Keystone Automotive Operations announced it will open the 2023 BIG Show Presented by Weather Guard—its annual customer event—with a live demonstration showcasing the 2022 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition finalists and winners. The annual customer-only, business-to-business networking event, to be held for the first time in Colorado at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, February 10–11, will feature receptions, an array of automotive aftermarket exhibitor displays, new products, show vehicles and education, along with substantial show-only sales and promotions.

Led by Emmy Award-winning host, Chris Jacobs, best known for his work on “Overhaulin’” and Mecum Auctions as well as a number of Discovery live specials, the interactive 2023 Battle of the Builders Panel will provide an exclusive, insiders perspective into what it takes to compete and win on the world’s largest automotive stage.

Longtime automotive aftermarket industry veteran, SEMA Vice President of Marketing RJ de Vera—a former Battle of the Builders judge for many years—will be introduced to provide his insight along with the history and background of the competition as it has evolved over the years.

“The SEMA Show and The BIG Show are about building meaningful connections; connecting jobbers and shops with the suppliers and manufacturers whose products they install on customers vehicles every day,” said de Vera. “SEMA is proud that this competition creates an opportunity for all builders at every level from multiple aspects of the business to be recognized for their creativity, skill and dedication. While this panel represents some of the industry's elite builders, their efforts in overcoming challenges on the path to accomplishing their goals will resonate with each attendee.”

Joining Jacobs and de Vera will be two-time Battle of the Builders champions Mike and Jim Ring of Ringbrothers, who captured the title at the 2022 SEMA Show with their one-of-a-kind ’48 Chevy Loadmaster Truck. Having also taken the overall prize in 2019, Ringbrothers also took top honors in the Off-Road and Truck category at last year’s Show with their custom K5 Blazer.

Representing the future of customization on the stage will be 2022 Battle of the Builders Young Guns winner and overall finalist Josh Michels. At just 22 years old, Michels rescued a ’66 Corvette from a field in Wisconsin and transformed the classic into a modern supercar to take top honors in his class in 2022. Rounding out the panel will be Russell Built Fabrications’ TJ Russell, who parlayed his expertise in vehicle development and customization along with his passion for off-road racing to take the class win in the Sport Compact, Luxury and Exotics division last year with his ’91 Porsche “Baja” 911.

“The SEMA Battle of the Builders is the greatest custom vehicle competition on the world’s largest automotive aftermarket stage,” said Keystone Automotive Operations Vice President Category Management & Marketing and a member of the SEMA Board of Directors Larry Montante. “Each of the individuals on this panel, representing multiple facets of vehicle building and customization has a unique story to share. We are looking forward to hearing their perspective on their motivation, how they approach their business and sharing with attendees how entering and winning a competition like Battle of the Builders can help attract customers by showcasing their talents with these high-profile builds.”

The SEMA Battle of the Builders Panel will be held on February 10, at 4:30 p.m., at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in the Aurora Ballroom for registered BIG Show attendees only. Show attendees will also have a chance to visit with the panelists throughout the event while viewing the Ringbrothers’ 2022 winning vehicles along with Greg Ward’s ’71 Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser—a Top 4 finalist in the 4-Wheel Drive & Off-Road category.

For more information about SEMA Battle of the Builders, visit www.semashow.com/botb. For more information about the Keystone BIG Show, click here.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA is planning its 2023 education program and has issued a call for speakers for its annual SEMA Show—taking place in Las Vegas, October 31–November 3—and its year-round virtual education program. Dynamic and entertaining presenters now have until February 10 to apply to share new skills and ideas targeted to the automotive aftermarket at www.sema.org/speakers.

Organizers are seeking experts who can facilitate thought-provoking, forward-thinking seminars that will help industry members take their businesses and careers to the next level.

SEMA’s year-round virtual program provides relevant, engaging and inspiring information on the industry’s complex issues and topics through online events and informational webinars. Likewise, the educational seminars make up one of the key pillars of the SEMA Show, where thousands of industry professionals come to learn new business strategies.

Topics of focus for 2023 include:

• Aftermarket updates and future trends
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Electric vehicles
• Emerging and executive leadership
• Legal and regulatory
• Sales and marketing
• Small-business strategy
• Vehicle technology
• Specific industry segments

Speaker proposals for the 2023 SEMA Show must be submitted by February 10. Virtual education proposals can be submitted at any time throughout the year. Submit proposals at www.sema.org/speakers.

For more details, contact Gary Vigil, senior manager of professional development, at garyv@sema.org or 909-978-6738.

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.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Automotive Technician
Custom Trucks Unlimited

Custom Trucks Unlimited is hiring an automotive technician responsible for installation of aftermarket accessories, including lift and leveling kits, alignments, mount and balance wheels/tires, bed covers, grille guards, bumper replacements, winch and winch mounts, cab lighting, LED lighting, hitches, step bars, toolboxes, cargo-management systems, fiberglass products, etc. Candidates must have at least three years’ experience.

Test Asset Engineer
Nostrum High Performance

Nostrum High Performance is hiring a test asset engineer responsible for the health and life of critical test assets. The candidate will be responsible for both production and development testing of Nostrum products, including test asset health, test procedures, characterization testing, performance testing and benchmarking. The candidate will conduct hands-on development and validation testing. The candidate will also be responsible for the design, build, qualification and maintenance of the testing assets, including fuel injector test benches, fuel pump test benches, leak test assets, component test benches and additional test equipment. The candidate will be responsible for new test equipment design engineering, including sourcing, building and qualification. The candidate will work with engineering staff and suppliers and will work directly with the calibration and controls engineers. This position will require up to 10% travel to various domestic and international locations. 

Vehicle Fabricator
Brandmotion

Brandmotion is hiring a vehicle fabricator to build-up prototype autonomous vehicles as well as prototype installations on factory vehicles. An individual in this position will work closely with product development. The successful candidate for this role has a self-starting mentality, fully developed fabrication skills to influence both engineers and technicians and enjoys working hands-on with prototype vehicles.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

SEMA News—March 2023

INDUSTRY INSIDER

By Douglas McColloch

10 Questions for Larry Chen

As an automotive writer, photographer, videographer, racer and builder, few in the specialty-equipment industry can rival Larry Chen for versatility. Best known for his work with Hoonigan, he is also the official series photographer for the Formula Drift racing series and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. You can find his automotive vlog at Hoonigan, where he hosts a web series called "AutoFocus," or at YouTube, where his channel lists more than 440,000 subscribers. To recognize his contributions to the industry across a variety of media, he was named SEMA's first-ever Influencer of the Year at the 2022 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet.

Recently we spent some time with Chen to learn more about this uniquely talented individual.

SEMA News: What's your latest project? What's in your garage/driveway/studio, etc.?

Larry Chen: My latest project is my 2022 SEMA Show build. I built a GR86 for the Toyota booth. It’s a simple drift and street car. It pretty much has every single bolt-on that exists for that car, including an HKS Supercharger.

Over the years I’ve just been collecting cars that I love to drive. For off-road, I have a stick-shift supercharged FJ Cruiser, and a wide-body Toyota Tundra. I have a 350z that I built into a drift car so I could learn how to drift. I have an A90 Toyota Supra that I use as a camera chase vehicle. I have a 170 SR20DET-powered 240z as well as a ’90 Nissan Skyline GTR. I have a 996 turbo as well for a fun street car.

SN: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

LC: My first job was fixing computers and networks. I did house calls, and I went to businesses to work on their computers. I learned how hard it was to earn money as an entrepreneur.

SN: Besides your photographic work, you’re now a builder. How did that come about?

LC: This all came from a love for cars. I initially got into the hobby from tinkering on my car and driving at the local race tracks with friends. I got into taking photos because it was my way of being around car culture, even though I was not a mechanic or professional driver.

SN: Talk about your SEMA Show build. What kind of statement did you want to make, and how well do you think it came out?

LC: I think it came out great. To prove to everyone that it was a functional drift car, I actually took it to the track to burn some rubber three days before the Show. I was pretty careful, so I didn’t break anything. I just wanted to build something within my skill level. It’s not the craziest car as it only makes 300 hp, but it’s very special to me as my third SEMA build.

SN: What have you learned from your years in the industry that you didn’t know at the start of your career?

LC: I’ve learned so much over the years. I’ve been shooting cars for 17 years now. The most important thing is to maintain and build relationships with people in the industry. There are folks that I’ve been working with since I first picked up a camera, and it’s incredible to have those people you can rely on.

SN: Describe your first SEMA Show. What do you remember most about it?

LC: My first SEMA Show was in 2006. I remember I bummed a ride from a few friends and I actually slept on the floor of a hotel room the entire week. I was so blown away by the cars that were there at the Show. It was eye-opening to see as a car photographer and since then I have not missed a single Show.

SN: What’s your daily driver, and what do you like most about it?

LC: My daily driver is an LC200 Lexus Land Cruiser. I love it because it’s like driving a couch. It’s also very capable as a production vehicle and it’s great off-road. I actually took it on some nice trails in Moab.

SN: Say you’re shooting a cover for Hot Rod. How do you prepare, what kind of gear do you bring, and how much time does it take?

LC: It depends on what we are shooting and where, but generally speaking I have a pretty standard kit for car photography. I’ve only used Canon cameras, and that has certainly paid off for me as I am the only car photographer on their team of professional photographers, also known as “Explorers of Light.”

SN: For someone looking to break into the business, what advice would you give them?

LC: I would say to find an internship to learn as you go. There is a huge shortage of passionate people in the industry. It seems like so many people see what we do from the outside, but they don’t want to put in the hard work.

SN: When you’re not working, where will we find you, and what will you be doing?

LC: You will probably find me hanging out with my family. Or at the track driving my cars or tinkering with them in my shop.

By Ashley Reyes

New videos are available from the recent SEMA Show Education Program. Visit www.semashow.com/education-videos to view two popular sessions touching on diversity and inclusion in the automotive aftermarket; the sessions will leave you more aware and inspired.

DEI Business Panel: Diversity in the Aftermarket Industry

Learn about contributions from people of color in the automotive aftermarket industry as panelists reel you into a rich discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). You’ll hear from Alan Williams, general manager of quality systems and planning, Toyota Motor North America Inc; Carmen Belanger-Martin, CEO, AM Hot Rod Glass; Chris Harris, co-founder, African American Racers Association; Lisa Lunsford, co-founder and CEO, GS3 Global; and Edward Hightower, CEO and president, Lordstown Motors Corp., as they share how to accelerate the advancements of people of color in the automotive aftermarket.

Keynote With NHRA Champion, Antron Brown

In his inspiring SEMA Show Education Keynote, Brown shares his favorite industry experiences and life lessons, challenging you to aim higher and imagine new ways of thinking.

Keep visiting www.semashow.com/education-videos as more seminars are released each month.

By Ashley Reyes

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.

RSVP for the meeting now.

By Ashley Reyes

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.

Click here for event registration details.

By Ashley Reyes

New research from SEMA finds that new-vehicle sales finished at 13.7 million units in 2022, roughly 1.2 million units below 2021 levels. Due to supply shortages, high prices and rising interest rates, it will likely take until 2025 before things return to pre-pandemic levels.

The findings come from the "SEMA Future Trends – January 2023” report, which provides a detailed analysis of where the industry is headed, including updated forecasts on the future of the specialty-equipment market, overall economy and vehicle trends. Filled with 69 pages of data, the report is a go-to guide for SEMA members to make more informed business decisions this year.  

Available for download at www.sema.org/research, the report includes information on:

• How industry performance has changed over the past few years. 
• Where the U.S. economy is going. 
• Insights on automotive sales and vehicle trends. 
• How the industry is evaluating the EV market.
• New data on aftermarket trends and opportunities.

Additionally, members can access the recorded webinar featuring SEMA research analysts explaining what the report findings mean. Start discovering new business opportunities.

Watch the webinar and download the report now.