Here’s the best look yet at the ’19 RAM 1500, this time revealing a lot more and showing off its production grille, headlights and taillights.

The RAM 1500 continues with the steel body, breaking from Ford’s pattern for weight savings on a fullsize truck. Apparently, FCA decided that a more traditional, predominantly steel RAM is the right path for its next-generation truck.

Other details of the RAM 1500 have been firmed up ahead of its debut next year. Coil springs with optional air suspension are likely to continue, and will be joined by a larger passenger cab and new tailgate options. A hybrid and turbocharged four-cylinder are possibilities, but a more powerful V8 and Raptor-fighter are also rumored.

Expect the ’19 Ram 1500 to appear as soon as January’s Detroit Auto Show.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has openings for two seats in the Manufacturers category, two seats in the Distributors/Retailers category and one seat in the Services category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Two seats in the Manufacturers category
• Two seats in the Distributors/Retailers category
• One seat in the Services category

Nominations for the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 4, 2018. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has openings for two seats in the Manufacturers category, two seats in the Distributors/Retailers category and one seat in the Services category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us about whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Two seats in the Manufacturers category
• Two seats in the Distributors/Retailers category
• One seat in the Services category

Nominations for the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors are due Thursday, January 4, 2018. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

By Jenny Galvan

Tray Smith discussed the benefits of joining the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) at the 2017 SEMA Show. As ARMO’s select committee chair-elect, Smith shed light on the purpose behind the council, along with their efforts to encourage future generations to pursue a career in the automotive aftermarket and restoration industry.

ARMO is a SEMA council. Dedicated to addressing the many challenges facing this segment of the aftermarket, ARMO directs its efforts toward preserving and promoting the automotive restoration industry.

Learn more at www.SEMA.org/armo.

By Jenny Galvan

Tray Smith discussed the benefits of joining the Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) at the 2017 SEMA Show. As ARMO’s select committee chair-elect, Smith shed light on the purpose behind the council, along with their efforts to encourage future generations to pursue a career in the automotive aftermarket and restoration industry.

ARMO is a SEMA council. Dedicated to addressing the many challenges facing this segment of the aftermarket, ARMO directs its efforts toward preserving and promoting the automotive restoration industry.

Learn more at www.SEMA.org/armo.

By SEMA Editors

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

• SEMA Measuring Session: ’18 KIA Stinger, January 11, 2018, SEMA Garage, Diamond Bar, California

• MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 23–25, 2018, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California

• SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, April 3–8, 2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• SEMA Australia Business Development Program, May 24–28, 2018, Melbourne, Australia

• Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD), July 13, 2018

• SEMA Show, October 30–November 2, 2018, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstore.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

By SEMA Editors

Project vehicle proposals for Ford's project vehicle program must be received by March 1, 2018.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2018. 

2018 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2018
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2018

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2018 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at: www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle
6. Social media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2018 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Mike Nicopolis & Rob Fridenberg
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

Project vehicle proposals for Ford's project vehicle program must be received by March 1, 2018.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2018. 

2018 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2018
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2018

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2018 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at: www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle
6. Social media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2018 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Mike Nicopolis & Rob Fridenberg
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

Project vehicle proposals for Ford's project vehicle program must be received by March 1, 2018.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2018. 

2018 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2018
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2018

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2018 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2018. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at: www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development.
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars.
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan.
• A current SEMA member.

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature the vehicle in a booth at the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker's compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo intact and visible.
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion.
• Submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring the vehicle
6. Social media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2018 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Mike Nicopolis & Rob Fridenberg
semainfo@ford.com

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enables employees to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more.