By Rachel Tatum

Alex Taylor will join SEMA Young Guns followers for an Instagram “Ask Me Anything,” Tuesday, March 29, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PDT).

Alex (@alextaylorracing), owner of Alex Taylor Racing, is a builder, racer and automotive content creator within the high-performance automotive industry. Taylor has grown up in the automotive world and began racing the car that she and her parents built and at the age of 16. She was the youngest competitor at Hot Rod Drag Week. She devotes as much time to content creation as she does with building and racing, producing and sharing videos of her build updates, installs and racing adventures. Taylor and her dad recently built a new full-tube chassis ’55 Chevy that she will use to take her racing career up a notch—she plans to upgrade her NHRA license later this year.

SEMA continues to actively recruit automotive influencers for the SEMA Social Media Correspondent program. Apply now to be considered.

Nearly 680 applications have been received for the '22-'23 SEMA Scholarship Program. The program issues funds to students and recent graduates who aspire to lead the industry. Volunteers are needed to assist with reviewing applications and selecting winners.

Becoming a SEMA scholarship judge is a fantastic volunteer opportunity to give back to the industry and connect to the next generation of up-and-coming automotive talent. The entire evaluation process is online and easy to use. There is great flexibility and a variety of time commitment options, so volunteers can create a schedule that works best for them.

Judging begins April 4 and continues until May 16. To learn more and apply, visit the SEMA Scholarship Judge Application.  

For general details about the SEMA Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness program, visit www.sema.org/scholarships. 

By Ashley Reyes

Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUVs) are the fastest-selling type of vehicle in the United States, accounting for 45% of passenger vehicles sold in 2021. They are also the most common type of vehicle on the road, accounting for almost one in four vehicles on the road, according to the new “CUV Market Snapshot” from SEMA Market Research.

The report, which helps businesses better understand the CUV market and identify opportunities, provides detailed analysis on the CUV landscape, opportunities for the aftermarket, accesorizer profiles and an outlook for the future.

As vehicle preferences among Americans change, light trucks (pickups, SUVs, CUVs and vans) are becoming a larger share of the overall vehicle population. OEMs are shifting production away from passenger cars to more profitable light-truck platforms, largely driven by CUVs.

Additional key findings from the SEMA report include:

• Consumers spent $7.7 billion on specialty-equipment parts for CUVs in 2020—more than was spent on SUVs.
• Off-roading is an emerging opportunity segment within the CUV market. Thirteen percent of CUVs modified in 2020 were taken off-road, and vehicle manufacturers are introducing new options to their CUV lineups specifically aimed at off-road enthusiasts.
• Electrification is coming to the CUV market. Forty new electric CUV models are slated to be released in the next three years.
• By 2035, 59% of new CUVs sold are expected to be electric, hybrid, plug-in, or fuel cell.
• 47% of CUV accessorizers research parts using social media or online videos.
• There are currently more than 130 CUV models on the road, and more than 170 models projected to be sold from 2022–2028.
• CUV accessorizers can be found in any age group. The diverse spread of makes and models make these vehicles a match for almost anyone.

The complete “CUV Market Snapshot” is available to download for free at www.sema.org/research.

This report is the focus of the upcoming SEMA webinar, “CUV Market Snapshot – Emerging Opportunities,” on March 31.

Register for the Emerging Opportunities webinar.

The following candidates are vying for a seat on the SEMA Board of Directors.

Manufacturer—(3) Open Seats

• Brian Herron, Opus IVS
• John Torvinen, Performance Assembly Solutions
• Kathryn Reinhardt (Incumbent), 4WP Factory/Pro Comp/Rubicon Express/Smittybilt
• Marcus Umlauff, Toyota Motor North America
• Melanie White (Incumbent), Hellwig Products
• Norris Marshall, Marshall Engines/BluePrint Engines

Manufacturers' Rep—(1) Open Seat

• Mark Taylor, KAM Marketing
• Richard Butler, R&R Marketing Consultants

Voting will take place online May 10-19, and is open to current SEMA-member companies. Votes must be cast by each company’s primary contact. Details on the upcoming election will be sent to the member company’s designated primary contact beginning Friday, April 29. Winners will be announced by June 1.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA applauds Kansas lawmakers for passing H.B. 2594, “Exempting certain modifications on antique vehicles from vehicle identification number offense seizures and dispositions,” as a critical step forward in protecting the rights of restorers and owners of classic vehicles in the state.

SEMA-backed Kansas law H.B. 2594 will exempt certain modifications on antique vehicles from VIN offense seizures and dispositions.

The catalyst for the legislation came from an automotive enthusiast in Kansas who purchased his dream car in 2017—a ’59 Corvette convertible—from a dealership across state lines in Indiana. When he tried to register the car back home in Kansas, the Kansas Highway Patrol seized it as “contraband.” According to Kansas state law at the time, the Corvette must be crushed and has been sitting in a Topeka impound lot ever since, while the owner pleads his case in the state court system.

Under the previous Kansas law, police were required to seize and destroy any car on which the vehicle identification number (VIN) “has been destroyed, removed, altered or defaced.” There was no exception for a car lawfully purchased by someone who had no reason to be aware of its VIN issues. In the case of this ’59 Corvette, the dashboard VIN plate had been removed years ago during the car’s restoration and reapplied with new rivets.

Upon learning of the case in late 2021, SEMA worked with Kansas Rep. Leo Delperdang to introduce H.B. 2594 and prevent this from happening again. The new law protects restorers and owners of classic vehicles while not impeding law enforcement from carrying out their duties. It clarifies that a VIN may be removed from an antique vehicle “if the removal and reinstallation are reasonably necessary for repair or restoration unless the person knows or has reason to know that the antique vehicle is stolen.”

The bill cleared both the Kansas House and Senate unanimously and has now been signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly. It can be viewed in its entirety here.

While an extreme case, the Kansas enthusiast’s experience prompted SEMA to begin evaluating other states’ language to help ensure this severe incident remains an isolated occurrence. The process seeks to add clarification to similar existing laws to protect classic car restorers and owners.

In Arizona, SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 2480) has been introduced to allow complete restoration of pre-’81 vehicles, including temporary removal of the VIN when necessary. H.B. 2480 changes existing law to allow the removal and reinstallation of a VIN on pre-’81 vehicles if reasonably necessary for repair or restoration. Prior to the new bill, enthusiasts who intentionally removed or altered a VIN, regardless of reason or vehicle model year, were guilty of a felony.

The Arizona bill passed the legislature and awaits approval or veto by Gov. Doug Ducey. The bill can be viewed here.

These bills are just two examples of the work SEMA undertakes every day to protect the automotive hobby and our freedom to pursue them. To learn more about SEMA’s legislative activities, visit www.semasan.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Edelbrock Group is the SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) newest member spotlight company.

Get to know the company’s history in SEMA’s interview with Mark Campbell, Edelbrock vice president of sales, below.

SEMA: Describe your business. What does the company do and how does the company do it?

Mark Campbell: We manufacture cylinder heads, intake manifolds, superchargers, water pumps, camshafts and valvetrain components, carburetors, EFI systems, transmission and torque converters and many other fun go-fast parts for the automotive aftermarket.

SEMA: How did the business get started and what were the biggest hurdles?

MC: The business really started in 1938 by Vic Edelbrock Sr. to fill a need to make cars go faster. In those days, manufacturing for parts like what he was making did not exist, and so he had created ways to build these parts that had never been done before.

SEMA: What was your breakthrough moment?

MC: Not sure I can define one moment that was a breakthrough. It was years and years of hard work, dedication to making parts and listening to the customer to come up with the ideas to make parts that everyone would want to buy.

SEMA: Tell us about a particular project, product or build you are proud of.

MC: We have many great projects that we are involved with; it is hard to spotlight one. Some of the key partnerships we have with NASCAR, NHRA, NMCA/NMRA, and many other racing sanctioning bodies help us get in front of our target audience and show them what we do.

SEMA: What does MPMC mean to your company?

MC: MPMC is a great organization that helps motorsports manufacturing companies come together and share ideas, have direct contact with media, and help grow these businesses larger to support our industry.

SEMA: What is one thing you could say that MPMC could do to help a new or growing business in the motorsports industry?

MC: The Media Trade Conference (MTC) is a big thing that can really help a company that needs to get their message out in the marketplace. It gives them one-on-ones with media to tell their story and showcase what they do.

SEMA: What do you want others to know about your company?

MC: We are a company full of motorsports enthusiasts and we love what we do—manufacturing parts in many locations across the United States to make cars go faster!

Fill out an MPMC member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the motorsports industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on MPMC’s social media, SEMA News and future MPMC member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

Tayler Edwards is SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) newest spotlight member. Edwards is the customer service success manager at PDM Automotive.

Learn more about Edwards in his interview with SEMA below.  

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

Tayler Edwards: You won’t ever know everything, so be willing to learn anything. This advice has helped me stay curious throughout my personal life and career because I know that there is always something new to learn and discover which pushes me to continually grow.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

TE: The fact that the industry is always changing keeps me engaged. I am a nerd for technology, and I love to see the way manufacturers develop new technology to improve their products or make them more appealing.

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

TE: There are two places you could find me. Since I am a freelance photographer, I could be traveling and taking photos, or I'd be at the golf course at my local country club!

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

TE: I spend time before the meeting coming up with questions that I can ask that have meaning and that can give me further insight into the topic at hand. I feel that asking questions not only helps me, but also others who are attending the meeting.

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

TE: I’d go to lunch with Ryan Friedlinghaus because I always grew up watching West Coast Customs make some really cool cars and still follow their projects today. I enjoy seeing cars that are so custom that no one has.

Fill out the FLN member spotlight form to highlight how you are contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered an FLN member of the month, and featured on FLN’s social media and in SEMA News.

By Caroline Fletcher

U.S. and U.K. officials announced a trade deal to end U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and in return the United Kingdom will lift levies on American products such as motorcycles, farm products and other consumer goods. The agreement allows the United Kingdom to ship “historically based sustainable volumes” of steel and aluminum products without the previous tariffs.

Specifically, the United Kingdom will be permitted to ship up to 500,000 metric tons of steel annually, which must be melted and poured in the United Kingdom. The agreement allows for quotas of 900 metric tons of unwrought aluminum and 11,400 metric tons of semi-finished aluminum, which must not contain “primary aluminum” from China, Russia or Belarus. The deal also requires U.K. steel companies owned by Chinese entities to audit their financial records to assess possible influence from China, and to share the results with the United States.

The metal tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum were initially imposed on various countries in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on national security grounds. The U.S.-U.K. agreement comes after similar deals were reached between the United States and European Union and United States and Japan. The deal goes into effect June 1.

For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) will be celebrated this year on July 8, 2022. At the request of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), this holiday has been marked each year since 2010 by a U.S. Congressional Resolution recognizing that the “collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.” States, local governments and Canadian provinces have adopted similar commemorative declarations, making it an international recognition of the collector-car hobby and the millions of individuals who support it.

Whether public or private, plan and submit your automotive-inspired July event at no cost.  Locate an official listing near you and more the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website, which includes Courtney Hansen’s video public service announcement (PSA) shown above.

As in years past, a wide range of automotive festivities—both in-person and web-based—will honor the classics of the past and the future.  Those planning live gatherings and virtual celebrations (online event, livestream, digital gallery, etc.) during July are invited to provide details for inclusion on the SAN website.  As always, the SAN welcomes any level of participation throughout the month of July and encourages everyone to spread the word about commemorating the occasion.

CELEBRATE THE HOBBY YOUR WAY!

• ATTEND an official vehicle-inspired event or web-based celebration.
• HOST your own safety-minded gathering, club meeting or online gallery.
• Promote a HOLIDAY SALE at your business in-store or online.
• INVITE partnerships with nearby enthusiast-related groups if possible.
• DRIVE your special ride—new or old—whatever the destination.

Participating organizers will be awarded a copy of the Congressional resolution for display at their registered event.  Download the official logo and flyer from the homepage and help promote this special day.  Post on social media using the hashtag #CCAD and tag the celebration's Facebook fan page (@CollectorCarAppreciationDayCCAD).

By Ashley Reyes

As more people adopt EVs as their daily drivers and become comfortable with the technology, requests for swaps and EV builds will increase. Professional builders receiving these requests and those interested in commissioning a build must have the background knowledge necessary to take on the project and make informed decisions.

SEMA members are invited to learn the main aspects and challenges of swapping electric drivetrains into classic cars during a live webinar, March 23, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Attendees will learn:

• The main components of the EV drivetrain, as well as the available types, both new and used.
• Difficulties in converting to EV.
• Where to start when interested in EV conversions.

Participants leave more equipped to execute a swap in various types of vehicles and learn cautionary lessons that Michael Bream, founder of EV West, has learned over the years. This is also a great opportunity to connect with the leader of one the first companies to commercialize EV swaps, ask questions and hear EV West’s robust solution for do it yourself and specialty shops.

Register here.