Compiled by SEMA Editors

Matt VanDyke to Lead FordDirect as CEO

FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Co. and its franchise dealers, has announced that Matt VanDyke has been appointed as CEO, effective February 1. VanDyke, who for more than 12 years has led and transformed Ford and Lincoln brand positioning in roles around the world, now takes charge of a team responsible for delivering marketing and advertising solutions to Ford and Lincoln Dealers throughout the United States. VanDyke was most recently director of marketing for Ford Motor Co. Prior to that, he was vice president of marketing for Ford of Europe, where he oversaw the Fiesta and Focus vehicle launches. He also served on the FordDirect Board for more than five years. He joined Ford Motor Co. in 2008 as director, U.S. marketing communications and global fixed marketing.

In addition, the FordDirect Board has announced the promotion of Mike Gingell to COO. Gingell joined FordDirect as senior vice president, product, marketing and dealer engagement in 2019. His promotion is effective February 1, 2021. Prior to joining FordDirect in 2019, Gingell spent more than 20 years in the automotive information industry and has led teams that have focused on delivering data and technology solutions for automotive OEMs, automotive retailers, the automotive aftermarket, the commercial truck industry and the finance and insurance markets.

Jim Hairston Transitions to Consulting Role for PerTronix Performance Brands

Effective January 1, Jim Hairston retired from his full-time position at PerTronix Performance Brands and has moved into a consulting role. Hairston has been a critical part of PerTronix for more than two decades and previously served as vice president of sales and marketing and most recently as director of key accounts/business development. This change has been in the works for two years with Hairston working to help ensure a smooth transition. In his new role, he will help the company with market research, competitive analysis, price points and new product ideas. Russell Stephens, vice president of sales and marketing, will assume Hairston’s previous day-to-day responsibilities.

Haig Partners Hires Pete Thiel, Former AutoNation Inc. Vice President of Corporate Development

Haig Partners LLC has announced that Pete Thiel joined the team as managing director. Prior to joining Haig Partners, Thiel was vice president at AutoNation. He has been involved in the purchase or sale of more than 130 dealerships for a value of $2 billion, as well as the evaluation of more than 1,000 acquisition opportunities.

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association Names Kahn Media Agency of Record

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has announced that Kahn Media will exclusively represent the automotive event producer as its agency of record. Kahn Media will use its public relations, social media and digital marketing expertise to expand consumer awareness of the Goodguys organization and the 19 events it is hosting around the United States in 2021. Kahn Media will be responsible for managing and growing the Goodguys social media channels, conducting public and media relations campaigns surrounding each of the series’ 19 events in 2021 while also promoting the benefits of the organization’s membership program, creating and facilitating an engaging influencer marketing campaign, and designing and administering a comprehensive and highly-targeted digital marketing campaigns to drive ticket sales for each event and increase membership signups.

Hero Motors Acquires Strategic Stake in EV Transmission Specialist

Automotive component manufacturer Hero Motors Company (HMC) has secured a strategic stake in UK’s Hewland Engineering Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. The move will enable Hewland to further strengthen its product and service portfolio–particularly transmissions for electrified passenger cars–and pursue opportunities among global OEMs and Tier One suppliers.

Meyer Distributing Announces Wytheville, Virginia, Location

Meyer Distributing Inc. has announced a new Wytheville, Virginia location. The cross-dock will have a direct, next-day feed from Meyer’s Jasper, Indiana, distribution hub, which houses one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories and exhaust parts in the region.

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.

These are the very first shots of the all-new ’23 Ford Ranger as it underwent testing on public roads in Dearborn, Michigan.

Overall, the next-gen Ranger looks more substantial than the current model, with bolder proportions and stance. The front fascia seems to match up perfectly to the leaked image from roughly a year ago, with a set of intricate C-shaped headlamps flanking a two-bar grille.

The cab and bed appear to be carry-overs from the current model, which has been on sale in global markets since 2011. The prototype is riding on a set of black wheels, and a single-exit exhaust can be seen out back, though it seems that the rather unattractive pipe is a placeholder for more gainly equipment.

The ’23 Ranger is expected to launch near the end of the ’22 model year and will serve as the basis for an upcoming Volkswagen midsize pickup truck as a result of a collaboration agreement between Ford and VW announced in 2020.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Ashley Reyes

Submissions are now being accepted for SEMA-member companies to participate in the 2021 Ford Project Vehicle Program.

Open to SEMA member company manufacturers, designers and/or retailers dedicated to supporting new product development, companies must be willing to actively promote the vehicle with their products through an established marketing plan and be financially capable of spending promotional dollars.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2021 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 Insurance, $3 million in Automotive Liability Insurance, $1 million in Employers Liability and demonstrate Workers 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    

To request a project vehicle:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary with the following information to semainfo@ford.com.

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2021 SEMA Show

2. Mail and/or E-mail a detailed project proposal to the following:

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

Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicles examples.

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

Proposal submission deadline, vehicle lineup and award recipient notification date will be announced in an upcoming SEMA eNews Ford Project Vehicle announcement.

By SEMA Editors

Image

In partnership with Chevrolet, the SEMA Garage has announced a Measuring Session for the ’20 Chevrolet Corvette C8.

This event will allow SEMA members to test-fit prototypes, 3D scan, measure and have a close-up experience with two different trim-level vehicles:

’20 Corvette Stingray Convertible and Coupe:

• 6.2L V8
• Eight-Speed Transmission
• Z51 Performance

Please note, this will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, this event will take place over two separate weeks with scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, appointments will be time limited.

• Week 1: January 19–22
• Week 2: January 25–29

All registered attendees will be required to take an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves, as well as practice social distancing during their appointment. The vehicle will be sanitized between each appointment.

Register now!

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) members and those involved in the hot-rod segment of the industry are invited to join the council for its upcoming general membership meeting on February 12, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

The HRIA Select Committee will share details about the council’s latest programs and resources, and host a virtual panel discussion focused on trends and predictions in the hot rod industry. This event is the ideal opportunity for members to connect directly with council leadership and get questions answered on the state of the hot-rod industry at large.

Register now.

For additional questions regarding the event, contact HRIA Council Director Jim Skelly at Jimsk@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) is now accepting speaker proposals for its education program at the annual PRI Trade Show in December.

PRI’s education program, which takes place at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis before and during the Show, promotes engagement and connectivity between race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, e-commerce sites, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media who attend PRI to learn about emerging industry trends and the latest racing technology.

The series of conferences and seminars provide thought-provoking, forward-thinking sessions that help participants take their businesses and careers to the next level. They are designed to provide best practices in motorsports business and technical education for professionals and grassroots operators alike.

“PRI Education is all about discovering new and innovative ways to enhance your motorsports operation,” said PRI editor and education programming director Dan Schechner. “From tips and takeaways to improve your marketing efforts to cutting-edge tech on the latest race engine developments, our sessions provide best-in-class business, management, and technical know-how for industry professionals.”

Now in its 33rd year, the PRI Show—set for December 9–11, 2021—is the world’s premier racing and performance trade event, attracting upwards of 1,200 exhibitors and 70,000 attendees representing all forms of motorsports from across the US and over 70 countries.

Countless industry experts have shared their knowledge with PRI Show attendees through the years. Recent presenters include Darin Morgan from Mast Motorsports, Bob Morreale from The Tuning School, Jason Enders from RE Suspension, Gary Crooks from Port City Racecars, Lake Speed Jr. from Total Seal, Jeanette DesJardins from Car Chix and Crank It Media, Corey Perlman from Impact Social, Tom Shay from Profits Plus and Brian Lewis from Wolfhound Interactive.

Topics of interest for 2021 include, but are not limited to:

• Sales and Marketing
• Business Operations
• Digital Communications
• Race Track Management
• Brand Building
• Employee Relations
• Engine Technology
• Suspension/Setup
• Machining
• Tuning

Speaker proposals for the 2021 PRI Trade Show must be submitted by April 4. Suggestions for topics and/or speakers are also encouraged and can be submitted here. For more details, contact Gary Vigil, senior manager of professional development, at garyv@sema.org or 909-978-6738; or Dan Schechner at dans@performanceracing.com or 949-373-9228.

By SEMA Editors
In response to the impact of COVID-19 on the collision repair industry, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) has announced a series of updated actions, plans and policies to support I-CAR’s 2021 Industry Relief program. The program launched last March and is designed to ensure the health and safety of all, while also allowing individuals and businesses to maintain credentialing status in a viable manner and with program integrity.

Key actions, plans and policy updates effective immediately include:

• For individuals and businesses located in states with COVID-19 policies that require I-CAR to cease in-shop delivery, or any individual or business where I-CAR is unable to deliver training due to the pandemic:

1. Platinum individuals and Gold Class Businesses will have their renewal date extended 6 months from their original renewal date. Note: 2022 renewal dates remain unchanged from the original 2021 date.
2. Impacted individuals with active welding certifications will have their welding certifications extended 6 months from their original renewal date.

        Please note: Impacted shops will be informed by I-CAR.

• Expanded in-shop training event policies and safety practices, to keep instructors and students safe. Practices reflect the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations.
• Continued, complimentary access to I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support (RTS) portal through June 30, 2021, offering an online technical portal that provides collision repair best practices, OEM-specific searches, information and news.
• Special discounted Hands-On Skills Development course packages, in which MIG Brazing and Spot Welding courses are purchased together as a form of financial assistance for shops pursuing 50/100 scaling, with an emphasis on safety practices in eligible states.
• Recently launched Get to Gold Class package continues to provide shops with payment options to support achievement of Gold Class recognition in 2021.
• Continued access to I-CAR’s full suite of online and virtual/instructor-led, web-based training, including virtual/instructor-led courses that were converted from a live, in-person format until it is safe to once again deliver in a live classroom.

Details on I-CAR’s Industry Relief Program can be found here.

By SEMA Editors

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed a regulation permitting low-volume motor vehicle manufacturers to begin selling replica cars that resemble vehicles produced at least 25 years ago. Congress enacted a SEMA-led bill into law in 2015, which streamlined requirements for small automakers, but implementation was delayed while awaiting the NHTSA regulations. Replica car businesses will now be able to produce and sell replica vehicles.

“SEMA applauds NHTSA’s final rule allowing companies to market classic-themed cars,” said SEMA President and CEO Christopher J. Kersting. “Regulatory barriers have previously prevented small automakers from producing heritage cars for eager customers. The roadblocks have been eliminated. Companies will be able to hire workers, start making necessary parts and components, and produce and sell cars.”  

The replica car law and implementing regulations allow a low-volume manufacturer to construct up to 325 such replica cars a year, subject to federal regulatory oversight. Replica cars resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago—from ’30s roadsters to ’70s musclecars, and more. Until now, the U.S. had just one system for regulating automobiles, which was designed for companies that mass-produce millions of vehicles. The new program recognizes the unique challenges faced by companies that produce a small number of custom cars.

The vehicles are required to meet current model year emissions standards. In 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidelines for installing engine packages from other EPA-certified vehicles and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a regulation for producing compliant engine packages. SEMA sued NHTSA in October 2019 to require the agency to issue regulations allowing the law to take effect. NHTSA issued a proposed rule in January 2020.

The regulation does not take effect until it is officially published in the Federal Register. Low-volume vehicle manufacturers will then be required to register with NHTSA, EPA, and CARB before selling vehicles and thereafter submit annual reports on vehicle productions. Enthusiasts still have the option to build a car from a kit, but now they may also purchase a turn-key replica car.

View the final rule.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service has set the standard business-mileage deduction at 56 cents per mile for 2021, down 1.5 cents from the 2020 rate. The mileage calculation includes the cost of fuel, along with other vehicle fixed and variable operating expenses, such as depreciation, insurance, tires, etc.

Companies and individuals who use their automobiles (including vans, pickups and panel trucks) for business have the option of using the standard rate in lieu of keeping records of their actual expenses.

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final rule to implement the “Alternative E” Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Management Plan for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The recreation area includes more than 1.25 million acres surrounding Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah.

The National Park Service had recommended the “Alternative E” plan in 2018, which will now be implemented. The plan permits ORV use on park roads, designated off-road routes and along certain shoreline areas, but prohibits such use in areas where natural or cultural resources may be at risk. It requires a permit to operate a motor vehicle off roads in selected locations and allows the superintendent to establish closures and restrictions based upon specific criteria.

A copy of the Plan can be found here. For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.