J.D. Power and Associates forecasts that China’s light-vehicle market will reach 15.8 million this year, up 20% from 2009, and will account for nearly one-quarter of global sales. By comparison, the U.S. market will grow only 12% to 11.7 million. As car ownership grows in China, so will the desire for car owners to personalize their vehicles.

“There is a lot of word-of-mouth about the performance aftermarket [in China]," says Steve Kelley, vice president of business development at Performance Motorsports. “It will grow quickly. Luckily, there is a lot of cash available in the bigger cities.”

Kelley will be in Beijing in late September at the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference. He says the conference will help him meet potential distributors that would otherwise take him years to develop on his own. SEMA members participating in the event will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners will offer a chance to learn about their business and the market.

The conference will mark Ernie Boehm's first trip to China. Boehm, national manager of American Eagle Wheel Corp., plans to tout his company's "Made in America" cachet to potential distributors. “If the Chinese companies are going to sell product over here, we figure we should sell product over there,” Boehm says.

American aftermarket performance products carry a prestige and level of quality that domestic Chinese brands do not. T.K. Lee, president of Donz Wheelz Corp., figures that cachet will create demand for his forged wheels among China's luxury-car owners. Lee will also be in Beijing. SEMA members, meanwhile, aren’t waiting until it’s too late to make their mark in China.

ebay Motors became the 20th SEMA member to join the SEMA China Business Development Conference—an innovative, low-cost program for SEMA-member companies to learn about the developing market for specialty products. Other companies traveling to Beijing China to participate on the September 23–26 hotel-based program are:

• AEM Performance Electronics
• American Eagle Wheel Corp.
• AMSOIL INC.
• BDS Suspension
• Bushwacker Inc.
• Comp Performance Group
• DELTA TECH Industries LLC
• Eibach Spring Inc.
• Holley Performance Products Inc. USA
• Injen Technology Co. Ltd.
• K&N Engineering Inc.
• NITTO Tires
• Mr. Gasket/Prestolite Performance
• Performance Motorsports
• Rennen International
• SCT Performance LLC
• Sheen Coatings Co.
• ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH
• Wheel Pros

And it's not too late to join them. Register for the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at LindaS@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

J.D. Power and Associates forecasts that China’s light-vehicle market will reach 15.8 million this year, up 20% from 2009, and will account for nearly one-quarter of global sales. By comparison, the U.S. market will grow only 12% to 11.7 million. As car ownership grows in China, so will the desire for car owners to personalize their vehicles.

“There is a lot of word-of-mouth about the performance aftermarket [in China]," says Steve Kelley, vice president of business development at Performance Motorsports. “It will grow quickly. Luckily, there is a lot of cash available in the bigger cities.”

Kelley will be in Beijing in late September at the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference. He says the conference will help him meet potential distributors that would otherwise take him years to develop on his own. SEMA members participating in the event will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners will offer a chance to learn about their business and the market.

The conference will mark Ernie Boehm's first trip to China. Boehm, national manager of American Eagle Wheel Corp., plans to tout his company's "Made in America" cachet to potential distributors. “If the Chinese companies are going to sell product over here, we figure we should sell product over there,” Boehm says.

American aftermarket performance products carry a prestige and level of quality that domestic Chinese brands do not. T.K. Lee, president of Donz Wheelz Corp., figures that cachet will create demand for his forged wheels among China's luxury-car owners. Lee will also be in Beijing. SEMA members, meanwhile, aren’t waiting until it’s too late to make their mark in China.

ebay Motors became the 20th SEMA member to join the SEMA China Business Development Conference—an innovative, low-cost program for SEMA-member companies to learn about the developing market for specialty products. Other companies traveling to Beijing China to participate on the September 23–26 hotel-based program are:

• AEM Performance Electronics
• American Eagle Wheel Corp.
• AMSOIL INC.
• BDS Suspension
• Bushwacker Inc.
• Comp Performance Group
• DELTA TECH Industries LLC
• Eibach Spring Inc.
• Holley Performance Products Inc. USA
• Injen Technology Co. Ltd.
• K&N Engineering Inc.
• NITTO Tires
• Mr. Gasket/Prestolite Performance
• Performance Motorsports
• Rennen International
• SCT Performance LLC
• Sheen Coatings Co.
• ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH
• Wheel Pros

And it's not too late to join them. Register for the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at LindaS@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

SEMA members have the opportunity to exhibit project vehicles at the upcoming Automechanika Frankfurt taking place in Germany this September 14–19. The limited slots will be available on a space-available basis. Interested? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

The Automechanika Frankfurt show, which began in 1971, now draws exhibitors and buyers from around the globe at this biennial event. In addition to the Frankfurt event, there are a dozen other Automechanika events including in Dubai and Moscow. Automechanika is also a partner with SEMA, Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) in the annual PAACE Automechanika Show, which is held each July in Mexico City.

In just a few months, specialty-equipment manufacturers will descend on Las Vegas for the annual SEMA Show, providing qualified buyers with a can’t-miss opportunity to check out new products, connect with industry suppliers and peers, stay up to date on industry trends and attend educational seminars. Those are only four of the most common reasons for attending the SEMA Show, according to Tom Myroniak, SEMA vice president of marketing and member services.

Myroniak led an exhibitor training seminar about how to bring buyers to your booth at the first-ever SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit at the Las Vegas Convention Center in May. He said that it was critical for exhibitors to understand the goals of buyers prior to the Show in order to capture their attention. [Read more]

In just a few months, specialty-equipment manufacturers will descend on Las Vegas for the annual SEMA Show, providing qualified buyers with a can’t-miss opportunity to check out new products, connect with industry suppliers and peers, stay up to date on industry trends and attend educational seminars. Those are only four of the most common reasons for attending the SEMA Show, according to Tom Myroniak, SEMA vice president of marketing and member services.

Myroniak led an exhibitor training seminar about how to bring buyers to your booth at the first-ever SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit at the Las Vegas Convention Center in May. He said that it was critical for exhibitors to understand the goals of buyers prior to the Show in order to capture their attention. [Read more]

Stu Hilborn did not build the sleek streamliner that has become so closely identified with him and his pioneering efforts in developing fuel injection. No, the car was originally built by a man named Bill Warth, who raced it in Southern California’s dry lakes in 1939 and 1940. Then powered by a four-cylinder Ford engine modified with Winfield Speed Equipment, the ‘liner reached speeds of more than 130 mph. [Read more]

The SEMA Show is a once-a-year epicenter for automotive accessories. It’s more than 1,500 exhibitors offering their best products and services to more than 100,000 attendees. The must-see attraction for many is the one-of-a-kind vehicles on display throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center. For others, however, the real eye candy is getting a look at the tools and equipment that builders are using to create those masterpieces. [Read more]

The SEMA Show is a once-a-year epicenter for automotive accessories. It’s more than 1,500 exhibitors offering their best products and services to more than 100,000 attendees. The must-see attraction for many is the one-of-a-kind vehicles on display throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center. For others, however, the real eye candy is getting a look at the tools and equipment that builders are using to create those masterpieces. [Read more]

A photo gallery of Mini Coopers from Aries Automotive, Double Down Motorsporrs, Auto-Tech Interiors Inc., ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, ARP Inc., Soundpex Electronics and Motormusicmag.com from the 2009 SEMA Show.

A photo gallery of Mini Coopers from Aries Automotive, Double Down Motorsporrs, Auto-Tech Interiors Inc., ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, ARP Inc., Soundpex Electronics and Motormusicmag.com from the 2009 SEMA Show.