By Ashley Reyes

SEMA has announced Jon Delgado of Repairify as the association's 2023 Gen-III Innovator of the Year, the award that honors an entrepreneurial individual aged 40 years or younger who is creating new innovative breakthroughs within the areas of automotive aftermarket opportunities, advancement, best business practices, technology or trends. 

Delgado led the engineering of the patented asTech Rules Engine, which uses empirical data to present users with the most accurate and cost-effective diagnostic scan option specific to a given vehicle.

asTech scanned tens of thousands of vehicles with leading aftermarket scan tool providers to compare the results to the authentic OEM tool scans. This years-long effort resulted in a rich data set that could verify certain aftermarket scans which performed equivalently to the OEM scan as "OEM-Compatible" by vehicle year, make, model and trim. Delgado was instrumental in delivering this data to the industry through a comprehensive API solution, merging asTech's traditional remote OEM service offerings with comprehensive aftermarket alternatives known to be viable to the repair process. This is the first in the industry with this level of coverage information, and is featured in the asTech All-in-One scan tool.

asTech has since, in an effort also led by Delgado, further enhanced their OEM-Compatible scans with asTech Insights. This is new product leveraging an artificial intelligence system which uses the results from an OEM-Compatible scan to instantly generate custom collision repair recommendations specific to the vehicle and DTC codes. The model was trained on more than 210 million diagnosed trouble codes.

Delgado is also a key contributor and leader in ADAS calibration identifications with his adasThink solution. With the services he has delivered, shops can be confident that they are properly calibrating safety systems as required by OEM repair procedures.

The consistent and repeated delivery of industry-changing software led Delgado to his position as chief technology officer of Repairify.

Industry members are invited to join Delgado as he is recognized alongside the SEMA Person of the Year and Content Creator of the Year at the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 2, at the Paradise Event Center at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. All SEMA Show attendees are invited to experience comradery, entertainment, award presentations, inspirational moments, live music and more; be sure to secure your banquet tickets at this link.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a SEMA-supported bill (AB 1263) that, among other provisions, creates a centralized testing network for older vehicles, ensuring access to necessary emissions testing at a reasonable cost to the consumer.

Owners of vehicles subject to the state's smog check (model-year '76 and newer) but not equipped with an OBD-II often struggle to find testing facilities that offer the required BAR-97 emissions test at a reasonable price. The BAR-97 test is performed using a dynamometer, which is a device that simulates road conditions by allowing the vehicle's wheels to rotate while stationary. The test also involves connecting a sensor to the vehicle's exhaust system to measure the emission levels. The BAR-97 test is an older testing technology that has been gradually phased out in favor of newer, more advanced testing methods such as onboard diagnostic (OBD) testing and emissions equipment inspections. As a result, some independent testing stations may have discontinued the BAR-97 test in favor of these newer methods, which are often quicker and easier to administer.

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

This story was originally published on October 24, 2023. For more industry news, visit SEMANews.com and subscribe to SEMA News at the bottom of the webpage to get the latest updates straight to your inbox, twice a week.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced S. 3094, the "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act," which prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing the proposed federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model-years '27 to '32. The SEMA-supported CARS Act would prevent the EPA from finalizing its proposed multipollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles that would result in electric vehicles (EVs) making up 67% of all new-vehicle sales by 2032. S. 3094 is the companion bill to H.R. 4468, which the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed in July.

"SEMA thanks Senators Crapo and Ricketts for introducing this important bill to ensure that the American people can continue to choose the type of vehicle that best serves their needs," said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "The automotive aftermarket has a forward-looking vision that embraces new technology to make vehicles cleaner and more efficient, which includes hydrogen, electric, alternative fuels and continuing to improve the internal-combustion engine (ICE). Congress must pass the CARS Act to ensure federal policies that seek to decarbonize transportation are technology neutral and do not favor one technology."

The CARS Act was introduced with the bipartisan support of 27 Senate co-sponsors. Click here to send a letter to your members of Congress asking them to support the CARS Act by co-sponsoring the bill.

"Americans deserve to have access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products," said Crapo. "However, the Biden EPA's rule change would hurt everyday Americans while simultaneously helping China. Consequences of rules and regulations such as these restrict consumer choice and raise costs for the average American family."

"The EPA cannot continue to pick winners and losers," said Ricketts. "This legislation ensures the Biden administration can't prioritize their radical left agenda over affordable and reliable internal combustion engines. I'll always fight to protect Nebraskans' ability to choose what is best for them and their families."

SEMA provided official comments to the EPA in opposition to the agency's proposed new federal emissions standards for motor vehicles. SEMA's grassroots efforts led our member companies and enthusiasts from around the country to send the EPA more than 7,700 comments opposing the agency's proposed rulemaking. SEMA will continue to advocate in opposition to any regulatory proposals or bills that seek to ban ICE or mandate a specific vehicle technology. For more information on these efforts, visit sema.org/advocacy/ice-bans.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced S. 3094, the "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act," which prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing the proposed federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model-years '27 to '32. The SEMA-supported CARS Act would prevent the EPA from finalizing its proposed multipollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles that would result in electric vehicles (EVs) making up 67% of all new-vehicle sales by 2032. S. 3094 is the companion bill to H.R. 4468, which the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed in July.

"SEMA thanks Senators Crapo and Ricketts for introducing this important bill to ensure that the American people can continue to choose the type of vehicle that best serves their needs," said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "The automotive aftermarket has a forward-looking vision that embraces new technology to make vehicles cleaner and more efficient, which includes hydrogen, electric, alternative fuels and continuing to improve the internal-combustion engine (ICE). Congress must pass the CARS Act to ensure federal policies that seek to decarbonize transportation are technology neutral and do not favor one technology."

The CARS Act was introduced with the bipartisan support of 27 Senate co-sponsors. Click here to send a letter to your members of Congress asking them to support the CARS Act by co-sponsoring the bill.

"Americans deserve to have access to affordable, reliable vehicles fueled by American-made energy products," said Crapo. "However, the Biden EPA's rule change would hurt everyday Americans while simultaneously helping China. Consequences of rules and regulations such as these restrict consumer choice and raise costs for the average American family."

"The EPA cannot continue to pick winners and losers," said Ricketts. "This legislation ensures the Biden administration can't prioritize their radical left agenda over affordable and reliable internal combustion engines. I'll always fight to protect Nebraskans' ability to choose what is best for them and their families."

SEMA provided official comments to the EPA in opposition to the agency's proposed new federal emissions standards for motor vehicles. SEMA's grassroots efforts led our member companies and enthusiasts from around the country to send the EPA more than 7,700 comments opposing the agency's proposed rulemaking. SEMA will continue to advocate in opposition to any regulatory proposals or bills that seek to ban ICE or mandate a specific vehicle technology. For more information on these efforts, visit sema.org/advocacy/ice-bans.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) has named Emma Sauve, creative director at Mobsteel/Detroit Steel Wheel Company as the network's newest spotlight member.  

Get to know Sauve in her interview with SEMA News below. 

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

Emma Sauve: Never tell someone to do something that you don't know how to do yourself. My boss Adam Genei told me that when I first started working at Mobsteel and Detroit Steel Wheel. I think that really established a level of respect immediately within our workflow. Applying that in my personal life gives me a level authority without coming off as a phony jerk.

SN: What keeps you in the industry? 

ES: It's always changing, always stimulating, and there's always work to do. I like to work with my hands and share the stories that build our industry. We build cars and large diameter steel wheels, I get to connect with our customers firsthand, share the story behind their builds and photoshoot the vehicles for different media outlets. It blows my mind that this industry has really only been around for 120 years, we are just getting started in an already packed and stacked automotive world.

SN: Where can you be found on a Saturday?   

ES: A lot of times, shooting photos or video of one of our projects going on at the shop, cars and coffee, teaching workshops on social-media management, or covering one of the many shows in our industry. Besides working, my favorite downtime is hanging out in Detroit, listening to the music of the city, eating, drinking, being merry, and movies, of course.

SN: How do you prepare for an important meeting?  

ES: I research who I'm meeting with, the company, and their social media. I'm looking for common ground where we can move forward and build something together. I think presentation is huge too, I always have an updated copy of our business plans and procedures, and dress to impress.  

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

ES: Albert Kahn--he designed the first daylight plants here in Detroit, changing the workflow of modern manufacturing. [He also helped build] Detroit, which I consider still to historically be the automotive capital of the world. I want to know what it was like in Detroit in the boom, and how he envisioned our city shaping out. 

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

By SEMA News editors

The Aeromotive Group and Roadster Shop have announced that the organizations have merged to create a new automotive aftermarket powerhouse. Now operating as Roadster Shop, the combined brands will drive the development of innovative products, services and content.

"As a lifelong enthusiast, I'm thrilled to announce this partnership between The Aeromotive Group and Roadster Shop," said Laurent Potdevin, CEO of The Aeromotive Group, now known as Roadster Shop. "As a result of this alliance, Roadster Shop can leverage The Aeromotive Group's portfolio of brands, its operational foundation, and access to new levels of capital for expansion."

Roadster Shop is a custom vehicle and chassis manufacturer in Mundelein, Illinois. Founded in the '80s, the shop's primary focus was building chassis before Jeremy Gerber, Phil Gerber and their father Neal Gerber purchased the company in 2004. Under their vision, the business now engineers and sells custom chassis and suspensions found under some of the top hot rods in the country. 

"Our partnership with The Aeromotive Group gives us the opportunity to fuel accelerated growth and supercharge our expansion," said Jeremy Gerber, co-owner of Roadster Shop. "Over the past 20 years, we've become a household name in high-performance hot rods, musclecars and trucks. Phil and I are very excited about the future here at Roadster Shop."

Roadster Shop has two facilities with full chassis production, metal fabrication and vehicle construction, along with a paint and body department. 

The Aeromotive Group, now known as Roadster Shop, includes:

• Aeromotive Fuel Systems
• Waterman Racing Components
• JBA Performance Exhaust
• Doug's Headers
• Patriot Exhaust
• Taylor Cable
• PerTronix Ignition Products
• Compu-Fire
• Spyke

For more information, visit aeromotiveinc.com or roadstershop.com, or read the Aeromotive announcement.

Speedway Motors Unveils New State-of-the-Art Machine Shop in Lincoln, Nebraska 

Speedway Motors--the Lincoln, Nebraska-based manufacturer, retailer and distributor of high-quality automotive parts and racing products--has unveiled its new 77,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility located at 1401 W. Bond Circle in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

"Speedway Motors is growing in Lincoln. Our new manufacturing facility allows us to produce more quality products right here in Lincoln," said Clay Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motors. "We are proud to have a team of talented people designing, engineering and building affordable parts to serve our customers."

The new state-of-the-art machine shop was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was highlighted by remarks from Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Jason Ball, and Smith of Speedway Motors.

"Speedway Motors is the driving force behind locally-made, state-of-the-art automotive parts that help customers--and their cars--perform at the highest level," said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. "We are excited that Speedway is expanding in Lincoln and continuing to grow opportunity in our community, as it has for the last 70 years." 

The new facility is equipped with cutting-edge equipment, including CNC metal cutting machines, welding, robotic welding, lasers, press brakes and various other metal fabrication machines. 

"We wanted to create a modern environment to work in that's efficient, intuitive and has room to grow," said Dave Wallace, the director of manufacturing at Speedway Motors. "We are excited to move our manufacturing team into the newly renovated and expanded facility."

Speedway Motors is hiring a CNC machinist, among other positions, at the new facility. For more information, visit speedwaymotors.com/Featured/Careers.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has announced its latest SheIsSEMA Spotlight members! The SheIsSEMA program raises awareness of women in the automotive aftermarket industry by highlighting their career stories through SEMA communications and on the SheIsSEMA website. The features spotlight what these women do, how they landed their careers and how they continue to thrive and break barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry.   

Get to know the SBN's newest spotlight members listed below by visiting the SheIsSEMA website. You'll learn about their notable career challenges and accomplishments, the qualities that helped them get to where they are today, and the best industry advice that they learned along the way!    

• Deanna Hicks, K&N Engineering   
• Heather Tausch, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels   
• Jennifer Chaplin, Tops Off Adventures  
• Leah Hall, Alltrade Tools   
• Lori Johnson, Ladies, Start Your Engines!   
• Marisol Herrera, The Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum  
• Talena Handley, Girlie Garage  

Interested in being spotlighted or know of an SBN member who deserves recognition? Fill out a SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry.  

Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award and are featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and on the sema.org/she-is-sema website.

By SEMA News Editors

Officials are gearing up for SEMA Fest, the inaugural, full-throttle festival that fuses motorsports, music and car culture, November 3-4 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. And now, the SEMA Fest app is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.  

Access key details of the SEMA Fest event right at your fingertips:

• Lineup of performing artists.
• Daily schedule of music and motorsports performances.
• SEMA Fest map to get attendees around safely and quickly. 
• SEMA Fest FAQs for all your event-related questions.

Easily find the ZYN Stage and Coors Light Stages; the Hoonigan, Formula DRIFT and Nitro Circus motorsports activations;  e-gaming with the North American Collegiate League; plus the all-encompassing SEMA Fest Marketplace, which will feature the latest innovations and trends from top brands and companies in the specialty-equipment market.

Attendees can even secure their SEMA Fest tickets through the app. Simply navigate to the "Tickets" section to purchase passes through Tixr.

Download the SEMA Fest app today through the Apple App Store and Google Play. We'll see you in Vegas! 

SEMA Fest is open to the public and is part of SEMA Week, which kicks off with the 2023 SEMA Show on October 31-November 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, visit semafest.com or semashow.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Officials with the SEMA Show are excited to introduce a top-of-the-line attendee resource, Bessie, the AI-powered chatbot designed to answer all your SEMA Show questions. 

SEMA Show's Bessie AI-powered chatbot will complement SEMAShow.com and the SEMA Show mobile app, plus all the on-site collateral, signage and related resources to help attendees maximize their time at the SEMA Show, October 31-November 3, in Las Vegas.

Chatting with Bessie is easy: just download the SEMA Show mobile app, visit SEMAShow.com or look for signage around the SEMA Show campus for the direct text number to access pertinent information right at your fingertips, anytime, anywhere. QR codes will also be placed around the SEMA Show campus, providing convenient access.

"Providing relevant Show information to attendees, at the right time, in the right format, is a priority for SEMA. Bessie, our new chatbot resource, puts answers to many frequently asked Show questions right at your fingertips. And since it can be accessed via QR code, direct text, via SEMAShow.com and our official mobile app, it is a great new complement to existing Show tools and provides another resource to navigate the Show and maximize experiences." 

This new resource aims to: 

• Enhance attendee interactions, offer personalized assistance and enrich the premier, trade-only event for all participants. 
• Build a stronger, more engaged community by improving overall attendee satisfaction through timely Show information. 
• Offer SEMA Show attendees a new text-based/SMS solution and convenient means to deliver information to mobile devices. 
• Create a resource that offers year-round, instant (less than 3 seconds) answers and personalized responses to attendee questions. 

SEMA has selected 42Chat as the exclusive chatbot provider for the SEMA Show. 42Chat's advanced AI-powered bots have been an integral part of many successful events and festivals, providing value to communities with instant answers and building trust through a customer-first approach to increase event engagement. 

42Chat's unique technology combines chatbots, text and micro-apps to help solve business problems. 

The proprietary conversation engine responds to millions of different ways attendees will ask questions (not just specific keywords) to provide the information the attendees need, when they need it. 

And, Bessie the AI chatbot will learn as it develops, so have fun getting to know the SEMA Show a little better! And, if you happen to "stump" Bessie with a question, it will share the information as it learns what questions the global community is asking the most, elevating the SEMA Show experience for years to come.

Using SEMA's chatbot service is completely up to the user, and mobile numbers collected during the engagement process will be used for emergency purposes only. Users have the option to opt out at any time.

By Ashley Reyes

Builders and engineers who are featuring a vehicle at the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31--November 3 in Las Vegas, have until Wednesday, October 25, to submit their entries for the new SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle of the Year award. The award will honor and celebrate a build that demonstrates quality engineering throughout the entire vehicle or features an aspect that goes beyond just physical appearance. 

The SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle of the Year award also aims to inspire more engineers to enter the automotive aftermarket by highlighting their impact on the automotive specialty-equipment industry and placing a spotlight on the symbiotic relationship between a vehicle's design and engineering.

To be considered for the SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle of the Year award, builders must upload a photo, video and description of the engineering content included in the build and the location of the displayed vehicle at the SEMA Show into their submission. Entries are being accepted until Wednesday, October 25, at this link.

The SEMA Best Engineered Vehicle of the Year Award winner will be announced at SEMA Central (Booth #10001, Central Hall) on Thursday, November 2, at the SEMA Show. Be sure to stop by the booth to learn more!