By SEMA Editors

Ford has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019. 

2019 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Project Summary Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019
Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2019
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2019

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 15, 2019. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2019 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2019. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker’s compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner’s discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle
6. Social-media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2019 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Dan German and Kyle Ebner
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Website and Data Manager - This position is responsible for creating, organizing, formatting, entering and improving all data related to the e-commerce store, as well as improving and developing the websites owned by the company.

Director of Vendor Relations - AutoAnything Inc. is looking for a director of vendor relations to join the operations team. The ideal candidate will provide leadership and direction to the vendor relations department through the entire open order pipeline. Work with existing vendors in the building and manage relationships with companies that supply AutoAnything products and services, while exceeding contractual obligations by delivering quality products and services on time.

Mechanical Engineer - Moss Motors is looking for an experienced mechanical engineer to join its product development team in Goleta, California. The position requires knowledge in multiple aspects of engineering, including design analysis, ground-up design, reverse engineering, first article inspection/verification, product testing, mold/tool design and input on production materials and methods. Product designs will be carried from concept to final production, including testing. This process will often require reverse engineering of original equipment parts, aftermarket products or mating parts. The successful candidate will contribute to product improvements of existing products as well, where needed. Candidates must be comfortable working around automobiles. Strong communication skills are very important. Previous automotive parts experience highly preferred but not required. Familiarity with 3-D imaging and rapid prototyping a plus but not required. Bilingual/multilingual candidates a plus but not required.

Inside Sales and Sales Support - OE Wheel Works LLC is seeking to hire an inside sales and sales support professional. The position is responsible for assuring that all customer orders are correctly processed, and for customer service, order entry and follow-up. Candidates will communicate with inventory management, handle incoming warranty service calls and emails in a timely manner. Candidates must be extremely customer-service oriented, with excellent time management, computer skills and an emphasis on customer satisfaction.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.

• Retrax
• Retro Manufacturing
• Richmond
• Rigid Industries
• Rockstar Mud Flaps
• Rolling Big Power
• Roll-n-Lock
• Royal Purple
• Rugged Off Road
• Rugged Ridge

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Considine Sales and Marketing Expands Sales and Service Team In the Midwest

Considine Sales and Marketing (CSM) is expanding its sales force with two new associates. Working out of Des Monies, Iowa, Pete Vannausdle will join the team with years of experience in the dealership and restoration markets, primarily covering part of the Iowa, Nebraska and the Kansas markets. CSM is also adding a third generation to the team—Jim Considine IV, who has recently graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelors in marketing and management. He will be responsible for accounts in Michigan and Northern Ohio.

Motorcar Parts Announces Acquisition of E&M Power

Motorcar Parts of America (MPA) has acquired E&M Power in an asset purchase transaction. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of E&M Power complements the industry position of D&V Electronics, our wholly owned subsidiary, and expands its electric vehicle powertrain portfolio,” said Selwyn Joffe, chairman, president and CEO of Motorcar Parts of America.

“E&M’s advanced power emulators for hybrid and electric vehicle motor development and its DC emulator capabilities for microgrid and energy storage greatly enhance our market position, providing highly respected technology, operational synergies and future growth opportunities,” added William Hardy, CEO of D&V Electronics.

Industry sources estimate the global automotive powertrain testing market is approximately $11.7 billion per annum, enhanced by the ever-increasing complexity of automotive systems, and the global active load emulator and DC emulator market is estimated to be $250 million, and growing.

LKQ Corp. Opens New North American Facility

LKQ Corp. officially opened the doors to its new North American headquarters in Antioch, a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, Monday, December 17. “We are very excited to have a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility encompassing over 102,000 sq. ft., where we will bring together all of our centralized operations and over 700 employees under one roof,” said Justin Jude, LKQ’s president of North American Wholesale Operations.

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.

SEMA News—January 2018

EVENTS

By Grant Walter

SEMA Cares/WD-40 Camaro To Be Auctioned

The ’67 Camaro Was Built at the SEMA Garage to Benefit At-Risk Children

The SEMA Cares/WD-40 Camaro is slated to be auctioned through Barrett Jackson on January 17 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

For nearly a decade, WD-40 and SEMA Cares have worked together to bring vehicles to auction for the benefit of SEMA Cares’ charitable partner organizations. On January 17, a ’67 Camaro will be auctioned to benefit Childhelp at the Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. Childhelp is an organization dedicated to closing the cycle of child abuse in the United States by helping victims and those at risk.

SEMA staff managed the project in-house, working on it in the SEMA Garage for over a year. The goal was to give the car a contemporary driving experience and a unique look while preserving its authentic heritage. The building process began with the decision to install an LS3 crate engine donated by GM Performance. Luis Morales, vehicle product data specialist at the SEMA Garage, was the project lead.

“You can’t just drop that engine into a stock ’67 Camaro,” he said. “It won’t work. The chassis is not built for that kind of power and torque. So we rebuilt the entire chassis, front to back. The entire frame of the car is aftermarket—all to fit the engine and transmission.”

The entire interior of the Camaro was redone with sound-deadening insulation and Roadwire seats.
The Art Morrison frame and Strange shocks make for superb handling.
The LS3 motor with its Vortec supercharger and engine/plenum covers by Rotofab.

From that starting point, the Garage team worked to preserve and enhance the just-plain-fun driving experience that is in the Camaro’s character. SEMA-member companies did not hesitate to participate and were generous. The car now features a Vortec supercharger, a K&N intake, a Rotofab carbon-fiber plenum cover, Fragola Performance fuel fittings,
Magnaflow mufflers, and an Art Morrison Enterprises frame, to name but a few of the contributed parts.

Kindigit Designs made a custom rear spoiler as well as the flush, spoon-style door handles. Roadwire and Distinctive Industries added the custom leather seats and rails. Retailers such as Camaro Central and Classic Industries got involved too, donating trim pieces, body panels, brake pedals and more. The paint and bodywork were done by LGE-CTS, working with PPG paint. Virtually everything on the car was donated.

“We wanted to build a street car with performance you could take to the track and looks you could take to a show,” Morales said. “It’s a full-frame car to handle the torque and power. You basically have [the engine that] comes in a 2010 and later Camaro SS, and it’s supercharged. We put sound deadening throughout the interior. And then there’s the fact that it is running on a C6 Corvette suspension. You have a very classic look to the car, with the comfort and power of a new car.

“It’s not just somebody seeking sponsorship, where they get to keep the car and have fun with it. This has more purpose to it. We build it, showcase it and auction it, and all of it goes to charity.”

The fully restored dash is signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

The SEMA Garage team has grown somewhat attached to the car—they’re even protective of it. That’s an indication of the sense of mission, detail and quality that the staff felt should be built into the car.

Established in 2007 by the SEMA Board of Directors, SEMA Cares works with select charities that best reflect the values and interests of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. SEMA Cares also looks for opportunities to incorporate the joy of automobiles into fun activities and fundraising. Projects and camp activities ranging from pinewood toy car kits to actual vehicle builds give young minds a very important reprieve from hard life circumstances and provide a means for productive development.

SEMA News—January 2018

EVENTS

By Grant Walter

SEMA Cares/WD-40 Camaro To Be Auctioned

The ’67 Camaro Was Built at the SEMA Garage to Benefit At-Risk Children

The SEMA Cares/WD-40 Camaro is slated to be auctioned through Barrett Jackson on January 17 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

For nearly a decade, WD-40 and SEMA Cares have worked together to bring vehicles to auction for the benefit of SEMA Cares’ charitable partner organizations. On January 17, a ’67 Camaro will be auctioned to benefit Childhelp at the Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. Childhelp is an organization dedicated to closing the cycle of child abuse in the United States by helping victims and those at risk.

SEMA staff managed the project in-house, working on it in the SEMA Garage for over a year. The goal was to give the car a contemporary driving experience and a unique look while preserving its authentic heritage. The building process began with the decision to install an LS3 crate engine donated by GM Performance. Luis Morales, vehicle product data specialist at the SEMA Garage, was the project lead.

“You can’t just drop that engine into a stock ’67 Camaro,” he said. “It won’t work. The chassis is not built for that kind of power and torque. So we rebuilt the entire chassis, front to back. The entire frame of the car is aftermarket—all to fit the engine and transmission.”

The entire interior of the Camaro was redone with sound-deadening insulation and Roadwire seats.
The Art Morrison frame and Strange shocks make for superb handling.
The LS3 motor with its Vortec supercharger and engine/plenum covers by Rotofab.

From that starting point, the Garage team worked to preserve and enhance the just-plain-fun driving experience that is in the Camaro’s character. SEMA-member companies did not hesitate to participate and were generous. The car now features a Vortec supercharger, a K&N intake, a Rotofab carbon-fiber plenum cover, Fragola Performance fuel fittings,
Magnaflow mufflers, and an Art Morrison Enterprises frame, to name but a few of the contributed parts.

Kindigit Designs made a custom rear spoiler as well as the flush, spoon-style door handles. Roadwire and Distinctive Industries added the custom leather seats and rails. Retailers such as Camaro Central and Classic Industries got involved too, donating trim pieces, body panels, brake pedals and more. The paint and bodywork were done by LGE-CTS, working with PPG paint. Virtually everything on the car was donated.

“We wanted to build a street car with performance you could take to the track and looks you could take to a show,” Morales said. “It’s a full-frame car to handle the torque and power. You basically have [the engine that] comes in a 2010 and later Camaro SS, and it’s supercharged. We put sound deadening throughout the interior. And then there’s the fact that it is running on a C6 Corvette suspension. You have a very classic look to the car, with the comfort and power of a new car.

“It’s not just somebody seeking sponsorship, where they get to keep the car and have fun with it. This has more purpose to it. We build it, showcase it and auction it, and all of it goes to charity.”

The fully restored dash is signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

The SEMA Garage team has grown somewhat attached to the car—they’re even protective of it. That’s an indication of the sense of mission, detail and quality that the staff felt should be built into the car.

Established in 2007 by the SEMA Board of Directors, SEMA Cares works with select charities that best reflect the values and interests of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. SEMA Cares also looks for opportunities to incorporate the joy of automobiles into fun activities and fundraising. Projects and camp activities ranging from pinewood toy car kits to actual vehicle builds give young minds a very important reprieve from hard life circumstances and provide a means for productive development.

SEMA News—January 2019

REQUIRED READING

By Juan Torres

Top Trending Vehicles

Every year, SEMA Show manufacturing exhibitors vote to recognize the cars, trucks and SUVs that they are investing in and developing products and accessories for, resulting in the selected automakers winning a SEMA Vehicle of the Year award. Winners of this year’s awards were the Ford Mustang (Car of the Year), Ford F-Series (Truck of the Year), Jeep Wrangler (4x4/SUV of the Year), Ford Focus (Sport Compact of the Year) and Polaris RZR Turbo S (Powersports Vehicle of the Year). The publications below highlighted the winning brands to their readers.

Hot Rod Zach Martin gave Hot Rod readers a breakdown of the winners of this year’s awards. In addition to recognizing Ford’s sweep in three categories, Martin went into detail on Polaris’ accomplishment in the growing side-by-side market and winning the first-ever SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year award.	ClassicCars.com Journal Thanks to editor Carter Nacke, ClassicCars.com Journal readers were among the first to learn about the winners of this year’s awards. The Ford Mustang won its fourth SEMA Car of the Year award, the F-Series its eighth Truck of the Year nod, and the Focus its fourth Sport Compact of the Year honor.
Automotive World In addition to highlighting the Jeep Wrangler winning its ninth straight SEMA 4x4/SUV of the Year award, Automotive World informed readers about the RAM 1500 pickup being a finalist for Truck of the Year and the Dodge Challenger being a finalist for Car of the Year.	Heard in Social Media “The SEMA Show Award winners have been announced, and the Ford Mustang takes the aftermarket customization crown. See the hottest cars and aftermarket trends, from our friends Discovery Motor.”—Science Channel, via Facebook “The SEMA Vehicle of the Year Awards heighten awareness for aftermarket products, and it is an example of the industry’s partnership between automakers and aftermarket manufacturers.”—National Oil & Lube News, via Facebook “Jeep’s flagship vehicle remains the only one to earn the trophy since the 2010 launch of the SEMA Awards.”—JK Forum, via Twitter “Proud to win this year’s #SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year award for the #PolarisRZR Turbo S.”—Polaris Industries, via Twitter

 

SEMA News—January 2020

FROM THE HILL

By Eric Snyder

California Congressman Tours SEMA Garage

Rep. Cisneros (center) met with SEMA Vice President of OEM and Product Development Programs Mike Spagnola (left) and SEMA Vice President of Government and Legal Affairs Daniel Ingber (right) at a recent visit to the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

For most people, the thought of winning the lottery and never having to work again go hand in hand. While a very small percentage of people win the lottery, that life-changing experience served as a catalyst for Gil Cisneros to start a foundation dedicated to providing educational opportunities for children in underserved communities and run for political office. In 2018, he was elected to represent California’s 39th Congressional District, which includes SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California, in the U.S. House of Representatives. SEMA has developed a close working relationship with Rep. Cisneros during his first year in Congress, which included a visit to the SEMA Garage.

The SEMA Garage provides association members with access to the special high-tech tools and equipment they need to get their products off the drawing board and into customer hands. Spanning more than 15,000 sq. ft., the SEMA Garage is filled with nearly $2 million worth of equipment, including two vehicle lifts, a portable coordinate measuring machine for 3-D scanning, a 3-D printer for fast prototyping, digital race car scales for the most precise vehicle weight measurements, a dynamometer for power output measurements, and more. It also features an emissions lab that makes it easier and more affordable for SEMA-member companies to ensure that their products comply with emissions requirements. The SEMA Garage is the only known facility of its kind to offer such a wide range of interconnecting services.

“It was a pleasure to host Rep. Cisneros at SEMA’s headquarters and provide our hometown Congressman with a tour of the SEMA Garage,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA’s president and CEO. “We enjoyed hearing about the congressman’s efforts to advance policies in Washington, D.C., that help manufacturers. The visit was also an opportunity to help Rep. Cisneros understand that SEMA members don’t just market exciting products; they are an economic driver in communities across the country.”

SEMA Vehicle Production Data Specialist Luis Morales (left) provides Rep. Gil Cisneros (right) a demonstration of how a 3-D scanner operates at the SEMA Garage.

California’s 39th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. While SEMA has more than 7,500 member companies around the world, more than 1,500 members are based in California, with a particularly dense concentration in the southern part of the state. With SEMA’s headquarters and more than 75 member companies located in his district, Rep. Cisneros represents the heart of car country.

Rep. Cisneros enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school and went on to serve for 10 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. He served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and comes from a long line of veterans, as his father and grandfathers served in the military. Rep. Cisneros attended George Washington University on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He also holds an MBA from Regis University and a master’s in urban education policy from Brown University.

Congressman Cisneros worked as a shipping and production manager for Frito-Lay before having the good fortune of winning the California Lottery. He and his wife started the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation in 2011 with an initial investment of $20 million.

Rep. Cisneros celebrates the 4th of July at a car show.

Rep. Cisneros has distinguished himself during his first year in Congress on military issues and national security policy; he is a member of the House Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs. Rep. Cisneros has also shown his support for the automotive aftermarket, as he is a member of both the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus and the House Manufacturing Caucus.

Rep. Cisneros is an avid runner and enjoys spending time with his wife and twin boys, including attending their soccer games on weekends. Cisneros is also a proud fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chargers.

“Growing up, my dad and I bonded over our love of cars, and I have many fond memories working on his old ’56 Chevy,” Rep. Cisneros said. “Although I was a proud Corvette owner, I’ve since been forced to trade it in for a minivan following the birth of my twin boys. While I no longer have a Corvette, the 39th District is lucky to have SEMA as a local community resource for current and future car enthusiasts. As a former small-business owner, I’m committed to being a partner with small businesses nationwide to ensure that Congress does all it can to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit.”

For more information on hosting your member of Congress through SEMA’s congressional site visit program, contact Christian Robinson, SEMA’s state government affairs and SEMA PAC director at 202-794-8279 or chrisianr@sema.org.