By Ashley Reyes

Female aftermarket professionals have limited time to register for the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) Women's Leadership Forum , featuring industry-tailored education, networking, and skill building.  

The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) Women's Leadership Forum returns in 2026 with all-new programming that will empower women in the automotive aftermarket to reach new levels of career success. Taking place March 3-5 in San Diego, California, the Forum will feature education sessions, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities that will help attendees grow their organizational value and build more engaged and stronger teams.   

Why The Conference Matters Now  

Unlike other leadership conferences that cater to all industries, the SBN Women's Leadership Forum was built by women in the aftermarket industry, for women in the aftermarket industry.  

Attendees will gain access to:  

• Industry-focused insights: Keynotes and panels focused on leadership, innovation and trends shaping the automotive aftermarket. 
• Skill-building workshops: Hands-on sessions that strengthen communication, strategic thinking and decision-making. 
• Confidence development: Tools to help women lead with authority, navigate challenges and influence outcomes. 
• Networking and mentorship: Connections with peers, executives and industry leaders across the automotive sector. 
• Measurable business impact: Actionable takeaways that enhance leadership performance and organizational effectiveness. 

Last Chance to Register  

Registration is $899 for members and $1,099 for non-members up to the day of the conference. 

Secure a seat here and gain confidence and connections to make an impact as a leader in the industry in 2026 and beyond.

By Ashley Reyes

Automotive aftermarket companies have limited time left to sign up for the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) Career Fair, happening Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.  

The ETTN Career Fair, held in partnership with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) SoCal chapter and SEMA Garage, provides the opportunity to connect with top engineering and technical students from local universities and trade schools who are eager to join the automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries.  
 

One Afternoon, Multiple Connections  

During the event, company representatives will host a table, network with students and share valuable information about career paths in their company. As students seek to better understand what the industry offers, companies can help increase awareness of what the 'aftermarket' is to the next generation while building their talent pool.   

Additionally, companies will have their brand showcased within the inspiring setting of the SEMA Garage, where students will be exposed to innovative technologies including ADAS, emissions compliance, Tech Transfer, 3D printing and more. 
 

Join Leading Brands  

The Career Fair will welcome students from SAE programs and beyond, along with SAE and SEMA industry professionals, for a full day of activities. Registered companies already include Blacmotor, Edelbrock, Ford, Formosa EV, Haas Automation, Honda Racing Corporation USA, HP Tuners, Hyundai America Technical Center, Hyundai Motor America, Pedal Commander, PRI/SIM, Searchtec Consulting Group and more--representing a broad cross-section of performance, manufacturing, engineering and technology-focused organizations.   
 

Secure Your Table Today  

Registration is complimentary for SEMA member companies, while non-member companies may participate for a $500 fee through SAE SoCal, which covers up to four attendees. 
 

Secure your spot today and help shape the future of the aftermarket.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The SEMA Garage team last week shared the following note with members who have reached out about sales data requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Please contact Jim Moore at jimm@sema.org with any questions.

SEMA is aware that CARB has asked manufacturers to estimate the cost of compiling sales data for products covered by executive orders (EO). This request reinforces our concern that the proposed sales reporting requirement is burdensome, invasive and unrelated to environmental impact. CARB has not demonstrated how collecting ongoing sales data improves emissions compliance or advances clean-air goals. And, the current review underway of the regulatory process is intended to help improve efficiency in the CARB EO process, not to add more burden to the businesses who participate.

For many manufacturers, particularly small businesses operating through distributor networks, extracting and reporting detailed sales information would require significant new administrative systems and costs. These resources would be diverted away from product development and emissions testing, which directly support California's environmental objectives. It also creates additional disincentives for companies to actively participate in the compliance program, which also is counter to achieving positive environmental objectives.

This request and the underlying proposal further underscore why SEMA has sponsored legislation to reform CARB's EO procedures. The industry needs a predictable, efficient, and emissions-focused process, not additional administrative obligations that increase costs without delivering measurable environmental benefit.

As CARB considers amendments to its aftermarket procedures, SEMA encourages its members to actively participate in the regulatory process and provide feedback on the real-world impacts of these proposals.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The SEMA Garage team last week shared the following note with members who have reached out about sales data requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Please contact Jim Moore at jimm@sema.org with any questions.

SEMA is aware that CARB has asked manufacturers to estimate the cost of compiling sales data for products covered by executive orders (EO). This request reinforces our concern that the proposed sales reporting requirement is burdensome, invasive and unrelated to environmental impact. CARB has not demonstrated how collecting ongoing sales data improves emissions compliance or advances clean-air goals. And, the current review underway of the regulatory process is intended to help improve efficiency in the CARB EO process, not to add more burden to the businesses who participate.

For many manufacturers, particularly small businesses operating through distributor networks, extracting and reporting detailed sales information would require significant new administrative systems and costs. These resources would be diverted away from product development and emissions testing, which directly support California's environmental objectives. It also creates additional disincentives for companies to actively participate in the compliance program, which also is counter to achieving positive environmental objectives.

This request and the underlying proposal further underscore why SEMA has sponsored legislation to reform CARB's EO procedures. The industry needs a predictable, efficient, and emissions-focused process, not additional administrative obligations that increase costs without delivering measurable environmental benefit.

As CARB considers amendments to its aftermarket procedures, SEMA encourages its members to actively participate in the regulatory process and provide feedback on the real-world impacts of these proposals.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA's Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) is accepting entries for its Hot Products Showcase, happening April 22-25 at the Spring Carlisle Show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Entering the Showcase is a free benefit exclusive to restoration parts manufacturers that are members of ARMO. Enter your products into the Showcase here, or learn more about being an ARMO member here.

Entering the ARMO Hot Products Showcase is one of the best opportunities for ARMO members to showcase their newest and most innovative products to classic car enthusiasts in a high-profile location within the Spring Carlisle Show--for free.

Benefits include:

• Increased brand visibility within the restoration community.
• Placement of products in front of buyers actively looking to build or restore.
• Opportunity to win an award in one of six categories: Exterior, Interior, Engine, Accessory Item, Drivetrain/Brakes/Suspension and People's Choice.  

Participation Made Easy

Manufacturers are only responsible for shipping their products in advance with a return label or dropping off and picking up their products on-site. ARMO volunteers set up and take down the product display, providing the manufacturer with a seamless, minimal-effort experience.

Product award winners will be recognized in SEMA News, ARMO's newsletter and social media, and during the ARMO Banquet at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November. 

Submit products at the button below or here: sema.org/armo-hot-products-showcase.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA's Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) is accepting entries for its Hot Products Showcase, happening April 22-25 at the Spring Carlisle Show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Entering the Showcase is a free benefit exclusive to restoration parts manufacturers that are members of ARMO. Enter your products into the Showcase here, or learn more about being an ARMO member here.

Entering the ARMO Hot Products Showcase is one of the best opportunities for ARMO members to showcase their newest and most innovative products to classic car enthusiasts in a high-profile location within the Spring Carlisle Show--for free.

Benefits include:

• Increased brand visibility within the restoration community.
• Placement of products in front of buyers actively looking to build or restore.
• Opportunity to win an award in one of six categories: Exterior, Interior, Engine, Accessory Item, Drivetrain/Brakes/Suspension and People's Choice.  

Participation Made Easy

Manufacturers are only responsible for shipping their products in advance with a return label or dropping off and picking up their products on-site. ARMO volunteers set up and take down the product display, providing the manufacturer with a seamless, minimal-effort experience.

Product award winners will be recognized in SEMA News, ARMO's newsletter and social media, and during the ARMO Banquet at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November. 

Submit products at the button below or here: sema.org/armo-hot-products-showcase.

By Ashley Reyes

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when competing priorities and obligations never end. Creating a to-do list is a great first step, but having a realistic plan that you can stick to is crucial to achieving any desired outcome.

To help professionals in the automotive aftermarket move past feeling overwhelmed and start real progress on their goals, the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN), Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), Future Leaders Network (FLN), Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) and Wheel, Tire, Suspension & Brake Council (WTSBC) will host a virtual education session on Tuesday, March 10 at 12:00 p.m. PST/3:00 p.m. EST focused on "The Maven Mindset."

During this session, seasoned entrepreneur, brand strategist, and creator of The Maven Mindset Jeni Bukolt will help attendees break out of the cycle of feeling "busy and stuck" and gain clarity, confidence and momentum on professional and personal goals.

Attendees will learn:

• Why motivation alone isn't enough to achieve meaningful goals.
• How curiosity and values alignment can unlock clarity and execution.
• How to break free from "busy but stuck" patterns.
• How to turn long-term vision into short-term, achievable action.
• How to re-energize through mindset shifts and accountability.

Whether balancing multiple commitments or striving towards a new goal, this session will offer real strategies to reset and refocus in order to make real progress.

Register here or click the button below.

To view recordings of past SBN virtual education sessions, click here.

By SEMA News Editors

Hemmings Launches Max Bid on Hemmings.com

Hemmings, the collector car marketplace, has announced that "Max Bid" is now live. Max Bid is a new buyer tool on Hemmings.com that allows bidders to set the maximum price they’re willing to pay for a vehicle. Once set, the Hemmings system automatically places bids on the buyer's behalf in predefined increments, competing with other live bidders until the auction closes or the buyer's maximum is reached. The feature is designed to deliver confidence, convenience and control, while preserving fair and transparent auction dynamics.

Max Bid is part of Hemmings' broader effort to create a more frictionless buying experience for collectors. Paired with tools like "Pay + Title," "Hemmings Motor Club," "Valuations" and "Price Guidance," Max Bid is designed to help simplify every stage of the vehicle purchasing journey on Hemmings.com.

At-a-glance highlights:

• "Set-it-and-forget-it" automatic bidding up to a buyer’s chosen maximum.
• No additional fees and no change to standard auction rules or increments.
• Buyers pay the lowest possible winning price, not their full maximum.
• Designed for time-strapped buyers who want to bid confidently without monitoring auctions in real time.

For more information, visit Hemmings.com.

Hellwig Products, a manufacturer of towing, hauling and performance suspension products, is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026.

The milestone achievement also comes alongside fourth-generation CEO Melanie Hellwig-White's first year as SEMA chairperson. Hellwig will mark its 80th anniversary with updated branding at various events throughout the year and will host an open house to celebrate its original incorporation date in September 1946.

Since its founding, Hellwig has manufactured OEM-plus-level sway bars and helper springs for a wide variety of American and foreign vehicles. The brand's passion for providing customers with upgraded towing capabilities, comfort and safety in their SUVs and trucks has endured for more than four generations of ownership. Today, Hellwig continues to use American steel for all its products at its headquarters in Visalia, California.

"Over the last 80 years, the Hellwig family and staff have been proud to support millions of Americans who trust our products on the vehicles they use every day," said Hellwig-White. "While many things have changed over the years, we're excited to continue offering second-to-none, American-made products for those who need the most out of their vehicle's suspension."

Hellwig Products will be celebrating its 80th anniversary with special branding throughout 2026 at various events across the country, including the 2026 SEMA Show. The brand also plans to host an open house and BBQ cookout at its headquarters in early September for those who want to tour the factory and gather to honor the longstanding brand's legacy. Keep an eye on Hellwig's social media channels for more information about the open house.

For more information, visit hellwigproducts.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Wilwood Engineering

CPB Caliper for Narrow Rotors

Wilwood has introduced a new narrower rotor size application for its Hydra-Mechanical Combination Parking Brake (CPB) caliper, now compatible with 0.38-in. wide rotors, expanding options for builders using 11- to 13-in. rotors on rear brake systems. Designed specifically for rear axle applications where traditional internal drum-style parking brakes are impractical, the caliper features a single stainless steel piston floating design that mounts to a fixed radial bracket, delivering strength, durability and multiple mounting configurations.

wilwood.com

By SEMA News Editors

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings nationwide. Below are some of the latest postings.

Enthusiast Auto Holdings

Brand Manager in Wadsworth, Ohio

Enthusiast Auto Holdings (EAH) is seeking a Brand Manager for its Turner Motorsport brand to set both short-term and long-term strategic direction and goals for Turner Motorsport and EAH's BMW business, and achieve these goals in collaboration with the research and development, marketing, sale and purchase, sales and customer service teams.

Feed image courtesy of Shutterstock | People Images