquires first-production or pre-production test vehicles for the sessions, allowing wheel companies, performance groups and cosmetic restyling businesses to shorten the lead-time for new products. SEMA often gathers two or more vehicles for each session, increasing the value of each event.

“SEMA Garage measuring sessions continue to play an important role in the product-development process for SEMA-member companies,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA’s senior director of OE relations. “The Mazda CX-5 measuring session held at Mazda’s facility in Irvine was no exception, as two-dozen SEMA-member companies representing a wide array of manufacturers took advantage of exclusive access to this vehicle.”

Measuring sessions have also been a valuable part of SEMA’s Tech Transfer program, which grants SEMA manufacturing members access to vehicle CAD files provided directly from participating OEMs. The intent of the program is to help streamline production by minimizing or completely eliminating the necessity for reverse engineering.

In addition to access to upcoming vehicles, SEMA measuring session participants can also ask questions of the participating OEM staff to learn more about the vehicles, the automaker's marketing plans, the intended audience and more.

The next SEMA Measuring Session will feature the ’18 Ford F-150, Mustang and Expedition, to be held July 13, at Ford’s Product Development Benchmarking Center in Allen Park, Michigan, and again July 24–25, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

By Chad Simon

SEMA measuring sessions provide manufacturing members access to new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut.

In partnership with the SEMA Garage, 23 specialty-equipment manufacturers showed up at Mazda’s Technical Research Facility in Irvine, California, to obtain the specs needed to prepare parts for the ’17 CX-5 during a June 15 measuring session.

Decked out in the newly developed Soul Red Crystal paint, the fully redesigned CX-5 prioritizes passenger comfort, with a quiet cabin and G-Vectoring Control—the first of the SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics vehicle motion control technologies. The powertrain lineup comprises the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and 2.5L gasoline and SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engines. According to Mazda, all three options offer powerful, linear driving and outstanding environmental performance.

SEMA measuring sessions provide an integration platform for different sectors of the aftermarket community. Members acquaint themselves with new vehicles before their release or immediately following their debut. Participants can question manufacturer representatives and offer their feedback regarding the new vehicles. 

SEMA acquires first-production or pre-production test vehicles for the sessions, allowing wheel companies, performance groups and cosmetic restyling businesses to shorten the lead-time for new products. SEMA often gathers two or more vehicles for each session, increasing the value of each event.

“SEMA Garage measuring sessions continue to play an important role in the product-development process for SEMA-member companies,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA’s senior director of OE relations. “The Mazda CX-5 measuring session held at Mazda’s facility in Irvine was no exception, as two-dozen SEMA-member companies representing a wide array of manufacturers took advantage of exclusive access to this vehicle.”

Measuring sessions have also been a valuable part of SEMA’s Tech Transfer program, which grants SEMA manufacturing members access to vehicle CAD files provided directly from participating OEMs. The intent of the program is to help streamline production by minimizing or completely eliminating the necessity for reverse engineering.

In addition to access to upcoming vehicles, SEMA measuring session participants can also ask questions of the participating OEM staff to learn more about the vehicles, the automaker's marketing plans, the intended audience and more.

The next SEMA Measuring Session will feature the ’18 Ford F-150, Mustang and Expedition, to be held July 13, at Ford’s Product Development Benchmarking Center in Allen Park, Michigan, and again July 24–25, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

This is the ’19 Chevy Malibu, caught testing near GM's Milford proving grounds.

The Malibu will go in for a modest facelift next year to keep it fresh among falling midsize sedan sales. While the current generation has been far more popular than its predecessor, Chevrolet isn’t resting. The prototype covered in camo suggests both the front and rear ends of the vehicle will undergo noticeable changes, although they’re most likely to consist of new lights, bumpers and a new grille.

It’s hard to see the interior, but expect it to stay in line with recent Chevy introductions, such as the Equinox. More advanced driver-assistance technologies are also likely.

A 1.6L turbodiesel four seen in the Cruze and upcoming Equinox is likely to land in the Malibu, too, mated to a nine-speed automatic that was added for ’17. Other powertrain changes will likely be minor.

Expect to see the ’19 Malibu next spring.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Chevy Malibu, caught testing near GM's Milford proving grounds.

The Malibu will go in for a modest facelift next year to keep it fresh among falling midsize sedan sales. While the current generation has been far more popular than its predecessor, Chevrolet isn’t resting. The prototype covered in camo suggests both the front and rear ends of the vehicle will undergo noticeable changes, although they’re most likely to consist of new lights, bumpers and a new grille.

It’s hard to see the interior, but expect it to stay in line with recent Chevy introductions, such as the Equinox. More advanced driver-assistance technologies are also likely.

A 1.6L turbodiesel four seen in the Cruze and upcoming Equinox is likely to land in the Malibu, too, mated to a nine-speed automatic that was added for ’17. Other powertrain changes will likely be minor.

Expect to see the ’19 Malibu next spring.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Chevy Malibu, caught testing near GM's Milford proving grounds.

The Malibu will go in for a modest facelift next year to keep it fresh among falling midsize sedan sales. While the current generation has been far more popular than its predecessor, Chevrolet isn’t resting. The prototype covered in camo suggests both the front and rear ends of the vehicle will undergo noticeable changes, although they’re most likely to consist of new lights, bumpers and a new grille.

It’s hard to see the interior, but expect it to stay in line with recent Chevy introductions, such as the Equinox. More advanced driver-assistance technologies are also likely.

A 1.6L turbodiesel four seen in the Cruze and upcoming Equinox is likely to land in the Malibu, too, mated to a nine-speed automatic that was added for ’17. Other powertrain changes will likely be minor.

Expect to see the ’19 Malibu next spring.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Chevy Malibu, caught testing near GM's Milford proving grounds.

The Malibu will go in for a modest facelift next year to keep it fresh among falling midsize sedan sales. While the current generation has been far more popular than its predecessor, Chevrolet isn’t resting. The prototype covered in camo suggests both the front and rear ends of the vehicle will undergo noticeable changes, although they’re most likely to consist of new lights, bumpers and a new grille.

It’s hard to see the interior, but expect it to stay in line with recent Chevy introductions, such as the Equinox. More advanced driver-assistance technologies are also likely.

A 1.6L turbodiesel four seen in the Cruze and upcoming Equinox is likely to land in the Malibu, too, mated to a nine-speed automatic that was added for ’17. Other powertrain changes will likely be minor.

Expect to see the ’19 Malibu next spring.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde