The 2023 SEMA Scholarship application period for students preparing for careers in the automotive or performance parts industries is now open and will run through March 1. Interested applicants can review and complete the scholarship application at www.sema.org/scholarships.
The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to foster future leaders and innovators in the automotive aftermarket industry. A loan forgiveness component is also available to employees that work for SEMA-member companies who have completed and are currently paying off a loan for a program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical school within the United States.
“Education can be expensive, but that shouldn’t limit students from getting ahead in their careers,” said Pamela Brown-Matthis, SEMA director of education. “There are so many career options in the automotive aftermarket, and it’s a thriving industry to be in. We encourage students who have a passion for cars to apply for a SEMA scholarship so that we can help jump-start their careers.”
The annual scholarship program is a cornerstone of SEMA’s efforts to support career development and access in the automotive industry. Scholarship winners will have the opportunity to attend the 2023 SEMA Show, providing unparalleled networking and education opportunities at the world’s largest trade show for the automotive aftermarket.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens 18 years or older and demonstrate a passion for automotive hobbies and careers. Scholarships are available in a variety of categories, including but not limited to, accounting, sales, marketing and engineering. Eligible students and SEMA-member company employees can apply until March 1 at www.sema.org/scholarships.
In partnership with Honda, the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, will host a measuring session for the all-new ’23 Honda Civic Type R, to be held February 28–March 2.
The event will allow SEMA members to test-fit prototypes, 3-D scan, measure and have a close-up experience ahead of the vehicle’s public release.
This event will include a ’23 Honda Civic Type R equipped with:
A 2.0L Turbo: 315 hp and 310 lb.-ft.
Limited-slip differential
13.8-in. front rotors and 12-in. rear rotors
6MT with rev-matching
Weighted aluminum shift knob
Adaptive dampers
Four drive modes, including Comfort, Sport, +R and a new Individual mode
19-in. alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires
LED headlights and taillights
Rear spoiler
Exhaust system features a straight-through design and active exhaust valve
Honda Sensing
Type R-exclusive red racing seats and carpet
10.2-in. configurable digital instrument cluster
9-in. color touchscreen with navigation
LogR Performance Datalogger
12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless charging
Sirius XM satellite radio
Active sound control
Please note that this will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage and will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time-limited. Please only register for one attendee per member company, and a follow-up email will be sent to confirm additional attendees.
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.
Cognito Motorsports Inc. is hiring an outside sale rep responsible for new dealer acquisition, top-line sales production, relationship management and customer retention. The successful candidate will be an effective hunter and relationship builder capable of consistently adding new resellers to the company’s existing book of business.
Canepa is hiring an experienced Porsche engine builder who is interested in building a variety of high-performance motors. Candidates must be hardworking and dedicated to providing the highest level of quality in the industry. Applicants must have extensive experience in all aspects of engine building, including engine diagnosis, functions, machining, repair, rebuilding and tuning. Candidates must be able to work both individually and as part of a multi-functional team.
ProCharger is hiring a sales representative with a comprehensive understanding and passion for the high-performance motorsports industry as well as strong mechanical aptitude. This position will be involved in the daily sales process, building relationships with consumers, dealers and racers. Other duties include the ability to travel to events, trade shows and meet with dealers. Candidates should have automotive aftermarket knowledge and experience, more than three years of sales experience and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
SEMA has hired Alicia Steger as PAC manager. Based in SEMA’s Government and Public Affairs office, Steger will lead SEMA PAC’s fundraising efforts during the 2024 election cycle.
By law, SEMA may not use its funds to contribute to federal political candidates. However, SEMA PAC allows its members to contribute personal funds, which are used to help elect lawmakers who support its positions and initiatives. One hundred percent of SEMA PAC donations are allocated to funding political candidate’s campaigns who support SEMA and their members.
Steger most recently worked as the senior manager of the president’s office for American Beverage Association. She brings a wide range of skills and knowledge to SEMA, ranging from board and executive management to event planning, fundraising and brand building.
Steger is a car enthusiast herself, in both automotive sports and shows. She hopes to bring accessibility and enthusiasm to the PAC. If you are interested in finding more about the PAC, visit www.semapac.com or contact Steger at alicias@sema.org.
The supply-chain issues that impacted the United States over the past few years largely peaked and are starting to recover.
According to the new “2023 SEMA Future Trends – January 2023” report, supply-chain issues are expected to improve in 2023, but it will take time to return to pre-pandemic levels, especially with supplies that affect the automotive sector like semiconductors (or chips).
According to the SEMA study:
The specialty-equipment industry has been affected. More than 90% of companies have been moderately or severely impacted by supply-chain issues. Most expect things to normalize by the end of 2023 or into 2024.
Ports are less congested. Container ports in the United States, like in Los Angeles or Long Beach, are no longer as congested with container ships waiting for berths. As a result, prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Trucking is improving nationwide. Demand for cross-country hauling by truckers has eased and the number of trucks available to ship things has increased. Prices have also dropped from their record highs.
Semiconductor, or chip, shortages continue. Shortages, most notably for the automotive sector, continue to linger. Average lead delivery times for chips decreased but remain high, at approximately 25.5 weeks as of October 2022.
For an in-depth analysis on how port congestion has eased, projections for supply-chain improvement by manufacturer/distributor/retailer, and prices for shipping by truck, download the “SEMA Future Trends – January 2023” for free at www.sema.org/research.
SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) members are invited to a virtual general membership meeting on March 2, at 10:00 a.m. (PST).
Open to employees of SEMA-member companies aged 39 and under, the meeting is the ideal time to get updated on events and resources provided by the network. Participants will connect with the select committee, meet other members from around the United States, and discover the benefits of applying to the FLN Professional Development Program (PDP), taking place May 11–12, at the SEMA Garage in Detroit.
The PDP is led by the renown Dale Carnegie Institute and is being offered to a limited number of FLN members at a significant discount. Find out how the program helps participants take their careers to the next level and why members of the first inaugural class say it’s just what they needed to develop themselves as professional leaders in the automotive aftermarket.
VP Racing and IMSA Collaborate on New Renewable Fuel
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced that their newly engineered R80 renewable fuel is now powering IMSA’s GTP class throughout the 2023 season, starting at the Rolex 24 in Daytona last month.
“VP Racing is excited to be the official fuel for the new IMSA GTP class with our new R80 renewable fuel,” said Bruce Hendel, VP senior vice president – global sales. “We worked closely with IMSA and the OEMs to develop and deliver a new 80% renewable fuel, and now it is racetrack proven.”
Through close collaboration with IMSA and the OEMs, VP Racing engineered R80 specifically for the GTP class to deliver sustainability with performance. To ensure the highest quality components are used, VP globally sourced advanced renewable components used in the R80 formulation. This environmentally friendly, sustainable fuel is designed to help reduce emissions and provide world-class performance. GTP sports cars use a single-source hybrid powertrain and will run exclusively on renewable R80 fuel.
Enterprise and Ford Partner to Expand Collision Engineering Program
Enterprise Holdings has announced a strategic partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund to support the growth of the Collision Engineering Program (CEP). The new industry partnership will expand the CEP to a new college that will become the seventh school to offer the two-year apprenticeship model, founded by Enterprise Holdings Foundation and Ranken Technical College, to attract and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the collision-repair industry. The Collision Engineering Program unites industry and education to foster pathways to rewarding careers in the automotive industry.
The Ford Fund will offer scholarships to CEP students to prevent any barriers to students' academic success. Ford Fund’s support will also fund program startup costs, instructor training and school equipment such as lab materials, and provide students access to toolkits, uniforms, PPE, certifications, tuition assistance, assessments and other student-centered resources at the new school.
With more than 110,000 new collision technicians needed between 2022 and 2026, according to the TechForce Foundation, a national public charity, the CEP is designed in collaboration with the automotive industry and encourages schools and industry leaders to work together to build a new generation of highly skilled, motivated and passionate collision-repair professionals. Throughout the program, students learn in both classrooms and modern collision engineering facilities where industry experts provide real-world education as students work toward earning their associate degree.
The CEP is also partnering with the TechForce Foundation to help administer the Ford Fund scholarships for students enrolled in the program. The program is currently active at six schools across the United States, including Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Collin College in Allen, Texas; Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas; and Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska. The seventh school that will be opened through the Ford Fund's support will be announced in the coming months.
Orders Now Open for New ’23 Jeep Renegade Upland Special Edition
The ’23 Jeep Renegade is getting a bold appearance and fun-to-drive personality with the Upland trim for the ’23 model year. The special edition pairs rugged off-road looks and Jeep 4x4 performance with a well-appointed interior and upgraded content. Also, the Solar Yellow exterior paint color is back, which is available on all Renegade trims, including the Upland edition.
Based on the popular Latitude trim, the Jeep Renegade Upland has a MSRP of $595 for the package. It features a signature matte black hood decal, an off-road-ready front and rear fascia, cornering fog lamps, automatic headlamps, windshield wiper deicer, Gloss Black badging, 17-in. aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires, 7-in. thin-film transistor cluster display, premium topographic black cloth bucket seats with bronze inserts, ambient lighting, Techno-leather steering wheel, plus Uconnect 4 with a standard 8.4-in. touchscreen display and GPS navigation.
The Jeep Renegade Upland 4x4 model comes standard with a 1.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission. The Jeep Active Drive full-time 4x4 automatic system delivers seamless operation in and out of four-wheel drive, at any speed with no driver intervention. The Jeep Selec-Terrain system, providing four modes (Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud) for the best performance in any weather condition, is also standard.
All Renegade models are equipped with more than 70 safety and security features, including standard Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking (not available on Trailhawk or Upland), Blind-spot Monitoring and Active Lane Management System.
In addition to Solar Yellow, the 2023 Jeep Renegade Upland edition is available in Alpine White, black, Colorado Red, Slate Blue and Sting Gray for a total of six exterior color options. The Jeep Renegade Upland edition and Solar Yellow exterior color are now available for order at U.S. Jeep dealers. For more information, visit www.jeep.com.
Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation Adds New Board Members
Kathryn ReinhardtJacki Lutz
The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members, Jacki Lutz and Kathryn Reinhardt, to its Board of Trustees.
According to AACF, Lutz is Global Head of Communications, Training & eCommerce, Auto at Sensata Technologies, and brings 14 years of marketing experience and nine years in the automotive aftermarket. Lutz sits on several other association boards including Young Auto Care Network Group, Women in Auto Care and was the past president of the Automotive Communications Council.
Reinhardt is senior vice president marketing and events for Hemmings. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket and has a track record of delivering unique and effective content and her history of planning and executing marketing campaigns. Reinhardt serves on the SEMA Board of Directors and was awarded SEMA’s Person of the Year and the Top 35 under 35 award, along with a number of other industry accolades.
Forbes Names AAM Among its 500 Best Large Employers in America for Second Consecutive Year
American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) is once again on the Forbes list of America's Best Large Employers. This award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc. The list spans 25 sectors and can be viewed on the Forbes website.
Forbes and Statista selected its list of America’s Best Large Employers 2023 through an independent survey of approximately 45,000 employees working for U.S. companies, each with more than 5,000 employees. For 2023, AAM ranked fourth in the Automotive sector, up from last year. This category includes both automakers and suppliers. This is AAM’s fourth selection as one of America's Best Large Employers, having appeared on the list in 2022, 2018 and 2017.
The survey asked respondents to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. They were also asked to provide any relevant input on other employers in their respective industries, either positive or negative. The final list ranks the 500 large employers that received the most recommendations.
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep and Wagoneer Brands Recognized as ‘Best of’ in Canada in 2023 AutoTrader Awards
Products from both the Jeep brand and its premium extension Wagoneer have been recognized in Canada and named winners in the 2023 AutoTrader Awards. The Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Gladiator midsize pickup were co-named as Best Vehicle for Adventure, while Wagoneer and the extended wheelbase Wagoneer L were honoured as Best Full-Size SUV.
“The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator duo offers iconic capability, a broad array of powertrains, and the rugged go-anywhere attitude that’s cemented it as the de facto choice for adventure seekers everywhere,” said Jodi Lai, editor-in-chief, AutoTrader. “Capable right out of the factory, Jeep SUVs have been helping people get to their next adventure for decades, and it’s that type of dedication to its community that proves the brand is going above and beyond to set the benchmark for its segment.”
The AutoTrader Awards launched in 2019 and, according to an Ipsos Research study, are the most trusted automotive awards in Canada. Every vehicle available for Canadians to buy is eligible for an award. A jury of 20 of the country’s foremost automotive journalists vote on the best vehicles in more than 30 segments.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
Though the next-gen Ranger has already been revealed and has gone on sale in some international markets, it has yet to do so in North America. Luckily, we caught the North American-market Ranger Lariat FX4 completely undisguised as it was undergoing testing on public roads.
The model seen here is a Lariat FX4 trim with the crew cab and short bed. It features a market-specific front fascia, most notably the grille, which should be specific to the Lariat trim level. A set of LED headlights, tow hooks, skid plate, fog lights and FX4 wheels round out the notable elements seen here.
Expect the next-gen Ranger to make its North American debut in the coming months.
The deadline to submit SEMA Show Booth Applications to participate in the Priority Selection Process—where companies choose a Show-floor location based on exhibitor seniority—is April 3.
Companies that submit 2023 SEMA Show Booth Applications after the April 3 deadline will select floor space during the Priority Selection Process, May 1–17, on a space-availability basis. The selection process provides exhibitors with the opportunity to secure the best location for their Show display.
On April 24, each company will be contacted via email with a booth selection date and time range. The email will be sent to the person listed as the exhibitor’s primary SEMA Show contact.
How To Be Prepared. About an hour prior to their selection time, exhibitors are encouraged to prepare by viewing the 2023 Show’s online floorplan. Updated every 30 minutes, exhibitors can see as the Show begins to take shape and monitor their desired section to gain a general idea of where they want to display.
When Check Email. On April 24, each primary contact should take time to check their email, including their “junk” folders. Companies that have not received a correspondence by April 26, or that want to change the primary Show contact listed on the application should email sales@sema.org or call 909-396-0289.
Make the Pick. During the exhibitor’s time to pick, a SEMA Show account representative will call the primary SEMA Show contact and help locate and assign the exhibit space that best suits the company’s needs.
The 2023 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, October 31–November 3, in Las Vegas. For additional information about exhibiting at the SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor.
VP Racing and IMSA Collaborate on New Renewable Fuel
Enterprise and Ford Partner to Expand Collision Engineering Program
Orders Now Open for New ’23 Jeep Renegade Upland Special Edition
