By SEMA News Editors

Content Creator Spotlight: Niles Lee

Instagram: @Niles_19k_Lee

TikTok: @Niles.Lee

Facebook: @Niles.19k.Lee

Follower counts: 325k on Instagram; 284k on TikTok; 341k on Facebook

Focus: Fabrication, education and weird engine swaps

Niles Lee, a veteran of the Marine Corps, discovered his own enthusiasm for turning wrenches during the pandemic and has since started creating content to help others develop their own passion for cars. Through his various social channels, Lee is not only passing on his knowledge to younger viewers, but aiming to preserve the industry for the next generation of wrenchers. He also recently joined SEMA/PRI in Washington, D.C., in the fight to stop the ban on internal combustion engines (ICE).

Get to know Lee in his interview with SEMA News below:

SEMA News: How did you get into the automotive industry?

Niles Lee: My dad was always working on his cars when I was growing up! I had zero interest in it until one day my truck broke down. During the lockdowns, I had the time to fix it, so I called him almost every day for advice. Once it was fixed, I realized I really enjoyed turning wrenches, so I decided to stick with it. A few years later, I decided to start creating content about it.
 

SN: What's been your biggest motivator?

NL: Definitely the fans of the channel. I'm grateful they love watching the content and are supportive, even when I'm cutting up these cars!

SN: What's been your favorite aspect about being part of the automotive community?

NL: Working with SEMA and amazing people who care about the industry, like the incredible Lauren Wilbor. Also, seeing the passion people put into their work, and buying vintage parts from old-timers while checking out their collections.
 

SN: As a content creator in the industry, how do you hope to make an impact on your audience?

NL: As a veteran, I was a bit lost after leaving the Marine Corps. I was really lucky that my parents took me back in. Becoming a mechanic taught me a lot of life lessons, like how to use tools, the importance of attention to detail, and how to build something from nothing. I want to pass that knowledge on to my younger viewers because I think it's something some of them might need to learn in their lives. That's why I focus on the "how-to" aspect of building cars.
 

SN: Why is advocacy important to you?

NL: I think about my future kids and what the industry will look like for them when they're my age. I want them to have the same opportunities I've had, which is why right-to-repair is super important to me, as well as preserving the "car guy" way of life.

SN: What is on the horizon for you in 2025? Anything you're looking forward to?

NL: Oh boy! A 2JZ-swapped '56 Chevy? A Godzilla-swapped '68 Torino? A 392 Hemi-swapped '66 Cutlass? [I have] tons of weird projects in the works!

Are you a passionate automotive or racing content creator? Do you want to get involved with SEMA/PRI and spread the word about important advocacy initiatives? Contact Lauren Wilbor from the SEMA Washington, D.C., office at laurenpw@sema.org.

By SEMA News Editors

Content Creator Spotlight: Niles Lee

Instagram: @Niles_19k_Lee

TikTok: @Niles.Lee

Facebook: @Niles.19k.Lee

Follower counts: 325k on Instagram; 284k on TikTok; 341k on Facebook

Focus: Fabrication, education and weird engine swaps

Niles Lee, a veteran of the Marine Corps, discovered his own enthusiasm for turning wrenches during the pandemic and has since started creating content to help others develop their own passion for cars. Through his various social channels, Lee is not only passing on his knowledge to younger viewers, but aiming to preserve the industry for the next generation of wrenchers. He also recently joined SEMA/PRI in Washington, D.C., in the fight to stop the ban on internal combustion engines (ICE).

Get to know Lee in his interview with SEMA News below:

SEMA News: How did you get into the automotive industry?

Niles Lee: My dad was always working on his cars when I was growing up! I had zero interest in it until one day my truck broke down. During the lockdowns, I had the time to fix it, so I called him almost every day for advice. Once it was fixed, I realized I really enjoyed turning wrenches, so I decided to stick with it. A few years later, I decided to start creating content about it.
 

SN: What's been your biggest motivator?

NL: Definitely the fans of the channel. I'm grateful they love watching the content and are supportive, even when I'm cutting up these cars!

SN: What's been your favorite aspect about being part of the automotive community?

NL: Working with SEMA and amazing people who care about the industry, like the incredible Lauren Wilbor. Also, seeing the passion people put into their work, and buying vintage parts from old-timers while checking out their collections.
 

SN: As a content creator in the industry, how do you hope to make an impact on your audience?

NL: As a veteran, I was a bit lost after leaving the Marine Corps. I was really lucky that my parents took me back in. Becoming a mechanic taught me a lot of life lessons, like how to use tools, the importance of attention to detail, and how to build something from nothing. I want to pass that knowledge on to my younger viewers because I think it's something some of them might need to learn in their lives. That's why I focus on the "how-to" aspect of building cars.
 

SN: Why is advocacy important to you?

NL: I think about my future kids and what the industry will look like for them when they're my age. I want them to have the same opportunities I've had, which is why right-to-repair is super important to me, as well as preserving the "car guy" way of life.

SN: What is on the horizon for you in 2025? Anything you're looking forward to?

NL: Oh boy! A 2JZ-swapped '56 Chevy? A Godzilla-swapped '68 Torino? A 392 Hemi-swapped '66 Cutlass? [I have] tons of weird projects in the works!

Are you a passionate automotive or racing content creator? Do you want to get involved with SEMA/PRI and spread the word about important advocacy initiatives? Contact Lauren Wilbor from the SEMA Washington, D.C., office at laurenpw@sema.org.

By SEMA News Editors

Lucid to Acquire Select Facilities, Assets of Nikola

Lucid Group, the Newark, California-based maker of electric vehicles (EVs), has announced it has reached an agreement to acquire select facilities and assets in Arizona previously belonging to Nikola Corporation, subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The transaction does not include the acquisition of Nikola's business, customer base or technology related to Nikola's hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.

"Today's announcement is fantastic news for Arizona workers and our state's growing EV and battery manufacturing industry," said Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. "Arizona is the proud home of Lucid's advanced EV manufacturing lines--and this acquisition promises to strengthen Lucid's operations while offering continued employment to hundreds of skilled workers in our state."

Additionally, Lucid plans to offer employment to more than 300 former Nikola employees in roles across Lucid's Arizona facilities. These offers will encompass various technical salaried and hourly positions, including manufacturing engineering, software, assembly, vehicle testing and warehouse support.

"As we continue our production ramp of Lucid Gravity and prepare for our upcoming midsize platform vehicles, acquiring these assets is an opportunity to strategically expand our manufacturing, warehousing, testing and development facilities while supporting our local Arizona community," said Marc Winterhoff, interim CEO at Lucid. "We are delighted to extend employment offers to more than 300 former employees, who bring valuable industry experience, and together with our outstanding teams, will continue powering Lucid's industry-leading innovation."

As part of the agreement, Lucid will take over Nikola's former Coolidge manufacturing facility (680 E. Houser Rd., Coolidge, Arizona), as well as the Phoenix facility (4141 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, Arizona) previously used as Nikola's headquarters and product development center. These buildings collectively add more than 884,000 sq. ft. to Lucid's Arizona footprint. Most of this space is comprised of state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing buildings, which aligns with Lucid's prior planned expansion in Arizona. These facilities also include development equipment with extensive battery and environmental testing chambers, a full-size chassis dynamometer, machining equipment and more.

Lucid's agreement to acquire the aforementioned assets follows Nikola's bankruptcy auction, which concluded on April 10, 2025, as part of its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief.

Cadillac Confirms '26 OPTIQ-V

Cadillac has confirmed the OPTIQ five-passenger SUV has earned the V-Series badge. The '26 OPTIQ-V will be part of Cadillac's fifth generation of the V-Series portfolio, elevating the brand's performance offering. Building on OPTIQ's agile drive, Cadillac engineers delivered a unique package prioritizing precision, dynamic suspension and tight steering for an exhilarating driving experience.
 

Image courtesy of GM, Cadillac

By Karen Bailey-Chapman

(Left) Representatives from Unofficial Use Only, Tyri Lights and NPD Logistics, all SEMA member businesses, came together to support motorized off-road trails and protect environmentally sensitive restoration areas. (Right) SEMA Sales Director Alan Josse, right, helps construct wood fencing for the Easter Jeep Safari with industry members.

What can 40 off-roaders with a "can-do" attitude accomplish in 30 minutes? Construct roughly 100 feet of wood fencing at about 2,000 feet in elevation is what! SEMA members, SEMA staff and SEMA board member Kim Pendergast joined the annual TreadLightly! trail management project during this year's Easter Jeep Safari, Saturday, April 12 through Sunday, April 20, in Moab, Utah. Nearly double the number of volunteers initially expected joined the effort this year, making quick work of the fence project and leaving more time for the workers to hit the trails! It helps that many of those in attendance have done this before on similar projects to help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) maintain motorized off-road trails and protect environmentally sensitive restoration areas.
 

SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman and SEMA member and TreadLightly! Board member Tom Zielinski of Z Performance during the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari trail management effort.

TreadLightly!, a non-profit organization that promotes the responsible use of motorized vehicles when recreating outdoors, leads many of these kinds of projects throughout the year and throughout the country, not just in Moab. The organization partners with federal agencies like BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and state governments for maintenance and clean-up projects on federal and state lands. Public-private partnerships like this show, first-hand, how private industry can provide government agencies with the necessary tools--whether it is manpower, financial support, or both--to accomplish what we all want: keeping our public trails open for motorized recreation. All too often, government agencies choose to take what they believe to be the easy route and simply close these areas down. We don't agree with that approach.

SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman and Tread Lightly! Program Manager Kabe Wolf.
 

Organizations like SEMA continually face challenges when the easy answer for government agencies and others who oppose motorized recreation (and yes, there are many of them) is to shut our public trails down. We believe the most workable solution is to allow private industry to do its part and play an essential role in preserving our access to our public lands. This is why we will continue to support Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his team in helping unleash the power of the private sector to solve land preservation goals. We're not just manufacturers, retailers and distributors of off-road products; we're enthusiasts, too.

To learn more about the critical work TreadLightly! does and how to get involved, visit treadlightly.org.

Karen Bailey-Chapman is SEMA's senior vice president for public and government affairs. Learn more about SEMA's advocacy efforts at sema.org/advocacy.

SEMA members, SEMA staff, and a SEMA board member were among the dozens of enthusiasts who showed their support for the annual TreadLightly! trail management project ahead of the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari, Saturday, April 12 through Sunday, April 20, in Moab, Utah.

By Karen Bailey-Chapman

(Left) Representatives from Unofficial Use Only, Tyri Lights and NPD Logistics, all SEMA member businesses, came together to support motorized off-road trails and protect environmentally sensitive restoration areas. (Right) SEMA Sales Director Alan Josse, right, helps construct wood fencing for the Easter Jeep Safari with industry members.

What can 40 off-roaders with a "can-do" attitude accomplish in 30 minutes? Construct roughly 100 feet of wood fencing at about 2,000 feet in elevation is what! SEMA members, SEMA staff and SEMA board member Kim Pendergast joined the annual TreadLightly! trail management project during this year's Easter Jeep Safari, Saturday, April 12 through Sunday, April 20, in Moab, Utah. Nearly double the number of volunteers initially expected joined the effort this year, making quick work of the fence project and leaving more time for the workers to hit the trails! It helps that many of those in attendance have done this before on similar projects to help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) maintain motorized off-road trails and protect environmentally sensitive restoration areas.
 

SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman and SEMA member and TreadLightly! Board member Tom Zielinski of Z Performance during the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari trail management effort.

TreadLightly!, a non-profit organization that promotes the responsible use of motorized vehicles when recreating outdoors, leads many of these kinds of projects throughout the year and throughout the country, not just in Moab. The organization partners with federal agencies like BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and state governments for maintenance and clean-up projects on federal and state lands. Public-private partnerships like this show, first-hand, how private industry can provide government agencies with the necessary tools--whether it is manpower, financial support, or both--to accomplish what we all want: keeping our public trails open for motorized recreation. All too often, government agencies choose to take what they believe to be the easy route and simply close these areas down. We don't agree with that approach.

SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman and Tread Lightly! Program Manager Kabe Wolf.
 

Organizations like SEMA continually face challenges when the easy answer for government agencies and others who oppose motorized recreation (and yes, there are many of them) is to shut our public trails down. We believe the most workable solution is to allow private industry to do its part and play an essential role in preserving our access to our public lands. This is why we will continue to support Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his team in helping unleash the power of the private sector to solve land preservation goals. We're not just manufacturers, retailers and distributors of off-road products; we're enthusiasts, too.

To learn more about the critical work TreadLightly! does and how to get involved, visit treadlightly.org.

Karen Bailey-Chapman is SEMA's senior vice president for public and government affairs. Learn more about SEMA's advocacy efforts at sema.org/advocacy.

SEMA members, SEMA staff, and a SEMA board member were among the dozens of enthusiasts who showed their support for the annual TreadLightly! trail management project ahead of the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari, Saturday, April 12 through Sunday, April 20, in Moab, Utah.

By SEMA News Editors

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings nationwide. Below are some of the latest postings.

Detroit Speed & Engineering

Custom-Car Builder in Mooresville, North Carolina

In this role, the selected candidate will be responsible for delivering high-quality custom builds. Key responsibilities include assembly and installation of suspension, brakes, engine, and drivetrain components. Candidates should have in-depth knowledge of complete drivetrain systems, proficiency in diagnosing and resolving mechanical issues and a working knowledge of carburetor and fuel-injection systems.

Performance Racing Industry

Director of Business Development and Marketing in Indianapolis, Indiana

PRI is seeking a dynamic and strategic professional to lead industry relationship development and drive relational growth for the organization. This role focuses on presenting the various value-drivers that PRI offers, such as exhibit space, advertising and sponsorship opportunities while promoting the full range of association benefits to potential members and customers. This position will complement existing efforts by executing new and established sales programs, processes and procedures. Additionally, the role will oversee PRI's strategic marketing direction, managing external agencies, internal resources and the in-house marketing team to ensure alignment with business objectives.

SEMA

Membership Growth Director in Diamond Bar, California

The membership growth director will be responsible for maximizing growth in membership and retention by developing and executing strategic initiatives. This role uses industry insights and data analysis to expand market share and enhance the value of association membership.

By SEMA News Editors

Overland Vehicle Systems

Mid-Height Rack for Mid- and Full-Size Trucks

The new Mid-Height Rack from Overland Vehicle Systems is designed with more than 100 mounting positions, allowing users to securely attach essential gear such as recovery boards, fuel cans, shovels, tents, lighting and more. Built with a carbon steel structure and V-brace reinforcement, this rack has a 400-lb. dynamic weight capacity and 700-lb. static weight capacity and transforms your truck into a fully equipped adventure rig, the manufacturer says.

overlandvehiclesystems.com

Professional Detailing Products (PDP)

Iron Clay Lube

PDP recently introduced its new WS100 Iron Clay Lube, specifically designed to save time and produce superior results by combining two steps into one, according to the manufacturer. Designed to maintain ceramic coatings, Iron Clay Lube combines the lubricity of a clay lube with the deep cleaning action of an iron remover, combining the claying process and iron removal into one step.

Original Wheel Sheeld

PDP's Original Wheel Sheeld has been updated to fit wheel sizes up to 24 in., providing an easy and effective solution for protecting your clean wheels from tire dressing overspray, according to the manufacturer. With easy customization and application, Wheel Sheeld eliminates the need to re-clean wheels after detailing and safeguards brake rotors from exposure to silicone-based products.

professionaldetailingproducts.com

ORACLE Lighting

15W Off-Road LASER Fog Lights for Jeep Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT

Designed for serious off-roaders, these 15W auxiliary lights offer 3,000 ft. of laser projection, individually adjustable beams for precision aiming, factory mounting using OEM hardware, plug-and-play wiring for quick installation and a black design with skeletonized housing, available for both Jeep Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT models. 

oraclelights.com

BMR Suspension 

Bump Steer Kit, Race Version for '97-'04 C5 Corvettes and '05-'13 C6 Corvettes

Bump Steer Kit, Race Version (PN BSK551) corrects bump steer issues and improves the steering geometry of your Corvette for street and track use. The kit is manufactured from 1.125-in. heavy-duty 6061 aluminum and serves as a direct factory replacement for your Corvette's outer tie rods. Designed for street performance, drag racing and handling applications, the Bump Steer Kits offer greater adjustability for a variety of racing applications. 

bmrsuspension.com

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) has named Bill Barranco, president of AutoVIA Inc., as the council's newest spotlight volunteer. Get to know Barranco in his interview with SEMA News below. 

SEMA News: What inspired you to pursue a career in restyling?  

Bill Barranco: I've been in the automotive design industry since 1978.  

SN: Why did you decide to volunteer for PRO?  

BB: I would like to meet like-minded creative design people.  

SN: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?  

BB: Get a degree in automotive design.  

SN: What is your dream vehicle?  

BB: The next one that I see that really has a presence and tasteful statement.  

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

BB: You don't have to work hard if you work smart.  

SN: What keeps you in the industry?  

BB: My passion for design and cars.  

SN: Where can you be found on a Saturday?  

BB: At a car show.  

Fill out a PRO member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the automotive restyling industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on PRO's social media, SEMA News and future PRO-member updates. 

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

In a letter to President Trump, SEMA highlighted the impact of tariffs on the nation's $337-billion specialty-equipment industry, along with ways the administration can support domestic manufacturers during this transition period.

"Our primary request is that American automotive parts manufacturers, including our members, be provided a transition period to re-shore their manufacturing, as well as some form of economic relief to assist in that transition," writes SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "That relief could include tariff exemptions for things like molds, tooling and machinery brought back to the United States, as well as tax incentives to offset the associated costs."

The letter also sheds light on impacts that the Trump Administration might not be aware of, including those experienced companies that want to bring their operations back to the United States, as well as ways domestic producers of steel and aluminum are making it hard for Made-in-America companies to stay competitive.

Read the letter.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

In a letter to President Trump, SEMA highlighted the impact of tariffs on the nation's $337-billion specialty-equipment industry, along with ways the administration can support domestic manufacturers during this transition period.

"Our primary request is that American automotive parts manufacturers, including our members, be provided a transition period to re-shore their manufacturing, as well as some form of economic relief to assist in that transition," writes SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "That relief could include tariff exemptions for things like molds, tooling and machinery brought back to the United States, as well as tax incentives to offset the associated costs."

The letter also sheds light on impacts that the Trump Administration might not be aware of, including those experienced companies that want to bring their operations back to the United States, as well as ways domestic producers of steel and aluminum are making it hard for Made-in-America companies to stay competitive.

Read the letter.