Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:47

By SEMA Editors

SEMA is now accepting applications for the 2018 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Students preparing for careers in the auto or auto-parts industries can apply at www.sema.org/scholarships.  

New this year, high-school and part-time students can apply for a scholarship. The change is part of an effort by SEMA’s Scholarship Committee to start students down the automotive path and support their efforts at an earlier stage.

“SEMA is dedicated to activating the next-generation automotive workforce by providing financial support and career resources to students enrolled in various high schools, universities, colleges and/or vocational schools in the United States,” said SEMA Chairman-Elect Tim Martin.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Students can apply for the scholarship at www.sema.org/scholarships. The deadline for the program is March 1, 2018.

Scholarships are available in a variety of categories, such as accounting, sales and marketing, and engineering. Dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will be given out, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The program also includes a loan-forgiveness aspect that offers financial awards to employees of SEMA-member companies who are paying off a loan for a completed program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program within the United States.

For more information, contact SEMA Manager of Student Programs Juliet Marshall at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:47

By SEMA Editors

SEMA is now accepting applications for the 2018 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. Students preparing for careers in the auto or auto-parts industries can apply at www.sema.org/scholarships.  

New this year, high-school and part-time students can apply for a scholarship. The change is part of an effort by SEMA’s Scholarship Committee to start students down the automotive path and support their efforts at an earlier stage.

“SEMA is dedicated to activating the next-generation automotive workforce by providing financial support and career resources to students enrolled in various high schools, universities, colleges and/or vocational schools in the United States,” said SEMA Chairman-Elect Tim Martin.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Students can apply for the scholarship at www.sema.org/scholarships. The deadline for the program is March 1, 2018.

Scholarships are available in a variety of categories, such as accounting, sales and marketing, and engineering. Dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will be given out, with a $5,000 award going to the top student.

The program also includes a loan-forgiveness aspect that offers financial awards to employees of SEMA-member companies who are paying off a loan for a completed program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program within the United States.

For more information, contact SEMA Manager of Student Programs Juliet Marshall at 909-978-6655 or julietm@sema.org.

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:33

By SEMA Editors

Ford Mustang
Ford will highlight the ’18 Mustang, among other models, for its 2018 Project Vehicle Program. 

The Ford booth at the 2018 SEMA Show will highlight the following vehicles, in addition to its existing lineup:

  • ’19 Ford Ranger
  • ’19 Edge ST
  • ’18 Ford Super Duty
  • ’18 All-New Ford EcoSport
  • ’18 Ford Expedition
  • ’18 Ford Mustang (2.3L EcoBoost/5.0L GT)
  • ’18 F-150
  • ’18 Ford Raptor
  • ’18 Ford Transit

Information and high-resolution images for proposal renderings for the above models can be found at the Ford media website or www.ford.com.

While the above vehicles have the greatest probability of being awarded, the entire retail Ford product lineup, with the exception of Ford GT, GT350/R and Lincoln products, are eligible for the Project Vehicle Program. The criteria is listed below:

2018 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2018
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2018

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 16, 2018. Include bullet points for:

  • Vehicle/theme
  • Vehicle modifications
  • New-product development
  • Promotional plan
  • Vehicle display location at the 2018 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

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

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

  • A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
  • Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
  • Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
  • A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

  • Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2018 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, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's 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

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2018 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Mike Nicopolis & Rob Fridenberg
semainfo@ford.com

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:33

By SEMA Editors

Ford Mustang
Ford will highlight the ’18 Mustang, among other models, for its 2018 Project Vehicle Program. 

The Ford booth at the 2018 SEMA Show will highlight the following vehicles, in addition to its existing lineup:

  • ’19 Ford Ranger
  • ’19 Edge ST
  • ’18 Ford Super Duty
  • ’18 All-New Ford EcoSport
  • ’18 Ford Expedition
  • ’18 Ford Mustang (2.3L EcoBoost/5.0L GT)
  • ’18 F-150
  • ’18 Ford Raptor
  • ’18 Ford Transit

Information and high-resolution images for proposal renderings for the above models can be found at the Ford media website or www.ford.com.

While the above vehicles have the greatest probability of being awarded, the entire retail Ford product lineup, with the exception of Ford GT, GT350/R and Lincoln products, are eligible for the Project Vehicle Program. The criteria is listed below:

2018 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2018
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2018

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 16, 2018. Include bullet points for:

  • Vehicle/theme
  • Vehicle modifications
  • New-product development
  • Promotional plan
  • Vehicle display location at the 2018 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

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

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

  • A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
  • Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
  • Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
  • A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

  • Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2018 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, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's 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

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2018 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Mike Nicopolis & Rob Fridenberg
semainfo@ford.com

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:33

By SEMA Editors

Ford Mustang
Ford will highlight the ’18 Mustang, among other models, for its 2018 Project Vehicle Program. 

The Ford booth at the 2018 SEMA Show will highlight the following vehicles, in addition to its existing lineup:

  • ’19 Ford Ranger
  • ’19 Edge ST
  • ’18 Ford Super Duty
  • ’18 All-New Ford EcoSport
  • ’18 Ford Expedition
  • ’18 Ford Mustang (2.3L EcoBoost/5.0L GT)
  • ’18 F-150
  • ’18 Ford Raptor
  • ’18 Ford Transit

Information and high-resolution images for proposal renderings for the above models can be found at the Ford media website or www.ford.com.

While the above vehicles have the greatest probability of being awarded, the entire retail Ford product lineup, with the exception of Ford GT, GT350/R and Lincoln products, are eligible for the Project Vehicle Program. The criteria is listed below:

2018 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2018
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2018

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 16, 2018. Include bullet points for:

  • Vehicle/theme
  • Vehicle modifications
  • New-product development
  • Promotional plan
  • Vehicle display location at the 2018 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

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

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

  • A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
  • Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
  • Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
  • A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

  • Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2018 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, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's 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

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2018 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Mike Nicopolis & Rob Fridenberg
semainfo@ford.com

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:31

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show Speaker
Speakers with experience in marketing and sales, customer service, business management, automotive trends, social media and vehicle customization are encouraged to submit an application to host a seminar during the 2018 SEMA Show.

SEMA Show Education is now accepting applications for industry professionals interested in hosting a seminar during the 2018 SEMA Show. Of particular interest to the industry are speakers with experience in marketing and sales, customer service, business management, automotive trends, social media, and vehicle customization.

To learn more, access the application and read the criteria.

The educational seminars make up an essential component of the SEMA Show. In addition to connecting automotive manufacturers with professional buyers from all over the world, the four-day SEMA Show is the leading venue for industry experts to network in person and learn new business strategies.

The 2017 SEMA Show education program featured more than 60 sessions. While topics address basic business practices, such as customer service, marketing and social media, the 2018 program will emphasize issues that are of greatest concern to businesses in the automotive aftermarket.

All speakers should be able to focus on industry issues and not a specific company position or agenda.

Applications for speaker submissions are available until Monday, February 12, 2018. Speaker entries will be answered no later than April 20, 2018. For more details, contact Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org, 909-978-6743.

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:31

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show Speaker
Speakers with experience in marketing and sales, customer service, business management, automotive trends, social media and vehicle customization are encouraged to submit an application to host a seminar during the 2018 SEMA Show.

SEMA Show Education is now accepting applications for industry professionals interested in hosting a seminar during the 2018 SEMA Show. Of particular interest to the industry are speakers with experience in marketing and sales, customer service, business management, automotive trends, social media, and vehicle customization.

To learn more, access the application and read the criteria.

The educational seminars make up an essential component of the SEMA Show. In addition to connecting automotive manufacturers with professional buyers from all over the world, the four-day SEMA Show is the leading venue for industry experts to network in person and learn new business strategies.

The 2017 SEMA Show education program featured more than 60 sessions. While topics address basic business practices, such as customer service, marketing and social media, the 2018 program will emphasize issues that are of greatest concern to businesses in the automotive aftermarket.

All speakers should be able to focus on industry issues and not a specific company position or agenda.

Applications for speaker submissions are available until Monday, February 12, 2018. Speaker entries will be answered no later than April 20, 2018. For more details, contact Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org, 909-978-6743.

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:31

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show Speaker
Speakers with experience in marketing and sales, customer service, business management, automotive trends, social media and vehicle customization are encouraged to submit an application to host a seminar during the 2018 SEMA Show.

SEMA Show Education is now accepting applications for industry professionals interested in hosting a seminar during the 2018 SEMA Show. Of particular interest to the industry are speakers with experience in marketing and sales, customer service, business management, automotive trends, social media, and vehicle customization.

To learn more, access the application and read the criteria.

The educational seminars make up an essential component of the SEMA Show. In addition to connecting automotive manufacturers with professional buyers from all over the world, the four-day SEMA Show is the leading venue for industry experts to network in person and learn new business strategies.

The 2017 SEMA Show education program featured more than 60 sessions. While topics address basic business practices, such as customer service, marketing and social media, the 2018 program will emphasize issues that are of greatest concern to businesses in the automotive aftermarket.

All speakers should be able to focus on industry issues and not a specific company position or agenda.

Applications for speaker submissions are available until Monday, February 12, 2018. Speaker entries will be answered no later than April 20, 2018. For more details, contact Zane Clark at zanec@sema.org, 909-978-6743.

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:29

By Jenny Galvan

SEMA HOF
(L–R): Doug Evans, GiGi Carleton and Barry Meguiar were inducted into the 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame.

SEMA Hall of Fame nominations are now open. As a SEMA member, you have the chance to nominate an exceptional candidate for the 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame.

The SEMA Hall of Fame Award honors outstanding individuals in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments have significantly contributed to the industry's growth.

By nominating a candidate, you will participate in recognizing the contributions and achievements of people who have helped shape the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

When making your confidential nomination, please provide a brief statement that explains why the individual deserves this prestigious award. Feel free to mention previous accomplishments and notable industry contributions. This will help the Hall of Fame Committee choose the most deserving candidates. 

Before you submit your nomination, take a moment to review the SEMA Hall of Fame website, and review the award criteria as well as prior inductees. Last year’s Hall of Fame inductees were GiGi Carleton, Robert E. Petersen Foundation; Doug Evans, High Performance Advisors; and Barry Meguiar, Meguiar’s.

Submit your 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame forms before the March 9 deadline.

To learn more, visit www.sema.org/hof or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org or 909-978-6692.

 

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 13:29

By Jenny Galvan

SEMA HOF
(L–R): Doug Evans, GiGi Carleton and Barry Meguiar were inducted into the 2017 SEMA Hall of Fame.

SEMA Hall of Fame nominations are now open. As a SEMA member, you have the chance to nominate an exceptional candidate for the 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame.

The SEMA Hall of Fame Award honors outstanding individuals in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments have significantly contributed to the industry's growth.

By nominating a candidate, you will participate in recognizing the contributions and achievements of people who have helped shape the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

When making your confidential nomination, please provide a brief statement that explains why the individual deserves this prestigious award. Feel free to mention previous accomplishments and notable industry contributions. This will help the Hall of Fame Committee choose the most deserving candidates. 

Before you submit your nomination, take a moment to review the SEMA Hall of Fame website, and review the award criteria as well as prior inductees. Last year’s Hall of Fame inductees were GiGi Carleton, Robert E. Petersen Foundation; Doug Evans, High Performance Advisors; and Barry Meguiar, Meguiar’s.

Submit your 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame forms before the March 9 deadline.

To learn more, visit www.sema.org/hof or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org or 909-978-6692.