By SEMA Editors

Matt Patrick	Brad Loden

COMP Performance Group Names Matt Patrick Director of Product Development; Adds Brad Loden to Outside Sales Team

COMP Performance Group has named Matt Patrick as its new director of product development. Patrick is a business-focused engineer, with a career that includes successful stints in product management, research and development and mechanical engineering. He’s been with COMP Performance Group for more than 21 years. In the new role, Patrick will work directly with Dave Henninger and Cindy Bullion to lead the restructured product development group—a team dedicated solely to innovation and quicker “concept to competition” time for next-generation products. The company has also announced that effective immediately, Brad Loden has joined the organization in the role of outside sales representative. Loden will put his 26 years of industry experience to work as a territory sales and race support representative, along with providing product-development insight from the field to the newly formed CPG Product Development Group. A long-time racer, Loden has worked for prominent performance automotive manufacturers in the past, most recently, as a salesperson with CV Products and Roush Yates Racing Engines. Loden brings with him a highly technical product development acumen with expertise in valve train components and engine building.

Nexen Tire Supports New York Driver Safety Campaign

Global tire manufacturer Nexen Tire USA announced that the company has aligned with the New York City Department of Transportation in the new “Vision Zero” driver safety campaign, which launched April 26 on a digital billboard in Times Square. The campaign is aimed at educating New York drivers on safe driving and vehicle maintenance. A 15-second Nexen Tire spot, showing how 30 million drivers worldwide depend on Nexen tires to keep them safe on the road, will run immediately following the DoT Vision Zero spot. Next reports that the video will run on the Times Square billboard through December 31.

Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam spoke to students about the importance of working with their hands and STEM activities.

First Hot Rodders of Tomorrow STEM Day Opens Eyes for 94 Fifth Graders

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Junior Engine Challenge completed its first-ever STEM Day, Friday April 20, at the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Lisle, Illinois, where 94 fifth graders from Ranch View Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois, came to learn about how STEM relates to the automotive field. The day started off with a visit from Congressman Peter Roskam (IL), who stopped by to offer support. Afterward, students were split and placed in red, white and blue teams, and with their HROT mentor, they completely disassembled and reassembled a Briggs and Stratton overhead cam engine. Students also toured the UTI campus, participated in a UTI STEM activity and an Edelbrock coloring book challenge.

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.

Troy Wirtz sits down to explain what the TORA does and how members work together against harmful regulations that the industry faces.

Troy Wirtz sits down to explain what the TORA does and how members work together against harmful regulations that the industry faces.

Troy Wirtz sits down to explain what the TORA does and how members work together against harmful regulations that the industry faces.

By Kyle Cheng

In a recent study conducted by SEMA Market Research, most manufacturers, distributors and retailers surveyed saw increased sales over the past year.

The overall outlook for the automotive specialty-equipment industry is strong. In a recent study conducted by SEMA Market Research, most manufacturers, distributors and retailers surveyed saw increased sales over the past year. They were even more optimistic for the future: 82% of manufacturers expect an increase in sales over the next 12 months, followed by distributors (74%) and retailers (68%). Across the board, the size, scope and consumer base of the industry is expected to grow.

International sales are increasingly becoming an important revenue source for U.S.-based manufacturers. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed sell products outside our borders, either directly or through channels that reach overseas markets. Leading markets include Canada, Australia and Europe.

Want to learn more about the state of the industry and find out the biggest barriers perceived within your segment? Interested in seeing current and projected product trends? Check out SEMA’s new free “Industry Perspectives Report.”

To see all of the reports available through SEMA Market Research, visit www.sema.org/research.

What do you think about the state of the industry? We need help from the SEMA community!  

Some of you may have received an email from a company called Directions Research. If you receive a message from them inviting you to take a survey, rest assured that it is legitimate.

If you get this invitation, help us out and take a few minutes to provide your feedback. This will help us to provide the best information for our industry.

By Kyle Cheng

In a recent study conducted by SEMA Market Research, most manufacturers, distributors and retailers surveyed saw increased sales over the past year.

The overall outlook for the automotive specialty-equipment industry is strong. In a recent study conducted by SEMA Market Research, most manufacturers, distributors and retailers surveyed saw increased sales over the past year. They were even more optimistic for the future: 82% of manufacturers expect an increase in sales over the next 12 months, followed by distributors (74%) and retailers (68%). Across the board, the size, scope and consumer base of the industry is expected to grow.

International sales are increasingly becoming an important revenue source for U.S.-based manufacturers. Eighty-four percent of those surveyed sell products outside our borders, either directly or through channels that reach overseas markets. Leading markets include Canada, Australia and Europe.

Want to learn more about the state of the industry and find out the biggest barriers perceived within your segment? Interested in seeing current and projected product trends? Check out SEMA’s new free “Industry Perspectives Report.”

To see all of the reports available through SEMA Market Research, visit www.sema.org/research.

What do you think about the state of the industry? We need help from the SEMA community!  

Some of you may have received an email from a company called Directions Research. If you receive a message from them inviting you to take a survey, rest assured that it is legitimate.

If you get this invitation, help us out and take a few minutes to provide your feedback. This will help us to provide the best information for our industry.

This is the ’19 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, making its unofficial global debut.

The latest iteration of the next-generation Ranger Wildtrak was caught completely undisguised (inside and out) in Metro Detroit. A popular ute substitute in Australia, the Wildtrak gets added ground clearance, a bedliner with a 12V socket, an innovative retractable tonneau cover (roller shutter), 18-in. alloy rims on P265/60 tires and additional styling interior/exterior tweaks to make it stand out from the standard Ranger.

In other markets, the current Wildtrak can be had with a 3.2L diesel engine found in the Transit, although the new model features the all-new twin turbo 2.0 diesel (confirmed by the bi-turbo badge on the front fender) good for 211 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque while being mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual.

It’s still unclear if the Wildtrak will be offered stateside, but the relentless testing on U.S. soil clearly indicates Ford’s intent.

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Wildtrak makes a stateside debut alongside the Ranger Raptor.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, making its unofficial global debut.

The latest iteration of the next-generation Ranger Wildtrak was caught completely undisguised (inside and out) in Metro Detroit. A popular ute substitute in Australia, the Wildtrak gets added ground clearance, a bedliner with a 12V socket, an innovative retractable tonneau cover (roller shutter), 18-in. alloy rims on P265/60 tires and additional styling interior/exterior tweaks to make it stand out from the standard Ranger.

In other markets, the current Wildtrak can be had with a 3.2L diesel engine found in the Transit, although the new model features the all-new twin turbo 2.0 diesel (confirmed by the bi-turbo badge on the front fender) good for 211 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque while being mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual.

It’s still unclear if the Wildtrak will be offered stateside, but the relentless testing on U.S. soil clearly indicates Ford’s intent.

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Wildtrak makes a stateside debut alongside the Ranger Raptor.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, making its unofficial global debut.

The latest iteration of the next-generation Ranger Wildtrak was caught completely undisguised (inside and out) in Metro Detroit. A popular ute substitute in Australia, the Wildtrak gets added ground clearance, a bedliner with a 12V socket, an innovative retractable tonneau cover (roller shutter), 18-in. alloy rims on P265/60 tires and additional styling interior/exterior tweaks to make it stand out from the standard Ranger.

In other markets, the current Wildtrak can be had with a 3.2L diesel engine found in the Transit, although the new model features the all-new twin turbo 2.0 diesel (confirmed by the bi-turbo badge on the front fender) good for 211 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque while being mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual.

It’s still unclear if the Wildtrak will be offered stateside, but the relentless testing on U.S. soil clearly indicates Ford’s intent.

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Wildtrak makes a stateside debut alongside the Ranger Raptor.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, making its unofficial global debut.

The latest iteration of the next-generation Ranger Wildtrak was caught completely undisguised (inside and out) in Metro Detroit. A popular ute substitute in Australia, the Wildtrak gets added ground clearance, a bedliner with a 12V socket, an innovative retractable tonneau cover (roller shutter), 18-in. alloy rims on P265/60 tires and additional styling interior/exterior tweaks to make it stand out from the standard Ranger.

In other markets, the current Wildtrak can be had with a 3.2L diesel engine found in the Transit, although the new model features the all-new twin turbo 2.0 diesel (confirmed by the bi-turbo badge on the front fender) good for 211 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque while being mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual.

It’s still unclear if the Wildtrak will be offered stateside, but the relentless testing on U.S. soil clearly indicates Ford’s intent.

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Wildtrak makes a stateside debut alongside the Ranger Raptor.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde