Filler for eNews

Filler for eNews

Dana Holding Corp. appointed James Yost to executive vice president and chief financial officer. Yost was previously with Hayes Lemmerz International, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Yost joined Hayes Lemmerz in 2002 after 27 years at Ford Motor Co., from which he retired in 2001 as vice president of corporate strategy.
    "Gary Convis and I are pleased to welcome such a highly respected industry financial leader to our team," said Dana Executive Chairman John Devine. "We look forward to capitalizing on Jim's experience and strategic perspective."

Yokohama Tire Corporation promoted Takao Oishi to corporate officer of the Yokohama Rubber Company, effective June 27. This is the second promotion this year for Oishi, who assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of Yokohama Tire Corporation in April. He joined Yokohama Tire Corporation in 2007 as executive vice president, responsible for MIS, OE sales, strategic marketing and operations. He previously served as President of Yokohama Europe and lived in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Takao Oishi

Federal-Mogul Corp. named Martin Hendricks vice president, Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), Global Aftermarket. He is responsible for aftermarket sales, marketing, distribution and administration in EMEA and is based in the company’s Aartselaar, Belgium, office. Previously, Hendricks held marketing, sales and general management positions with Robert Bosch and TRW. Most recently he was chief commercial officer with EurotaxGlass’ International AG in Switzerland.

Kumho Tires held a groundbreaking ceremony for its sixth overseas manufacturing plant located in Bibb County, near Macon, Georgia. The company plans to invest a total of $165 million in this 5.7-million square-foot plant, slated for completion by the end of 2009. The plant will have an initial capacity of 2.1 million tires for original and replacement equipment markets in the United States. With the completion of this new plant, the company will have a total of nine plants strategically positioned around the world.

Firestone Industrial Products Company LLC announced plans to open a new air spring manufacturing plant in Turrialba, Costa Rica. To be located between San Jose and the port of Limon, the facility is expected to initially employ approximately 100 people. The company has signed a lease on the former Conair facility in Turrialba, and will initially occupy 11,500 square meters to manufacture air springs and Marsh Mellows springs.
    FSIP is currently awaiting government approval on the necessary permits it has filed in support of this new location. Firestone Industrial Products, Indianapolis, IN: 317/575-7000.

  
Click the logo to visit YEN's website.

Join YEN
Did you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has over 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee? If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

YEN Member of the Month Spotlight
Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen. 

  
Click the logo to visit ARMO's website.

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News
Read ARMO's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about ARMO, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit HRIA's website.

HRIA Column in SEMA Member News
Read HRIA's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about HRIA, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit TORA's website.

TORA Column in SEMA Member News
Read TORA's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

Select Committee Election Update
Select Committee Nominations are now closed. The list of nominees will be reviewed by the TORA election task force, and a ballot will be mailed to all TORA members in the next few weeks. Please keep an eye out for this mailing, and above all, VOTE!

For information about the TORA, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.  

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Click the logo to visit MPMC's website.

New Chair-Elect
Kyle Fickler of Aeromotive Inc. was elected to the position of MPMC chair-elect during a Select Committee meeting held on January 25, following the annual MPMC Media Trade Conference. Fickler is a current member of the MPMC Select Committee and will take over duties as Chair-Elect on July 1. On that same date, current chair-elect Bill Floyd becomes chairman of MPMC when Lisa Chissus’ two-year term as MPMC chairperson ends.

MPMC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MPMC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit MRC's website.

MRC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MRC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MRC, Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit PRO's website.

Annual Project Planning Meeting
Make your reservations now for the annual PRO Project Planning meeting. The annual gathering is once again being held in Detroit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The hotel is airport adjacent for easy access, and SEMA has blocked rooms at only $123 per night.

When: Thursday and Friday, June 12–13
11 a.m.–5 p.m. (Thursday)
8 a.m.–1 p.m. (Friday)

Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel
8000 Merriman Road
Romulus, MI 48174
734/729-2600

All PRO members are encouraged to attend this meeting. In these changing times, the restyling industry needs your input more than ever. Please plan to attend!

Select Committee Election Update
Select Committee nominations are now closed. The list of nominees is being reviewed by the PRO elections task force, and a ballot will be mailed to all PRO members in the next few weeks. Please keep an eye out for this mailing, and above all, VOTE!

PRO Column in SEMA Member News
Read PRO's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about PRO, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit SCC's website.

A Message From SCC Chairman Eric Breslow

Dear SCC Member:

In today's volatile economy, member companies must exploit every opportunity to get product messages in front of the end consumer and drive that all-important purchase dollar to their coffers. All levels of commerce have unprecedented access to product knowledge via the Internet. Take advantage of another exclusive SEMA-member benefit and attend the 2008 Internet Symposium, July 25, 2008, in Irvine, California.

Your SCC Select Committee has been busy developing this year's Internet Symposium. Thanks to attendee suggestions from last year, the day's events have been split into two separate tracks. One for people who are seeking a broad "50,000-ft." view of understanding how the Internet impacts an individual business, and a more focused track for in-depth Internet solutions.

It is the mission of SCC to make sure that our valued members have the first opportunity to sign up. Last year we sold out in just one week. For the schedule and online registration, click here.

See you in July.

Best regards,
Eric Breslow, SCC Chairman

SCC Select Committee Election
SCC Select Committee election ballots are in the mail and due to SEMA by Friday, June 6. If you have any questions about the Select Committee elections, contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or paulm@sema.org.

SCC Column in SEMA Member News
Read SCC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about SCC, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit WTC's website.

WTC Select Committee Election
WTC Select Committee election ballots are in the mail and due to SEMA by Friday, June 6. If you have any questions about the Select Committee elections, contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or paulm@sema.org.

WTC Column in SEMA Member News
Read WTC's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about WTC, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

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Click the logo to visit SBN's website.

Discover the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN
 
“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker
 
Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.
 
“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.
 
Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.
 
Long-Term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career.  In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.
 
So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.

For more information on the program, click here.
 
SBN Select Committee Election
SBN Select Committee election ballots are in the mail and due to SEMA by Friday, June 6. If you have any questions about the Select Committee elections, contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or paulm@sema.org.

Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN
Check out this video of SBN members in action during the valuable Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN held annually at the SEMA Show. Check out the video by clicking here.  

SBN Column in SEMA Member News
Read SBN's column featured in the May/June issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about SBN, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Filler for eNews

Product reviews are a popular place for future consumers to read information about quality, performance and value. Reviews can sway the opinion of potential consumers to a certain product based on other people’s opinions. According to SEMA’s 2007 Automotive Lifestyles Survey, the following are the top five ways consumers gather information prior to purchasing specialty equipment:

Thanks to clean diesel technology and the need to improve fuel mileage, diesels are being seen in a different light. SEMA’s 2004/2005 Diesel Market Study predicted that due to the need for greater fuel mileage, diesel market share would increase to 15% by 2014. Bosch, a major supplier within the diesel automotive industry, estimates that the North American market for light-diesel vehicles will reach 15% of new-vehicle sales by 2015.

When consumers understand the advantages of today's clean diesel power, it turns conventional thinking about diesel on its head, says Gale Banks, CEO of Gale Banks Engineering. Banks is also a major player in the fight against diesels that don't burn all of their fuel in the combustion process. When a truck doesn't burn all the fuel, the result is a large amount of black smoke that comes from the tailpipe. This is usually a result of trying to increase power output without proper research and development. Consumers who do this reaffirm the idea that diesels are not a clean alternative to gasoline fuel.

"With clean diesel power, drivers can have approximately 30% better fuel economy and 50% more torque, as well as reduce emissions by up to 25%, when compared to gasoline-powered passenger car engines," Banks explains. "With clean diesel, no longer are fuel economy and performance mutually exclusive."

SEMA continues in its quest to assist manufacturers of diesel performance parts in seeking regulatory compliance for these type of products, as it does for those producing emissions-related components for gasoline-fueled vehicles.

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.

As two of the more visible and instantly gratifying specialty-equipment products that consumers install on their vehicles, custom wheels and performance tires are rapidly expanding beyond the hot rod and racing market and into the mainstream aftermarket population.

"During my tenure in the wheel business, I've seen wheels go from a niche mostly for extreme performance markets all the way to where it is now,” said Kelly Austin, chairman of SEMA’s Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) and vice president MKW Alloy Inc. “Currently, custom wheels are almost as popular as iPods or cell phones. It's transcended to people we would not normally consider as enthusiasts. House moms, nannies and grandparents are all cruising the town on custom wheels to look cool.”

Retail sales for custom wheels have increased from $1.265 billion in 1991 to more than $4.5 billion last year, a jump of 257%. The rise in the production and sale of custom wheels can partly be attributed to the increasing variety of wheel types and specifications, as well as the expansion of available distribution channels.

Custom wheel manufacturers, sellers and installers have to contend with at least five specifications: wheel diameter, bolt circle (pattern), rim width, backspacing and offset.  In addition, custom wheels can be produced in various combinations of types and/or materials: one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, cast, forged, billet, steel, wire, aluminum, alloy and composite. Surface treatments range from polished metal to gold plating.

The custom wheel industry has expressed some concerns regarding a current trend of new vehicles that come with styled wheels. The percentage of cars produced with custom wheels has grown from 40.3% in 1996 to 66.5% in 2006, and light trucks have gone from 70.9% to 72.2% during the same timeframe.

Despite this trend, the custom wheel market is growing. In fact, the vehicle manufacturers have in some ways fueled the acceptance and growth of custom wheels; The sight of styled wheels on new vehicles can lend acceptability to aftermarket custom wheels.  Also, OEMs work with limitations that prevent them from offering the most current and leading designs.

“The reason you buy custom wheels is to make your vehicle different from everyone else’s,” said Paul Moritz, SEMA’s WTC council relations. “Even when people buy vehicles that come with aluminum or styled wheels, there are still those who want something different from the person down the street with the same vehicle.” 

Even with all the custom wheels being offered on production vehicles, a study performed by AutoPacific determined that approximately a third of all new-vehicle buyers intend to modify their vehicle by adding custom wheels. The percentage changes based on the type of vehicle being purchased.

“Even though the economy may look hard at the moment, the custom wheels market share with the American culture still grows and it offers opportunities for those that do it right," said Austin.

Specialty/performance tires often follow the custom-wheel market. When consumers upgrade the wheels on a vehicle, there is an inclination to do the same for the tires.  With the addition of consumers who look for specific performance tires separate from the wheels on their vehicle, the market for performance tires is slightly larger than the custom wheel market.

Performance tires were first introduced into the U.S. marketplace around 1977. Since then, they have had substantial increases up until 2006 when performance tires still generated an impressive $4.4 billion in retail sales.

To read the full report on the custom wheels and performance tires market, visit http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=58439.

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.