By Zane Clark

John Waraniak	Jeff Varick	Scott Wolin

Connected and automated vehicle technologies, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and other mobility options will significantly improve safety. The automotive aftermarket industry is playing an increasingly important role in retrofitting and installing many of these systems and technologies on the 250-million vehicles already on U.S. roads.

Join SEMA in Detroit, Wednesday, June 14, for an exclusive educational and networking event, where a panel of experts will discuss how advanced-vehicle technology is transforming the automotive and aftermarket industries, and explore the challenges and opportunities posed by evolving vehicle technologies and mobility options.

Attendees will also hear from special guests from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Michigan District Office. The SBA will share insights on business financing programs that support infrastructure improvements needed to assure business sustainability into the future.

Panelists include:

• John Waraniak, vice president of vehicle technology, SEMA
• Jeff Varick, president, Brandmotion
• Scott Wolin, district sales manager—restyling, Chicago Parts & Sound LLC

The educational programs will be immediately followed by a networking reception.

As an added bonus, on the following morning, attendees will be invited to tour both the American Center for Mobility and the innovative Mobility Transformation Facility, more commonly known as Mcity, at the University of Michigan. The 32-acre facility is located on campus, and is the first of its kind in testing new automated vehicle technologies and their capabilities to safely maneuver actual roadways. Hosted by SEMA’s Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), attendees will enjoy a guided private tour of the facility.

When: Wednesday, June 14, from 3:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. (EDT)
Where: Detroit Metro Airport Marriott, 30559 Flynn Dr., Romulus, MI 48174
Cost:  $25 SEMA members/$35 non-members. Fees include the education program, networking mixer and optional tour (June 15).

Space is limited, so register now!

For more information, contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark.

By Jason Catullo

The Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino has been added to the properties available through the SEMA Show’s official housing provider, OnPeak.

SEMA Show attendees and exhibitors now have more hotel options for this year’s event. The Palms Casino Resort, Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino and W Las Vegas have been added to the properties available through the Show’s official housing provider, OnPeak. Showgoers who book rooms at the newly added hotels, or any hotel offered through OnPeak, will receive valuable, built-in benefits such as guaranteed low rates, no hidden fees and exclusive room blocks.

The Travel & Lodging page on www.SEMAShow.com features a real-time listing of the hotel deals and discounts available for the 2017 SEMA Show, October 31–November 3, in Las Vegas.

OnPeak also provides an added level of assurance by identifying guests as SEMA Showgoers, and hotel staff is prepared to deliver a higher level of service and direct guests to Show-related programs, such as free shuttles.

Read more about the benefits of booking through the Show’s official housing provider.

For assistance with your reservations, call OnPeak at 866-611-8831 (for international callers, dial +1-312-527-7300), Monday–Friday, between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (CDT). If you have an existing reservation, have your OnPeak Attendance/Group ID number handy.

Note: Attendees and exhibitors should be vigilant if approached by companies or services other than OnPeak that imply or claim to be an official housing provider of the SEMA Show. Management is aware of other housing companies and travel agencies that may be aggressively pursuing you or your company to book your guest rooms through their company at supposedly significant discounts.

Reservations made through an agency other than OnPeak are at your own risk. Exhibitors and attendees contacted by another housing company trying to sell hotel rooms should notify SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

By Jason Catullo

The Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino has been added to the properties available through the SEMA Show’s official housing provider, OnPeak.

SEMA Show attendees and exhibitors now have more hotel options for this year’s event. The Palms Casino Resort, Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino and W Las Vegas have been added to the properties available through the Show’s official housing provider, OnPeak. Showgoers who book rooms at the newly added hotels, or any hotel offered through OnPeak, will receive valuable, built-in benefits such as guaranteed low rates, no hidden fees and exclusive room blocks.

The Travel & Lodging page on www.SEMAShow.com features a real-time listing of the hotel deals and discounts available for the 2017 SEMA Show, October 31–November 3, in Las Vegas.

OnPeak also provides an added level of assurance by identifying guests as SEMA Showgoers, and hotel staff is prepared to deliver a higher level of service and direct guests to Show-related programs, such as free shuttles.

Read more about the benefits of booking through the Show’s official housing provider.

For assistance with your reservations, call OnPeak at 866-611-8831 (for international callers, dial +1-312-527-7300), Monday–Friday, between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (CDT). If you have an existing reservation, have your OnPeak Attendance/Group ID number handy.

Note: Attendees and exhibitors should be vigilant if approached by companies or services other than OnPeak that imply or claim to be an official housing provider of the SEMA Show. Management is aware of other housing companies and travel agencies that may be aggressively pursuing you or your company to book your guest rooms through their company at supposedly significant discounts.

Reservations made through an agency other than OnPeak are at your own risk. Exhibitors and attendees contacted by another housing company trying to sell hotel rooms should notify SEMA Show Management at 909-396-0289.

By Linda Spencer

“We have been participating in this event for the past four consecutive years,” said Josh Abbott (second left, red shirt), international sales manager for Borla Performance Indus­tries. “We use this opportunity to meet qualified dealer candidates, nurture our existing relationships and continue to learn about the market.” Borla will once again exhibit at the 2017 SEMA China event, September 6–10.

Registration is now open for the 2017 SEMA China Business Development Program, September 6–10, in Shanghai. This is a great opportunity to meet with pre-vetted resellers (distributors, retailers and installers) of specialty products in this market of 1.3 billion people. Musclecar mania is catching on in China, with the Chevy Camaro joining the Ford Mustang as accessory-friendly vehicles recently becoming available through the official car dealer channel.

Light trucks are best sellers in China, with vehicle enthusiasts eager to buy Jeep Wranglers and Ford Explorers. Large-size pickups are also available, but only through the gray market. However, this is changing with the new F-150 Raptor and Chevy Silverado being sold through the official dealership network for the first time in 2017. In addition, the globally best-selling midsize Ford Ranger will go on sale in China in 2018 (and in the United States around the same time).

SEMA Business Development Programs are low-cost, turnkey events that bring together SEMA-member manufacturers and buyers from key markets. The program fees include a turn-key exhibitor booth at the China Auto Salon (CAS), four nights’ hotel, meals, an interpreter for two days, a U.S. government briefing and visits to specialty-equipment shops. U.S. government grants are available to qualified companies to help defray the cost of participation.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA China Business Development Program!

For more information, visit www.sema.org/china.

By Linda Spencer

“We have been participating in this event for the past four consecutive years,” said Josh Abbott (second left, red shirt), international sales manager for Borla Performance Indus­tries. “We use this opportunity to meet qualified dealer candidates, nurture our existing relationships and continue to learn about the market.” Borla will once again exhibit at the 2017 SEMA China event, September 6–10.

Registration is now open for the 2017 SEMA China Business Development Program, September 6–10, in Shanghai. This is a great opportunity to meet with pre-vetted resellers (distributors, retailers and installers) of specialty products in this market of 1.3 billion people. Musclecar mania is catching on in China, with the Chevy Camaro joining the Ford Mustang as accessory-friendly vehicles recently becoming available through the official car dealer channel.

Light trucks are best sellers in China, with vehicle enthusiasts eager to buy Jeep Wranglers and Ford Explorers. Large-size pickups are also available, but only through the gray market. However, this is changing with the new F-150 Raptor and Chevy Silverado being sold through the official dealership network for the first time in 2017. In addition, the globally best-selling midsize Ford Ranger will go on sale in China in 2018 (and in the United States around the same time).

SEMA Business Development Programs are low-cost, turnkey events that bring together SEMA-member manufacturers and buyers from key markets. The program fees include a turn-key exhibitor booth at the China Auto Salon (CAS), four nights’ hotel, meals, an interpreter for two days, a U.S. government briefing and visits to specialty-equipment shops. U.S. government grants are available to qualified companies to help defray the cost of participation.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA China Business Development Program!

For more information, visit www.sema.org/china.

By Linda Spencer

Attendees at the 2016 SEMA Export Fair listen intently to a panel of top international trade buyers. This popular event brings together both experienced and new-to-export SEMA members to network and learn top tips on everything from market assessments, overseas protection of trademarks and setting up distributorships abroad. Attendees also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with IPR attorneys and meet other SEMA members selling abroad.

Learn useful tips and meet top international buyers at the second SEMA Export Fair, to be held July 25–26, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. The day-and-a-half-long program, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide attendees the opportunity to participate in roundtables and seminars featuring seasoned exporters, top overseas buyers and other key stakeholders. In addition, attendees can participate in 20-minute private, confidential meetings with IPR attorneys to learn about taking the appropriate steps to protect their patents and trademarks.

Special early-bird rates run through the end of May. For more information, view the flyer. 

Register now!

By Linda Spencer

Attendees at the 2016 SEMA Export Fair listen intently to a panel of top international trade buyers. This popular event brings together both experienced and new-to-export SEMA members to network and learn top tips on everything from market assessments, overseas protection of trademarks and setting up distributorships abroad. Attendees also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with IPR attorneys and meet other SEMA members selling abroad.

Learn useful tips and meet top international buyers at the second SEMA Export Fair, to be held July 25–26, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. The day-and-a-half-long program, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide attendees the opportunity to participate in roundtables and seminars featuring seasoned exporters, top overseas buyers and other key stakeholders. In addition, attendees can participate in 20-minute private, confidential meetings with IPR attorneys to learn about taking the appropriate steps to protect their patents and trademarks.

Special early-bird rates run through the end of May. For more information, view the flyer. 

Register now!

By Linda Spencer

Attendees at the 2016 SEMA Export Fair listen intently to a panel of top international trade buyers. This popular event brings together both experienced and new-to-export SEMA members to network and learn top tips on everything from market assessments, overseas protection of trademarks and setting up distributorships abroad. Attendees also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with IPR attorneys and meet other SEMA members selling abroad.

Learn useful tips and meet top international buyers at the second SEMA Export Fair, to be held July 25–26, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. The day-and-a-half-long program, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide attendees the opportunity to participate in roundtables and seminars featuring seasoned exporters, top overseas buyers and other key stakeholders. In addition, attendees can participate in 20-minute private, confidential meetings with IPR attorneys to learn about taking the appropriate steps to protect their patents and trademarks.

Special early-bird rates run through the end of May. For more information, view the flyer. 

Register now!

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Under a new Maryland law, as of January 1, 2020, it will be illegal to sell or use wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead or mercury. The law also requires that any lead and mercury wheel weights removed in the process be properly recycled. Maryland joins seven other states that have already banned lead wheel weights, namely California, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington state.

The automakers no longer use lead weights as original equipment, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a voluntary nationwide initiative in 2008 to stop using lead weights. If the weights fall off tires, lead particles may pose the risk of contaminating surface and ground water supplies. Automakers, tire makers and the aftermarket have turned to three main substitute materials—steel, zinc or composites. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Under a new Maryland law, as of January 1, 2020, it will be illegal to sell or use wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead or mercury. The law also requires that any lead and mercury wheel weights removed in the process be properly recycled. Maryland joins seven other states that have already banned lead wheel weights, namely California, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington state.

The automakers no longer use lead weights as original equipment, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a voluntary nationwide initiative in 2008 to stop using lead weights. If the weights fall off tires, lead particles may pose the risk of contaminating surface and ground water supplies. Automakers, tire makers and the aftermarket have turned to three main substitute materials—steel, zinc or composites. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.