Nexen Tire America--the provider of high-performance, passenger, SUV/light truck and winter tire technology--has announced Roadian HTX 2 has received the main award in the product design category of the iF Design Awards 2023 in Germany.

The award-winning Roadian HTX 2 tire is designed to improve snow traction and mileage performance when compared to competitive products. It improves tread grip and handling performance, even in snowy conditions, thanks to the tire maker's 3D-sipe technology that increases traction. The cooling-pin design used on the shoulder block effectively releases heat generated during driving, increasing tire durability even in high-speed driving environments and allowing for more stable driving.

The iF International Forum Design GmbH, based in Hanover, Germany, is the oldest independent-design organization and annually bestows the iF Design Award on the best design results. Around 11,000 entries from 56 countries competed fiercely for the award, which was chosen by a panel of 133 judges comprised of experts from each country.

'24 Toyota Tacoma is Coming May 19

The all-new '24 Toyota Tacoma world debut is on May 19, 2023. Stay tuned for more, and click here to check out the previous '24 Toyota Tacoma teasers.

Driven Brands Announces Executive Appointment

Automotive services provider Driven Brands Holdings, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has appointed Gary W. Ferrera as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Ferrera will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Fitzpatrick and succeeds Tiffany Mason.

Ferrera has extensive financial experience and has served as a CFO for various firms across multiple industries for nearly two decades, during which time he has taken two companies public, the company says. Most recently, he served as the CFO of Skillsoft Corporation, an educational software company. 

Speedway Motors Promotes Josh Durham, Jeremy Orlowski

Speedway Motors--the Lincoln, Nebraska-based manufacturer, retailer and distributor of automotive parts and racing products--has announced the promotions of Josh Durham and Jeremy Orlowski. 

Josh Durham, who first joined the Speedway Properties team in 2021, brings more than 23 years of experience in finance to his new role as CFO for Speedway Motors. Before, he was vice president/controller at the Nebraska Book Company and, prior, was a senior financial analyst at The John Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

Jeremy Orlowski first joined Speedway Motors in 2007. He has held several roles within the company, first with outbound inventory, then later to positions on the web team. He is now the director of purchasing. 

Bridgestone Honors Top Maplewood High School Automotive Training Center Students

Bridgestone Retail Operations, a subsidiary of Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, has announced a three-year extension of their relationship with the Maplewood High School Automotive Training Center while honoring this year's top students during a special ceremony at Bridgestone Tower.

The program's top student was offered a part-time position at a local Firestone Complete Auto Care store and received a professional technician toolkit. Seven other students demonstrating a commitment to careers in the automotive service industry also received special awards. Following the ceremony, students and their families were invited to engage with Bridgestone teammates during a career fair and mentorship breakout groups and enjoy a luncheon overlooking downtown Nashville.

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/1:00 p.m. EDT. 

Taking place online, the meeting is the ideal time to get updated on events and resources available to help young aftermarket leaders succeed in their careers. Participants will learn about new volunteer opportunities, discover ways to get more involved in the industry through networking, and meet FLN select committee members who can help them discover the member benefits that FLN has to offer.

And, aftermarket professionals aged 39 and under who are not current FLN members are encouraged to attend, as it's a great way to learn about the FLN and the many available resources. 

Register for the meeting here. 

Three industry leaders are joining the prestigious SEMA Hall of Fame: Steve Ames of Ames Performance Engineering, John Iannotte of Kunzman & Associates and Mitch Williams, who recently left StopTech Performance Brake Systems to join Rigid Industries.

Created in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame honors trailblazers who have significantly enhanced and contributed to the automotive industry. Its members are considered heroes, and each individual has a unique story to tell. The industry is invited to join in honoring the new SEMA Hall of Fame members during the 2023 SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in Anaheim, California, on July 21. More details on the inductees will be shared during the Gala.

Steve Ames: Having developed a fascination for cars at a young age, the late Steve Ames began drag racing after earning an engineering degree from Columbia University. He started in the parts business by traveling along the East Coast buying New Old Stock (NOS) parts. In 1976, he noticed that Pontiac parts were in particularly high demand and began focusing exclusively on such products. As business continued, Ames realized that demand for restoration parts outweighed that of NOS parts and launched Ames Performance Engineering. He expanded with other companies within the restoration industry, providing much-needed products for growing markets and became an authoritative voice in the classic car industry. Ames is one of the original founders of SEMA's Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO), was named ARMO's Person of the Year in 2007 and is a recipient of the ARMO Lifetime Achievement Award. Ames passed away in December 2020.

John Iannotte: John Iannotte is among the industry's most known and respected sales reps. As a teenager, he was the first-ever service rep for the Mr. Phone/Mr. Gasket organization. He continued his career playing a key role in the founding and growth of Bob Barker Marketing & Sales and in much of the success at the multi-award-winning company Kunzman & Associates. An active member and supporter of the SEMA Manufacturers' Rep Council (MRC), Iannotte advocated for and became one of the first certified professional manufacturers' reps (CPMR) and pushed for standards throughout the industry. He served numerous terms on the SEMA Board of Directors, where he worked to shape legislative issues involving manufacturing tax relief, pushed for industry data standards, supported philanthropic activities, and promoted ongoing education and training throughout the industry. Iannotte continues to serve as a sales rep for Kunzman & Associates, as well as volunteer his time and expertise to many industry initiatives.

Mitch Williams: Mitch Williams has nearly 40 years of industry experience, including six terms on the SEMA Board of Directors--one as SEMA Chairman of the Board. As such, he introduced lean concepts to SEMA and expanded the association's global influence by founding the SEMA International Task Force to connect SEMA members with international business opportunities. He also served on the Joint Operating Committee, providing oversight to the SEMA Show and its partner show, AAPEX. He was a charter member of the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) and personally lobbied members of Congress on important industry issues. Williams founded the SEMA Lighting Task Force at a time when National Highway Traffic Safety Association was targeting lighting companies. In addition to nearly 20 years with Hella, Williams held executive positions with Original One Auto Parts, Restoration Parts Unlimited, APR, Dinan Corp., Xstream Trucking, StopTech and recently joined Rigid Industries as its president.

Ames, Iannotte and Williams will be formally introduced during the 2023 SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in Anaheim, California, on July 21, at which time newly elected and outgoing SEMA Board members will also be recognized. All SEMA members and industry professionals are invited to join the celebration by purchasing tickets at sema.org/gala. 

By SEMA Editors

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

• FLN Professional Development Program, May 11-12, SEMA Garage Detroit
• PRI PAC at Indy Grand Prix, May 13
• Ways to Support SEMA Cares' Partners: Giving Back and Leveling Up Corporate Philanthropy (Live Web Event), May 23
• WTC Coffee and Conversation, June 1
• SEMA California Rally, June 8, Sacramento, California
• WTC Coffee and Conversation, August 3
• ETTN N.E.R.D. Symposium, August 16-18, SEMA Garage Detroit
• WTC Coffee and Conversation, September 7
• 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
• 2023 PRI Trade Show, December 7-9, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstore.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA Cares, the charity arm of SEMA that unites the automotive aftermarket's efforts to support children in need, is hosting an online event to help members discover different ways to get involved.

During the webinar "Ways to Support SEMA Cares' Partners: Giving Back and Leveling Up Corporate Philanthropy" on May 23 at 11:30 a.m. PDT, attendees will discover ways to give back while making a positive difference in young lives. 

Representatives--including those from the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, Childhelp Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Victory Junction camp for children with serious medical conditions--will share the stories behind their organizations. They will also share some simple and often overlooked ways businesses and individuals can support their efforts. 

This is a perfect opportunity for businesses that want to level up their charitable programs without incurring financial costs and for individuals who wish to get more involved with giving back.

Register here for the live online event.

Volkswagen will launch its electric Passat equivalent in 2023, and sources recently caught the production version of the wagon near the German city of Kiel. 

The range of the model, which comes both as a sedan and station wagon, should be around 400 miles. The model is expected to correspond to the current Passat size but offer the same interior spaces as its now-defunct big brother, Phaeton. While the latter has been spied on on various occasions, these shots of the ID.7 wagon are the first to show the more practical family variant.

The ID.7 is based on the VW Group's electric car platform MEB, also used for hatchback ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs. Production will start later this year.

The new model will be offered with rear-wheel drive as standard, but there will also be a four-wheel-drive GTX performance model, which can handle 0–60 in 5.6 seconds. With rear-wheel drive, that figure is 8.5 seconds.

The range with the largest battery package, 84 kWh, will be about 425 miles. In comparison, the platform sibling ID.3 has a maximum of 77 kWh and a WLTP range of 340 miles.

The higher capacity is said to be made possible by a slightly longer wheelbase, which means that the battery pack in the floor can be slightly larger. The increased range is also due to more "efficient" battery cells and reduced rolling and air resistance. In addition, a 200 kW fast charge should also be possible, which means that 140 miles of charging should take only 10 minutes.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) has named Alex  Stivaletti--social media manager at Holley Performance Products--as its newest spotlight member. Read about his career and what keeps him in the industry in this exclusive interview with SEMA below. 

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received? 

Alex Stivaletti: "Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life" is probably the best thing I have ever heard. I truly do love what I do and enjoy coming to work every day. That makes life so much easier. 

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry? 

AS: I grew up loving cars and motorcycles. There isn't much else I could imagine I'd do with my life. This industry is my passion. 

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday? 

AS: Probably in the garage wrenching on something. If not that, out riding around with the wife! 

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting? 

AS: Research is key! I always make sure that I am fully educated on what the meeting is about, and I am prepared with my notes. I always take every step I can to make sure I'm prepared. 

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be? 

AS: This is a really hard one, but I would probably want to sit down and have a real conversation with Ken Block. Not just from a driving perspective but business and success in general. We crossed paths during the build of the Hoonitruck at Detroit Speed for Gymkhana Ten, and the entire experience and amount of people involved in that project just blew my mind. 

Fill out an FLN member spotlight form to be eligible to be featured on FLN's social media, SEMA News, and FLN member updates. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a proposed rule to ban methylene chloride for commercial use in paint removers and most other products. The EPA has already banned most consumer sales as of August 2019. 

Methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane or DCM, and is used for paint and coating removal, metal cleaning and degreasing, plastic processing and adhesive manufacturing. Consumers exposed to the chemical may risk dizziness or potentially fatal nervous system disorders. 

The EPA is proposing to prohibit most industrial and commercial uses of methylene chloride, including in automotive care products (cleaners, degreasers, air conditioner fluids, etc.). For the remaining exempted uses (e.g., military and airline applications), the agency would require a workplace chemical protection program along with recordkeeping and downstream notification requirements. The ban would be fully implemented 15 months after the EPA issues a final rule. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) has designated a SEMA-sponsored bill  (SB 301) to create a financial rebate program for converting gas- and diesel-powered motor vehicles into zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) as a "job creator." Authored by California Senator Anthony Portantino, the legislation will allow California to support small businesses and maintain its rich car culture while assisting consumers that want to convert their vehicles to cleaner engines.

SEMA is sponsoring the legislation, embracing the innovation of the auto industry as it works to make ZEV ownership more accessible following a similar bill introduced last year that passed in the Assembly with zero opposition.

California has multiple programs, including the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP) and the Clean Cars for All Program, to promote the purchase of new ZEVs. However, none of these programs assist with ZEV conversions of gas-powered vehicles that started their life with an internal-combustion engine.

SEMA encourages its members and enthusiasts in California to contact their lawmakers in support of SB 301.

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

The field is set for the first-ever NHRA Pro Stock All-Star  Callout, which will take place on Saturday, May 20, as part of the NHRA's return to Chicago at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak Performance at Route 66 Raceway.

The unique specialty race pits eight standouts against each other in a marquee attraction at the first race in Chicago since 2019, where big money and bragging rights will be on the line.

Four cars from KB Titan Racing and four cars from Elite Motorsports make up the eight-car lineup, and the addition of a distinctive callout format will add even more excitement to the inaugural event. 

Dallas Glenn is seeded first, followed by teammates Matt Hartford and Kyle Koretsky. Elite Motorsports standouts Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., Cristian Cuadra and defending world champ Erica Enders fill up the next four slots, followed by KB Titan's Camrie Caruso to round out the field.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to Feature Four Classes in 2024

Officials with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship have announced the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class will no longer compete on the schedule following the 2023 season. The division will instead compete in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge through the current 2026 homologation period. 

The announcement follows the introduction of the hybrid-powered Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class this season, which joined the GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), GT Daytona (GTD) and the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2).

Drag-N-Drive World Championship Launches To Support National Events 

Officials with Drag-N-Drive.com--the news and entertainment source for drag and drive events--have announced the Drag-N-Drive Addiction World Championship presented by Summit Racing for the 2023 racing season.

Organizers will award the best-performing race team within the drag and drive community based on their performance in national events, including February's Sick Week; Summit Racing Midwest Drags; Rocky Mountain Race Week; Hot Rod Drag Week; Race Week (aka RMRW2.0); Street Week (Sweden); Miles of Mayhem; Southeast Street-N-Yeet Spring 2023; Redwood Rally; BC DragIT Challenge; Death Week; Sick Summer and Delta Street Week. 

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.