SEMA Chairman Jim Cozzie presents at an industry forum in conjunction with the 2007 CIAPE event.

SEMA will showcase the specialty-equipment industry at the upcoming Chinese International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE) in Beijing, China, November 12–15, 2008.

“The Chinese automotive market is growing rapidly,” says SEMA Director of International and Government Relations Linda Spencer. “This rapid growth is fueling significant business opportunities for our members.”

The SEMA promotion will feature the popular Salon de SEMA attraction that has been used in other emerging markets and will showcase important elements of the specialty-equipment industry, such as custom vehicles, manufacturer interviews, product giveaways and other automotive lifestyle promotions.

With an exhibition area of nearly 1.1 million square feet (100,000 square meters), CIAPE 2008 will be the largest specialized auto parts exhibition in Asia, according to the organizers. The event is expected to attract more than 2,500 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and more than 60,000 visitors from more than 100 countries.

Last year, the event attracted 1,049 exhibitors and 45,360 trade visitors, according to CIAPE show management. In 2007, SEMA sent a delegation of its leadership, led by SEMA Chairman Jim Cozzie, to China to meet with consumer groups and government officials.

For more information regarding the Salon de SEMA promotion at CIAPE, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

For more information regarding CIAPE, visit www.iapechina.com/english/F/01/default.asp.

Chip Foose, Funkmaster Flex and a Ford official announce collaborations at Ford's press conference during the 2007 SEMA Show.

Exhibitors are invited to announce newsworthy information by conducting a press conference during the 2008 SEMA Show.

To schedule a press conference, exhibitors must submit a Media Conference Application by Friday, August 29, 2008. Media conferences are scheduled in advance by SEMA staff to avoid conflicts. Due to limited time slots, all media conference topics must be pre-qualified by SEMA. Exhibitors are not authorized to hold media conferences outside of the official schedule or off-site during Show hours.

To download the Media Conference Application, visit www.SEMAShow.com/mediaconference.

In recognition of the specialty-equipment industry’s commitment to advancing green vehicle products and solutions, SEMA today announced plans to dedicate an exhibit at this year’s SEMA Show to showcase those companies whose creativity and innovation in the development, deployment and marketing of the green technologies prove that being environmentally friendly can also be cool. The Making Green Cool Zone will be featured inside the South Hall (upper level) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, November 4–7, 2008.

Project vehicles, products and technologies to be featured in the Making Green Cool Zone can be entered for consideration from either exhibiting SEMA-member companies or non-exhibiting companies. The winners will be chosen by a select panel of qualified experts drawn from relevant automotive fields, such as performance aftermarket, powertrain technology, automotive design, environmental sustainability, brand positioning and others.

The government is mandating higher mileage while consumers are demanding even better performance with increased mileage. “The SEMA industry recognizes that being green is no longer limited to specific segments of the market. The green performance revolution is well underway. Going green is no longer an option—nearly 85% Americans consider themselves environmentalists,” said John Waraniak, SEMA’s vice president of vehicle technology. “SEMA wants to demonstrate that bringing more environmentally responsible vehicle technologies and products to the marketplace doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice performance and the ‘coolness’ factor.”

The new generation of performance and clean diesels, advanced hybrid powertrains, extended range and pure electric vehicles represent blank canvases for the performance and specialty-equipment industry. Greening-up vehicles creates new and exciting business opportunities for SEMA members and the specialty-equipment industry. The technology being put into alternative powertrain vehicles is quite advanced; however, innovative SEMA-member companies will find ways to make new and existing vehicles go farther and faster with lighter wheels, tires with less rolling resistance, bearings and hubs with less friction, improved aerodynamics and more innovative ideas and products. Many of these green vehicle technologies will be discussed at the SEMA Vehicle Technology Briefing Seminar: “Clean Diesels, Wild Hybrids and Muscle Electrics” being held on November 5 at the SEMA Show. Waraniak believes that, “This generation’s moon shot program is green technology and the Making Green Cool Zone will leverage SEMA’s performance heritage, as well as provide a glimpse of the future fusion of technology and cool.”
 
To be eligible, vehicles, products and technologies must be aligned with one or more of the following categories:

• High-Performance and Green Mobility
• Current Powertrain Solutions
• Future Powertrain Solutions
• Vehicle Energy Management
• Mobile Electronics for Green Mobility
• Green Wheels Tires and Suspensions
• Fast Tracking 35 MPG
• Making Green Cool
• Marketing Green Solutions

For companies interested in entering, applicants are required to provide a press release that will fit on an 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper. The press release should be 500 words or less. A copy of the press release will be distributed from the display area at the 2008 SEMA Show. Applications can be faxed to: 909/860-0184. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, September 19. To download a copy of the application form, click www.SEMAShow.com/images/pdf/2008-Making-Green-Cool-Application.pdf. For questions regarding the Making Green Cool Zone, please e-mail garyv@sema.org.

Some products displayed in SEMA's Making Green Cool Zone may not be commercially available, either still in development or in experimental stages. Such products may not have been subjected to any form of compliance testing, when required, for either fuel economy or emissions and would not be considered legal for sale or use.

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Tom Shay of Profits+Plus offered money-saving inventory-management tips through his webinar presentation, “Inventory Management: Mark It Down, Move it Out & Make More Money.”

Shay demonstrated that there are several ways to take control of your company’s inventory, regardless of your current inventory turn rate. He emphasized that profitable inventory control requires a sufficient amount of tracking. “Each business needs to evaluate inventory by departments and within departments,” stated Shay. “As you order and sell inventory, you have to track it by categorization by department [or fine line] that the inventory came from.”

Tracking is very important, but is just one step. Shay also noted that determining what percentage of your annual sales occur in each of the 12 months for each department is key, as well as paying closer attention to how you order and what factors determine how you buy for your business. “Some inventory we purchase consistently from the same manufacturer,” said Shay, “and other occasions arise where companies want to take advantage of a special or deal.”

To help address the question, "should I buy in bulk or on an as-needed basis?," Shay noted that it will always be a guess. He suggests using a tool such as a cost of inventory calculator to help determine which purchasing methods are most profitable for your business. Access the calculator by clicking here.

To hear the rest of Shay’s tips to controlling inventory for you business, download this entire session by visiting www.sema.org/webinar. 

SEMA's Webinar Program
The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show Education Week right to your desktop. Different business-building sessions are constantly added to the program, offering members the latest insight and practices from today’s leading speakers.

All SEMA webinars are conducted live and are open to all employees of SEMA-member companies free of charge. To participate, all you need is a computer with Internet access and a telephone. All previous SEMA webinars are available for download by clicking here. To view upcoming presentations that you can attend via telephone and Internet, click here.

SEMA has added a Self-Adhesive Products Specialist Exam to its battery of installer certification tests. The new SEMA test, known as Z6, will measure real-world skills of industry professionals who install self-adhesive products on passenger cars and light-duty trucks.

The exam covers a range of product categories, including graphics, pinstriping, window film, body-side moldings, rocker-panel moldings, vinyl wraps, body cladding, dash overlays, deflectors, chrome portal covers, fender flares, paint-protection film and door handle and mirror covers.

The other exams in the SEMA Installer Certification Program include Electric Sunroofs (Z1), Truck Accessories/Body Exterior Components (Z2), Leather Interiors (Z3), Roof Treatments (Z4), and Custom Wheels and Tires (Z5).

All six exams will be administered on Thursday, November 13, at more than 700 locations in the United States and Canada. Registration closes on Monday, September 22. To register for any of the SEMA exams or for more information, go to www.sema.org/certification, or call 909/396-0289, ext. 158.

Brenda Priddy's spy photographer network caught Audi's R8 convertible variant out testing on its home roads. The 2010 model, unfortunately unlikely to arrive in Death Star Black Matte finish as pictured, will be launched next spring, Priddy says. The ragtop will officially bow at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March.

According to Motor Trend, the roadster will be available with a V8, and later with Audi's new 530-horsepower V10, and will likely feature a retractable hardtop for packaging reasons.

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TURBO LOVERS: IndyCar Series officials are expected to approve turbocharged engines for competition in the series at a manufacturer’s meeting later this week. Indy Racing League engines have been normally aspirated since 1997.

NAMED: Joey Logano, 18, was officially named to replace Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season.

RIDE SWAPS: Casey Mears was officially introduced as the fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver for Richard Childress Racing next season. He will move to the No. 07 currently piloted by Clint Bowyer, while Bowyer will take control of the new No. 33 car, which will be sponsored by General Mills.

HEADING OUT: After 20 years, the last five with Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevron Texaco will end its NASCAR sponsorship at the end of the 2008 season.

NOT INKED: Dan Wheldon is still working to re-sign a contract with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2009 IRL IndyCar Series season.

HITTING THE ROAD: IndyCar points leader Scott Dixon will drive for de Ferran Motorsports in the Petit Le Mans American Le Mans Series event at Road Atlanta October 4.

RIBBON CUT: Lowe’s Motor Speedway officially opened its new zMax Dragway with a ribbon-cutting ceremony August 20 and a public open house August 23. More than 10,000 people attended the open house at the state-of-the-art dragway.

POWER RANKINGS: NHRA Top Fuel point leader Tony Schumacher remained at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings heading into the biggest drag race of the season—this weekend’s U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The National Speed Sport News Power Rankings are published weekly in the 74-year-old motorsports publication.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.