By SEMA Editors

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

MotorTrend Names Ford F-150 Lightning 2023 Truck of the Year

MotorTrend has announced that the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning has been named the 2023 MotorTrend Truck of the Year. As the best-riding, best-handling and best-driving F-150 yet, the Lightning is the first EV pickup to appeal directly to the existing truck market. It does so with a trove of new engineering accomplishments wrapped in a practical, recognizable package truck owners have come to trust.

“The F-150 Lightning’s instantaneous torque and standout ride and handling make it without a doubt the best truck Ford has ever made. If that feels like a bold statement, consider that amongst our judges, the Lightning won Truck of the Year by unanimous decision—the first EV truck to convince all judges across the board,” said MotorTrend Group Head of Editorial Ed Loh. “The Ford F-150 Lightning is no less than a milestone achievement in the history of American mobility.”  

The Ford F-150 was judged the 2023 Truck of the Year by excelling in each of MotorTrend’s six key criteria: safety, efficiency, value, advancement in design, engineering excellence and performance of intended function.

Among the highlights are its incredible value among EV trucks, including the fact every Lightning comes with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain. Eight 120-volt outlets are included to power a job site, and the standard four-door Supercrew cab style maximizes space for hauling coworkers, gear or both. Elsewhere inside, the truck features a standard 12-in. infotainment screen with built-in navigation and route-planning software to keep the Lightning charged on longer trips, as well as Ford’s CoPilot 360 2.0 safety features. The truck also has a full center console and front bucket seats on all models, and the huge frunk under the hood provides tons of additional lockable storage. The F-150 Lightning has the ability to power homes for multiple days and multiple power ports for charging devices or running high-draw electrical tools and appliances.

For more in-depth analysis on why MotorTrend named the Ford F-150 Lightning its 2023 Truck of the Year, visit the Truck of the Year award article. 

Chris Douglas Named President, CEO of Edelbrock Group

Chris Douglas has been named president and CEO of the Edelbrock Group. Douglas, who was most recently chief commercial officer for the Olive Branch, Mississippi-based company, also has served in various capacities with SEMA, including on its Board of Directors. Prior to Edelbrock, Douglas held a number of executive positions at COMP Performance Group from 2009 to 2020, including vice president of marketing, COO and finally president.

Belmont Abbey College Announces MBA in Motorsports Management  

During a press conference at the 2022 PRI Trade Show, Belmont Abbey College—the private Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution in Belmont, North Carolina—announced the addition of a new master’s degree concentration in motorsports management. Under the direction of the business and motorsport management departments, the new degree concentration is designed for completion within 12 months. It will focus on management, finance, marketing, law, analytics and business strategy, with courses including Revenue Generation in Motorsport, Event Management in Motorsport, and Motorsport Marketing and Communications. For more information, visit bac.edu/mba.

Kyle Fickler Joins ProCharger

Lenexa, Kansas-based Accessible Technologies, the parent company of ProCharger and Inovair, has added Kyle Fickler to the ProCharger motorsports and sales team. Fickler previously served as the director of sales and business development at Driven Racing Oil. Prior, he held leadership roles at Aeromotive and Weld Racing. He is also a member of the SEMA Board of Directors and will become chairman of the Board this summer.

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.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) named Cece Herrell Rogers as the network’s newest spotlight member. Rogers is a senior event coordinator at FM3 Performance Marketing, a full-service marketing firm that specializes in high-performance motorsports and automotive aftermarket experiential marketing solutions.

Get to know Rogers in her interview with SEMA below:

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Cece Herrell Rogers: You attract more flies with honey than vinegar. Always be kind! I am a Southern girl, so this saying has always stuck with me in every aspect of life.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

CHR: I am a car enthusiast through and through. I grew up hanging out in my dad’s garage when I was little, just admiring his cars (his ’69 Z28 Camaro with a DZ302 is my favorite). Now, to be around others that share that same passion is amazing!

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

CHR: Saturday is CAT-ur-day. If I am not at a car event, I am at home hanging with my husband and our four cats!

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

CHR: I always make sure I do my research and know all the facts.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?

CHR: Elfi Duntov! She is known as the first lady of Corvette and I would love to just get to hear her insight on those early years of America's sports car!

Fill out an FLN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on FLN's social media, SEMA News and FLN member updates.

IHRA to Debut Motorcycle Class in 2023

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced a new motorcycle class has been added to the 2023 IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals at Holly Springs Motorsports in Holly Springs, Missouri. The World Championship will now include the ET Motorcycle alongside Top (Box), Mod (No Box), Sportsman, and Junior Dragster classes.

“There are so many great motorcycle drag racers at our member tracks throughout North America. It’s time they’re recognized properly and have their own opportunity to compete against each other for an IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Championship and a prestigious IHRA Ironman trophy,” IHRA Owner and CEO Larry Jeffers said.

Additional details will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit ihra.com.

Atturo Tire Corp. Renews Partnership With Crossland Offroad Racing for 2023 Season

Atturo Tire Corp. has announced that it is continuing its partnership with off-road racer Chuck Crossland with a collaboration that will support Crossland’s racing efforts in Ultra4, Best in The Desert and SCORE INTERNATIONAL. Crossland’s first race will be the annual King of The Hammers, Every Man Challenge race in Johnson Valley, California, February 10, competing in the 4800 class.

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the Section 232 tariffs imposed in 2018 by President Trump did not qualify under the claim of U.S. national security. The ruling applies to steel and aluminum imported from China, Turkey, Norway and Switzerland. The tariffs were global in scope when first imposed but the United States has subsequently entered into agreements with many other countries to set metal import quotas and not challenge tariffs previously imposed. These countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico and South Korea. SEMA has opposed the tariffs since they hurt U.S. companies and consumers and have failed to address global metal overproduction, primarily by China.

Although it has taken four years to secure a ruling from the WTO, the issue remains unsettled. The U.S. Trade Representative stated that it does not intend to lift the disputed tariffs on the basis that the WTO has no authority to question the claim of a national security threat. The United States has 60 days to appeal or accept the ruling. Even if appealed, the WTO’s Appellate Body is currently not hearing cases since the United States has blocked new nominations to fill vacancies on the board. The United States contends that the WTO must first make reforms to its dispute settlement system.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

During the 2022 PRI Show in Indianapolis, thousands rallied to “Save our Racecars” at Lucas Oil Stadium to show their support for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act and PRI’s Political Action Committee (PAC).

The 2022 Save our Racecars Rally, emceed by Johnny D, featured appearances by members of the Street Outlaws, Sage “Donkmaster” Thomas and Brent Leivestad from PFI Speed. Nearly $40,000 was raised for PRI’s PAC, including proceeds from a live auction featuring ticket packages to racing events, memorabilia signed by the Street Outlaws and ride-along experiences.

The PRI PAC allows individual PRI Members to contribute personal funds to help elect lawmakers who support the racing industry’s positions and priorities, such as the RPM Act. The RPM Act is common-sense, bipartisan legislation to protect Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated racecars and the motorsports-parts industry’s ability to sell products that enable racers to compete. The bill clarifies that it is legal to make emissions-related changes to a street vehicle for the purpose of converting it into a racecar used exclusively in competition. It also confirms that it is legal to produce, market and install racing equipment.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.

By Ashley Reyes

The biggest obstacle women face on the path to senior leadership is getting the first step up to manage, according to Lean In’s Women in the Workplace Study.

For every 100 men promoted from entry level to manager, only 87 women are promoted, and only 82 women of color are promoted. As a result, men significantly outnumber women at the manager level, which consequently means that there are less women to promote into senior leadership positions.

The 2023 SBN Women’s Leadership Forum will bring women together to enhance their professional development and leadership skills, and feature targeted seminars from top speakers and experts, hands-on workshops and networking.

To ensure that professional women in the automotive aftermarket have the tools and resources needed to advance in their careers, the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) is hosting its 2023 SBN Women’s Leadership Forum, March 1–3, 2023, in Costa Mesa, California.

Registration is open now at www.sema.org/sbn-wlf, and will close February 2, 2023. The three-day comprehensive leadership program will bring women together to enhance their professional development and leadership skills, and feature targeted seminars from top speakers and experts, hands-on workshops and networking.

“This year’s keynote sessions will focus on futuristic-next level leadership trends and how to elevate one’s impact and influence,” said SBN Director Nicole Bradle. “The intimate setting is unlike any other offered in the industry and will provide women the opportunity to share their common challenges so they can inspire and support one another.”

A complete event program will be available in late December. Registration is limited. SBN members can register at a reduced rate of $599, compared to non-SEMA members at $799. Participants must make their own travel arrangements. Secure your seat today!

Tomorrow is the final opportunity for media to secure a priority schedule for the 2023 MPMC Media Trade Conference, taking place in person on January 24–26, at the Embassy Suites Anaheim South in Garden Grove, California.

Unlike traditional trade shows, where manufacturers are focused on buyers and making sales, MPMC Media Trade Conference exhibitors attend to conduct quality media interviews.

By registering before December 16, media are given first priority to select the exhibitors they would like to meet with and will receive the best possible schedule.

• Unlike traditional trade shows, where manufacturers are focused on buyers and making sales, MPMC Media Trade Conference exhibitors attend to conduct quality media interviews.
• There is no fee for media to participate.
• Media can attend one, two or all three days—depending on what works best for their schedule.
• Media can select only the manufacturers that match their readership/audience.
• Complimentary lunch is provided each day.

Register today to secure quality, private meetings (up to 14 each day) with motorsports parts manufacturers.

For questions or more information, click here or contact Juan Torres at juant@sema.org.

  By Mike Imlay

The automotive industry—and consequently the aftermarket—has entered a period of unprecedented change. Emerging technologies; new ways of doing business; and market, social and governmental forces are creating a barrage of opportunities and challenges for our industry. As a trade organization, SEMA is committed to helping members navigate industry trends so they can future-proof their businesses, succeed and prosper.

What trends, challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the aftermarket in 2023 and beyond? SEMA News turned to council and network leaders representing our major industry sectors for answers. Shutterstock.com

SEMA councils and networks play a vital role in this mission. They offer members a variety of niche-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular market segment. They also serve as “think-tanks” to help identify segment needs and priorities.

This article is the second in a two-part series in which SEMA News queried the leaders of each SEMA council and network for a SWOT analysis of their industry segments. We also asked about council and network initiatives targeting their industry segments. (The first part appeared in our December 2022 issue.) What follows are insights into the hot-rod, performance motorsports and truck and off-roading categories, as well as trends relating to emerging technologies. The statements below are edited for clarity and conciseness.

Emergent Tech and Product-Development Trends

Kelleigh Ash
Select Committee Member,
Emerging Trends & Technologies Network (ETTN)

Our industry has experienced rapid innovation and development over the past year. Going into 2023 those trends will only continue their increase in velocity. We’ve witnessed unprecedented advances in such key areas as autonomous driving; electric and hybrid vehicles; artificial intelligence; revolutionary and improved biofuels; new and advanced safety features; the most efficient and powerful internal combustion engines (ICEs) ever produced; an increase in availability and choices for sustainable materials; and more.

The aftermarket has the unique distinction of being the ground floor for these exciting new and emerging technology opportunities—and the challenge of keeping up with it all while navigating the ever-evolving regulations that accompany them. ETTN is here to serve our industry’s engineering and product-development professionals by providing resources and solutions to address these emerging vehicle trends and technologies.

One of our larger initiatives—the ETTN Networking, Education, Resources and Development (N.E.R.D.) Symposium—was launched in 2022. The symposium is designed to benefit small, medium and large SEMA-member companies by connecting their engineers with service providers in one-to-one meetings—allowing them to attend in-depth education sessions led by industry experts, providing networking opportunities with other engineers with similar needs, and addressing shared topics of challenge and concern. Make sure to watch for the 2023 N.E.R.D. Symposium!

Trends in the Hot-Rod Market

Amy Fitzgerald
Select Committee Member,
Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)

Hot rods continue to be staples of the aftermarket industry. The most positive market trend that we have seen is more vehicles on the road. Enthusiasts are participating in more cruises and driving to events, as opposed to simply hauling trailer queens. This has meant a positive influx in the need for restoration parts and upgrade components. A drivable vehicle is a much different beast than the trailer queen.

As for current challenges, like the rest of the segments in the automotive industry, our member companies are struggling with raw-material availability, shipping delays, and employee-retention issues—not to mention finding employees, period.

The hot-rod segment is always evolving. As a younger generation becomes more involved in the industry, we are finding they are modifying and “hot rodding” a totally different kind of vehicle than what we were 20–30, or even 5–10, years ago. The availability of modern upgrades and components has changed the definition of “hot rod” to encompass a much wider range of vehicle years and styles.

We are hoping to present some education events in which members can learn from industry peers about what has and hasn’t worked in their businesses. We are asking membership to let us know what they want to discuss and learn about. This will allow the HRIA select committee to address the issues, questions and problems the membership is seeking guidance on.

“We are Hot Rod!” HRIA is an incredible group of small businesses with the same goal. We all want to keep pushing the limits to go faster, look cooler and produce amazing parts and products to keep the aftermarket going and see our hobby continue for generations to come.

HRIA is dedicated to assisting our membership with resources for daily operations as well as long-term planning and everything in between. HRIA is a community that works together to help each other grow each of our businesses. We are each other’s best resource for business success.

Motorsports and Performance Parts Trends

Melissa Scoles
Chair, Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC)

Racing is being enjoyed by more and more individuals, and it’s fun to see younger generations becoming more engaged. With many people renewing their focus on hobbies, and more automotive conversations due to the electric-vehicle (EV) evolution, there seems to be a renewed energy around motorsports. We’re hopeful that these positive activities and reactions will overcome any setbacks from the economy.

Passing the RPM Act would increase our segment’s opportunities. The EPA is taking a stance against many in the motorsports industry, and it’s important that we stand together to keep our industry strong.

A plethora of changes in vehicle technologies is creating opportunities for new and existing motorsports manufacturers to create new products and solutions for racers and enthusiasts. For example, EVs have a lot of performance potential. We can see a future where the hot rodders and racers of tomorrow are upgrading their EVs with more power and larger battery packs to make their economy cars fast—just like past generations did with motor swaps and power adders! The new technology will be a challenge, but that’s part of the excitement of pushing forward.

MPMC is best known for the Media Trade Conference held each year in January. This conference provides the opportunity for motorsports parts manufacturers to meet individually with different media partners to discuss a variety of topics, including the changing motorsports and aftermarket environments, new-vehicle technologies, challenges and more. Additionally, we provide several learning opportunities throughout the year dedicated to helping motorsports parts manufacturers. We’re also working to create more meaningful networking opportunities so that, as manufacturers, we can work with and learn from each other in our evolving markets.

Our segment of the automotive aftermarket is full of innovative and passionate people and companies. They are fantastic problem-solvers. These are the companies and people who can be ideal partners for products from design to release, and any step in between, if you’re looking for partners.

SEMA is a very powerful association that has thousands of members with countless ideas of where to focus the association’s attention. The MPMC is a voice to ensure that your best interests are represented to SEMA leadership. The MPMC is led by industry professionals who are continually donating their time and efforts to deliver information, events and opportunities that benefit you and your business. We welcome you to visit www.sema.org/mpmc for more information, to join MPMC or to contact us directly.

Truck and Off-Roading Issues and Trends

Troy Wirtz
Chair, Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA)

The Truck & Off-Road Alliance’s mission statement is “to serve, engage and unite the truck and off-road community through networking, education and outreach initiatives to provide value and help our members succeed.” The TORA select committee meets on a regular basis, and we are always working toward adding value to our members. We are an excellent voice within the SEMA association for sharing issues you may have in your business. Our goal is to help industry folks thrive in the ever-challenging
marketplace.

The off-road community is currently facing—and will continue to face—challenges focused on regulatory issues. There are groups that want to close trails, as they perceive damage is taking place by off-roaders. Land abuse from vehicles and trash are the main concerns. TORA realizes that keeping our trails open is a top priority as this impacts so many people throughout the industry. We are partnering with organizations like the Off Road Business Association (ORBA) and Tread Lightly! to unify our approach promoting healthy land-use awareness. Many people are unaware of the efforts SEMA and its councils put forth promoting and supporting our industry. SEMA has staff at our nation’s capital focusing year-round on our industry needs.

The TORA council generally holds six regional events per year as a “thank you” to our members. These events are held in conjunction with other industry and enthusiast events. In the past we have held these at King of the Hammers, Easter Jeep Safari and the Keystone Big Show. If you haven’t attended one yet, you really need to! It’s a great place to network with other people in the industry and discuss what is new and exciting.

Every year at the SEMA Show, TORA also holds a happy hour and reception. We also place six to 10 featured vehicles to represent the various parts of our off-road and truck segment. I would encourage members to submit their builds early for 2023 since it is becoming more and more competitive to get your ride featured.

If you’re not a TORA member yet, I would strongly suggest you sign up soon to get the latest notifications and stay up-to-date in our industry.

Editor’s Note: The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of our council and network sources and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of SEMA or its Board of Directors.

  The following message is from SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola

Dear SEMA Member:

A strong SEMA Board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well.  As a member of the Association, we are currently seeking your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.

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

• Chairman-elect (one open seat)
• Distributor/Retailer (one open seat)

Please take a moment and tell us 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, please include brief 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 on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. Please complete and submit the nomination form.

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.

Sincerely,

Mike Spagnola
SEMA President and CEO