Unlike other types of salespeople, manufacturers' representatives work for multiple companies across multiple product lines in a large geographic area, either as individuals or as part of an agency. A rep is an independent businessperson, an extension of the manufacturers' sales force, and he or she can also be a highly valuable jack-of-all-trades who not only closes deals, but also teaches in-house manufacturers, warehouse distributors or retailer/jobber salespeople how to best present the manufacturer's marketing plan to create sales. [Read more]

Don't be fooled by the fake seam line indicating a rear passenger door, says Brenda Priddy. This is, in fact, a three-door hatchback version of the next-generation BMW 1 Series. Even with the decoy door handle, Priddy says the seam line is just a diversion, with the angled B-pillar another giveaway of the hatch nature of this prototype. We're inclined to agree, as a rear door of that narrow width would make it useless to all but thrill-seeking children. "We've seen prototypes of five-door variants of the next-gen 1 Series, but both body styles reveal the next 1 Series with a sleeker, extended look," Priddy adds. "The new design may just make the 1 Series look less compact." Earlier photos show the five-door 1 Series with cues from the current 135i, namely single, round exhaust pipes out the back which hint at the possibility of the 302hp straight-six turbo engine recently introduced in the current 135i coupe and convertible. The next-gen 1 Series is expected to debut next year as a ’12 model, although no word if this three-door will be in the mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.

Don't be fooled by the fake seam line indicating a rear passenger door, says Brenda Priddy. This is, in fact, a three-door hatchback version of the next-generation BMW 1 Series. Even with the decoy door handle, Priddy says the seam line is just a diversion, with the angled B-pillar another giveaway of the hatch nature of this prototype. We're inclined to agree, as a rear door of that narrow width would make it useless to all but thrill-seeking children. "We've seen prototypes of five-door variants of the next-gen 1 Series, but both body styles reveal the next 1 Series with a sleeker, extended look," Priddy adds. "The new design may just make the 1 Series look less compact." Earlier photos show the five-door 1 Series with cues from the current 135i, namely single, round exhaust pipes out the back which hint at the possibility of the 302hp straight-six turbo engine recently introduced in the current 135i coupe and convertible. The next-gen 1 Series is expected to debut next year as a ’12 model, although no word if this three-door will be in the mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities. Click on an item for more details.

View all of the Dodge project vehicles that were displayed at the 2009 SEMA Show through the photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com. In addition to Dodge vehicles, the gallery is stuffed with photos of the rides, products and moments that made the 2009 SEMA Show memorable. The vehicle photo database is searchable by vehicle make, model year, company name and more.

View all of the Dodge project vehicles that were displayed at the 2009 SEMA Show through the photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com. In addition to Dodge vehicles, the gallery is stuffed with photos of the rides, products and moments that made the 2009 SEMA Show memorable. The vehicle photo database is searchable by vehicle make, model year, company name and more.

The U.S. Department of Commerce unveiled 14 proposals to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. trade laws. The measures would focus on illegal import practices from non-market economies by tightening U.S. rules governing antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD). “Dumping” is when a manufacturer(s) in one country exports a product to another country at a price that is below its production costs or the price charged in its home market. "Countervailing duties” are imposed when an investigation finds that a foreign country is subsidizing its exports and injuring the importing country’s domestic producers. The Commerce Department initiated 34 AD/CVD investigations in 2009 compared to 19 the previous year. 

Non-market economies such as China could face higher duties as a result of some of the Commerce Department’s proposed changes. A number of practices to calculate production costs would be tightened or clarified. Individual companies from a foreign country would not be excused from AD/CVD duties if they demonstrate that they were not dumping or receiving subsidies for three consecutive years. Rather, they would still receive a zero dumping rate but remain within the country-wide order until that is removed.

Additionally, the Commerce Department would require importers to post cash deposits rather than bonds for imports that fall within the scope of an AD/CVD investigation, beginning with the issuance of a preliminary determination. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Department of Commerce unveiled 14 proposals to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. trade laws. The measures would focus on illegal import practices from non-market economies by tightening U.S. rules governing antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD). “Dumping” is when a manufacturer(s) in one country exports a product to another country at a price that is below its production costs or the price charged in its home market. "Countervailing duties” are imposed when an investigation finds that a foreign country is subsidizing its exports and injuring the importing country’s domestic producers. The Commerce Department initiated 34 AD/CVD investigations in 2009 compared to 19 the previous year. 

Non-market economies such as China could face higher duties as a result of some of the Commerce Department’s proposed changes. A number of practices to calculate production costs would be tightened or clarified. Individual companies from a foreign country would not be excused from AD/CVD duties if they demonstrate that they were not dumping or receiving subsidies for three consecutive years. Rather, they would still receive a zero dumping rate but remain within the country-wide order until that is removed.

Additionally, the Commerce Department would require importers to post cash deposits rather than bonds for imports that fall within the scope of an AD/CVD investigation, beginning with the issuance of a preliminary determination. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

	Subaru is one of the more popular makes among Chinese auto enthusiasts. The Outback model pictured here is the second most-sold in the country.

Subaru is a popular brand for modification in China, says Liu Qingfeng, owner of the online aftermarket company carnet.com.

“We found that about 40% of Subaru consumers seek high-performance products,” he said. Subaru owners are also enthusiastic car club members, a channel through which Liu uses to reaches them.

The Subaru brand is thriving in China. In the first seven months of 2010, sales rose 78% on-year to 31,234 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The best-selling model was the Forester SUV at 20,124 units. The Outback was a distant second with sales of just more than 6,000 units.

Currently, all Subaru models sold in China are imported because Subaru does not produce cars in China. But in late August, Ikuo Mori, president of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, told a Japanese newspaper that his company was in negotiations to form a car manufacturing joint venture in China, according to Automotive News.

Mori says Fuji aims for sales of 50,000 Subaru units in China this year, up from 35,000 in 2009. Eventually, the sales goal is 100,000 units annually, Mori said.

Other automakers have also announced product launches and plans in China that will spell opportunity for SEMA members. Toyota in late June launched the imported Lexus RX270 luxury SUV and the IS250 sedan and IS250C convertible in China. Luxury car owners have the money and the urge to upgrade their car’s performance. General Motors is going to start selling imported Opel cars in China by the end of 2010, Opel CEO Nick Reilly said recently. And Shanghai GM, General Motor’s flagship joint venture in China, said it will introduce 12 new engines from 2010 to 2015.

Engines with displacements between 1.4 and 2.5 liters will account for 95% of SGM’s total sales in the future. It aims to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15% while enhancing performance by 14% by 2015. Owners of the cars will be looking for ways to boost performance while remaining more fuel efficient. SEMA members produce products that can help with that.

Ford will begin selling the imported Ford Edge SUV by early next year, and its Mondeo Ecoboost GTDI sedan in China in the fourth quarter of this year.

Local automakers are also expanding their product lines, and that can spell opportunity for SEMA members. Great Wall Auto, one of China’s largest SUV manufacturers, will update its best-selling Hover SUV (now rebadged as the Havel brand), offering four-cylinder gas and diesel engines. The Havel lineup will also include a larger, more luxurious crossover SUV with a hybrid powertrain and six-speed automatic transmission. More upgraded versions of the luxury crossover are also planned.

More than 21 SEMA-member companies will be in Beijing in September learning more about how they can take advantage of these expanding lineups. They are:

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

Learn about the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

	Subaru is one of the more popular makes among Chinese auto enthusiasts. The Outback model pictured here is the second most-sold in the country.

Subaru is a popular brand for modification in China, says Liu Qingfeng, owner of the online aftermarket company carnet.com.

“We found that about 40% of Subaru consumers seek high-performance products,” he said. Subaru owners are also enthusiastic car club members, a channel through which Liu uses to reaches them.

The Subaru brand is thriving in China. In the first seven months of 2010, sales rose 78% on-year to 31,234 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The best-selling model was the Forester SUV at 20,124 units. The Outback was a distant second with sales of just more than 6,000 units.

Currently, all Subaru models sold in China are imported because Subaru does not produce cars in China. But in late August, Ikuo Mori, president of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, told a Japanese newspaper that his company was in negotiations to form a car manufacturing joint venture in China, according to Automotive News.

Mori says Fuji aims for sales of 50,000 Subaru units in China this year, up from 35,000 in 2009. Eventually, the sales goal is 100,000 units annually, Mori said.

Other automakers have also announced product launches and plans in China that will spell opportunity for SEMA members. Toyota in late June launched the imported Lexus RX270 luxury SUV and the IS250 sedan and IS250C convertible in China. Luxury car owners have the money and the urge to upgrade their car’s performance. General Motors is going to start selling imported Opel cars in China by the end of 2010, Opel CEO Nick Reilly said recently. And Shanghai GM, General Motor’s flagship joint venture in China, said it will introduce 12 new engines from 2010 to 2015.

Engines with displacements between 1.4 and 2.5 liters will account for 95% of SGM’s total sales in the future. It aims to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15% while enhancing performance by 14% by 2015. Owners of the cars will be looking for ways to boost performance while remaining more fuel efficient. SEMA members produce products that can help with that.

Ford will begin selling the imported Ford Edge SUV by early next year, and its Mondeo Ecoboost GTDI sedan in China in the fourth quarter of this year.

Local automakers are also expanding their product lines, and that can spell opportunity for SEMA members. Great Wall Auto, one of China’s largest SUV manufacturers, will update its best-selling Hover SUV (now rebadged as the Havel brand), offering four-cylinder gas and diesel engines. The Havel lineup will also include a larger, more luxurious crossover SUV with a hybrid powertrain and six-speed automatic transmission. More upgraded versions of the luxury crossover are also planned.

More than 21 SEMA-member companies will be in Beijing in September learning more about how they can take advantage of these expanding lineups. They are:

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

Learn about the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.