By Kyle Cheng

The “SEMA Future Trends” Report includes economic and industry forecasts to provide readers the insights they need to help move their businesses into the future.

Newer vehicle platforms, such as crossover-utility vehicles (CUVs), are becoming increasingly popular. Many automakers are adjusting their lineups away from traditional sedans to account for this. Not only have SUVs, CUVs and pickups collectively outsold cars, but they also tend to be more profitable for auto manufacturers. By 2025, SEMA projects that 69% of all light vehicles sold will be classified as light trucks (pickup, SUV, CUV, van)—more than half of which will be from CUVs.

Many factors have contributed to this. Gasoline prices have remained low until recently, which has made fuel efficiency a smaller factor for purchasing. Moreover, a strong economy and relatively low interest rates on new car loans have encouraged people to spend more. Barring an economic downturn, expect CUV and light-truck sales to continue to rise over the coming years.

Want to learn more? Check out the new “SEMA Future Trends” Report. This report, published twice per year, includes economic and industry forecasts to give readers the insights they need to help move their businesses into the future.

To download, visit www.sema.org/research.

By Linda Spencer

“With more American trucks going to Australia and the excitement around the Jeep JL, this was perfect timing for S&B Filters to make the trip to Australia,” said Cayman Carter (center), owner of S&B Filters. “By broadening our vehicle coverage and the increase in crossover of vehicles with the Australian market, we anticipate sustainable growth for many years.”

Join SEMA for an hour-long conference call Wednesday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. (PST) to learn more about the 2019 SEMA Middle East (March 26–31) and Australia (May 9–13) Business Development Programs. 

During the conference call, participants will learn the following:

• What’s included in the fees (turnkey booth, hotel, meals, pre-vetted buyers).
• Costs.
• Available government grants to help defray the costs.
• What’s new for 2019.
• Information on the booth and setup.
• Schedule.

Additional markets for potential SEMA overseas programs will also be discussed, including:

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Scandinavia

Register now for the call. 

By Linda Spencer

“With more American trucks going to Australia and the excitement around the Jeep JL, this was perfect timing for S&B Filters to make the trip to Australia,” said Cayman Carter (center), owner of S&B Filters. “By broadening our vehicle coverage and the increase in crossover of vehicles with the Australian market, we anticipate sustainable growth for many years.”

Join SEMA for an hour-long conference call Wednesday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. (PST) to learn more about the 2019 SEMA Middle East (March 26–31) and Australia (May 9–13) Business Development Programs. 

During the conference call, participants will learn the following:

• What’s included in the fees (turnkey booth, hotel, meals, pre-vetted buyers).
• Costs.
• Available government grants to help defray the costs.
• What’s new for 2019.
• Information on the booth and setup.
• Schedule.

Additional markets for potential SEMA overseas programs will also be discussed, including:

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Scandinavia

Register now for the call. 

By Linda Spencer

“With more American trucks going to Australia and the excitement around the Jeep JL, this was perfect timing for S&B Filters to make the trip to Australia,” said Cayman Carter (center), owner of S&B Filters. “By broadening our vehicle coverage and the increase in crossover of vehicles with the Australian market, we anticipate sustainable growth for many years.”

Join SEMA for an hour-long conference call Wednesday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. (PST) to learn more about the 2019 SEMA Middle East (March 26–31) and Australia (May 9–13) Business Development Programs. 

During the conference call, participants will learn the following:

• What’s included in the fees (turnkey booth, hotel, meals, pre-vetted buyers).
• Costs.
• Available government grants to help defray the costs.
• What’s new for 2019.
• Information on the booth and setup.
• Schedule.

Additional markets for potential SEMA overseas programs will also be discussed, including:

• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Scandinavia

Register now for the call. 

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Lee Burtelson	Dan Clarke

Permatex Names Lee Burtelson Vice President General Manager

Permatex has announced several organizational changes in its Automotive Aftermarket (AAM) Group. These include the appointment of Lee Burtelson as new vice president general manager (VPGM) for engine repair, the retirement of former VPGM Andy Robinson and the promotion of Dan Clarke to lead traditional aftermarket sales. The announcement was made by Mark Severin, president, ITW Automotive Aftermarket (AAM) Group. Burtelson has been named as the new VPGM for engine repair and is responsible for all activities of the Automotive Aftermarket (AAM) Group. Prior to his appointment, Burtelson was vice president of strategic marketing for the ITW Fluids Platform. He joined ITW in 2015 and was a primary force in reviving organic growth in the fluids platform. Prior to his retirement, Robinson promoted Dan Clarke to sales director for the U.S. traditional aftermarket. Clarke has been with Permatex since 2015 and has served as its senior product manager. During his tenure, Clarke oversaw significant growth in revenue, market share and margin in his product categories. Prior to Permatex, Clarke was a business unit manager at Coburn Technologies Inc., and held various management and sales positions with HID Global Corp.

Covercraft Announces Title Sponsorship of Bradley Roy

Covercraft has announced a title sponsorship of Major League Fishing professional angler Bradley Roy. A three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, he is currently 10th in BassFan’s world rankings. Beginning in 2019, the Bradley Roy High School Open fishing tournament will also add Covercraft as the title sponsor. Covercraft branding will be the focus of Roy’s truck, boat and jersey for 2019. With the support of Covercraft and the associate sponsors, Roy will host a sweepstakes for one angler to fish with him and attend the 2019 Covercraft Bradley Roy High School Open. Covercraft will outfit the winner’s vehicle with their products bumper to bumper.

Bobby Bennett

Gary Scelzi “Legends: The Series” Episode to Premiere at PRI

For the second year in a row CompetitionPlus.com Owner and Publisher Bobby Bennett will unveil a new episode of “Legends: The Series” at the 31st Annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in the PRI Media Center inside the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The premiere, which will be sponsored by Aeromotive Fuel Systems, will take place December 7, at 2:30 p.m., and will feature four-time NHRA champion Gary Scelzi. This will be the final episode of Season 4, which has included a who’s who of drivers, including the late Eric Medlen, Jeb Allen, John Force, Warren Johnson, Dale Pulde, Jim Dunn, Larry Dixon and Al Segrini. “Legends: The Series” presented by Strange Engineering has exceeded three million YouTube views since launching in May 2014.

(L–R): Bob Fox, Darcell Giannone, Anthony Giannone and Brian Reese.

Race Winning Brands Acquires MGP Connecting Rods

Race Winning Brands Inc. (RWB) has announced the acquisition of Giannone Performance Products Inc., dba MGP Connecting Rods, a manufacturer of high-performance aluminum connecting rods. MGP represents the fifth add-on acquisition for Race Winning Brands, which has a portfolio of brands including JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, K1 Technologies, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Dart Machinery, Rekluse Motor Sports, Falicon Racing and ProX Racing Parts.

Toyo Tires Plans $138M Two-Phase Expansion Of Georgia Facility

Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. announced that it is planning a $138 million expansion of its facility in Cartersville, Georgia. Through a two-phase expansion, Toyo will construct a new 254,000-sq.-ft. facility with an annual production capacity of 2.4 million passenger vehicle tires. Upon completion, the company will employ approximately 2,100 Georgia residents and create more than 150 jobs. New jobs will include positions in production, support and administration. In 2016, Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. became the Toyo Tires Group’s largest manufacturing operation with an annual production capacity of 11.5 million tires.

“Horsepower Wars” Season 2 Returns

Power Automedia’s all-original show “Horsepower Wars,” which debuted in 2018, will return in 2019 featuring three “Horsepower Wars” series:

• $10K Drag Race Shootout “2” – Four teams compete with $10,000 to build a drag car in only 10 days. After the builds, they have to square off in a heads-up drag race, where one winner will stand alone at the end on the biggest stage.
• Pony Wars 2019 – The Mustang vs. Camaro show returns, with the addition of a new Dodge Challenger, adding a MOPAR to the mix.
• Junkyard Challenge – An all-new series debuts in 2019, where teams compete in multiple driving competitions using affordable trucks that they build using creativity and ingenuity. The teams will do battle in a variety of racing competitions, from offroad, dirt track, tug of war and more.

“Horsepower Wars” Season 2 kicks off in March 2019 with filming for “Pony Wars 2019.”

Graham Light

Graham Light Joins NHRA Motorsports Museum Board

Graham Light announced that he will join the Board of Directors of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Auto Club of Southern California. Light, who earlier this year announced his retirement as NHRA’s senior vice president of racing operations at the end of 2018, will utilize his relationships, knowledge and years in the sport to work furthering Wally Parks’ dream of creating a world-class motorsports museum to preserve NHRA’s history. As a member of the museum board, Light will work closely with Museum Chairman Tom McKernan, and the other members of the museum board, to help move the museum forward. Light will serve in a key stewardship position for the history of the sport, which will be a natural fit due to his strong connections with many of the people who helped to shape that history. Light will be available to work on special projects that may be developed between NHRA and the museum and will be a key fundraising partner with the museum’s staff, furthering Parks’ legacy.

Joe Maylish

MAHLE Motorsport Announces New Marketing Manager Joe Maylish

The North American motorsports division of MAHLE, MAHLE Motorsport, has announced that Joe Maylish has recently been hired to lead the company’s marketing department from headquarters in Fletcher, North Carolina. Maylish brings a wealth of experience to the job, including working most recently as sales and production manager for SPEED SxS, a division of Robby Gordon Motorsports in Charlotte, North Carolina. Previously, he worked as a sales associate and then regional sales manager for U.S. Legend Cars/Speedway Motorsports Inc. in Las Vegas. In this pivotal position, he was exposed to various forms of racing including NASCAR, NHRA, off-road and various forms of grassroots motorsports. This position gave him both a broad racing background and event operations management experience that made him an ideal candidate for the position at MAHLE.

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.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has openings for Chair-Elect, two seats in the Manufacturer category and one seat in the Manufacturers’ Representative category.

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.

The following seats are open for this year’s election:

• Chair-elect (one open seat)
• Manufacturer (two open seats)
• Manufacturers’ Representative (one open seat)

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board-member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, include information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.

Nominations for the SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 3, 2019. Please complete and submit the nomination form.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process; our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the nominating committee.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has openings for Chair-Elect, two seats in the Manufacturer category and one seat in the Manufacturers’ Representative category.

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.

The following seats are open for this year’s election:

• Chair-elect (one open seat)
• Manufacturer (two open seats)
• Manufacturers’ Representative (one open seat)

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board-member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, include information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.

Nominations for the SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 3, 2019. Please complete and submit the nomination form.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process; our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the nominating committee.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

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.

Paint Shop Manager: Cinema Vehicle Services LLC is hiring a paint shop manager to identify all areas in need of prepping for buffing/sanding or any other repairs before proceeding to paint application; mix to specified color using standard formulas, color charts and factory recommended specifications; and sand, mask, blend and polish finish. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in the auto or truck repair and paint industry and five years of management experience.

Mechanical Design Engineer: Cognito Motorsports is hiring a mechanical engineer or design engineer to lead and assist in the development of new aftermarket suspension-related products for passenger trucks, SUVs and UTVs. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of engineering topics, including strength of materials, fatigue behavior, stresses, fits and interference and weld joint design. A bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent and a minimum of four years’ related design experience in a manufacturing environment are required.

Audi Performance Sales and Customer Service Manager: JH Motorsports Inc. is hiring an Audi Performance sales and customer service manager to oversee the sales and customer service departments. This position will be responsible for building and training a sales team, driving sales, managing and attending events and assisting with new product releases. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of Audi/VW/Porsche cars and parts, good overall mechanical aptitude, an ability to understand how automotive parts and systems work and experience in sales and customer service.

Vehicle, Wheel and Tire Technician: DriveRightData is hiring a vehicle, wheel and tire technician. This position is focused around performing specialized wheel testing services and gathering vehicle-related data to maintain the company’s databases. Necessary training will be given. The ideal candidate will have experience with wheel and tire fitments on a variety of vehicles, from luxury cars to large passenger trucks and knowledge of lift kits. The ability to mount tires, check air pressures and willingness to learn how wheels should be mounted on specialist machinery for physical tests are required. This position will involve heavy lifting and requires the ability to follow strict guidelines to ensure the DriveRightData’s high standards are enforced in all activities.

Sales Coordinator: Method Race Wheels is hiring a sales coordinator responsible for facilitating and responding to inbound electronic communication from existing and potential customers, facilitating orders and following up on order timelines electronically. This position will make a continual effort to respond to customers as quickly as possible and make an effort to remain up to date on all the products and services offered. The ideal candidate will have excellent customer service skills.

By SEMA Editors

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

• PRI Trade Show, December 6–8, 2018, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
• Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Performance Industry Reception, December 7, 2018, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
• 2019 SEMA Middle East and Australia Overview Conference Call, December 12, 2018
• MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 22–24, 2019, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California
• SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, March 26–31, 2019, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• SEMA Australia Business Development Conference, May 9–13, 2019, Melbourne, Australia
• Collector Car Appreciation Day, July 12, 2019
• 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, 2019, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstore.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

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.

• JMS Chip & Performance
• K&N
• KC HiLites
• King Bearings
• K100
• Lazer Star Lights
• Liquid Glow
• Lloyd Mats
• LOMAX Covers
• LRG Rims