Dodge dealers began taking orders for the new Challenger SRT8 on Monday, December 3, accepting deposits from more than 6,000 prospective owners by Wednesday, according to an AutoWeek report. Dodge sources say that the automaker will produce less than 10,000 units in its first run.

Additional Challengers will follow with lesser engine options than the SRT8’s 6.1L V8. But if the sales strength and popularity of the hot-rod market is any indication, any of the Challenger options represent a great opportunity for the specialty-equipment market.

The street-performance market, which encompasses the popular musclecar segment, has grown since 1997. According to SEMA research, retail sales grew 40% while manufacturer sales rose 36%. Another hot-rod category, the street rod and custom niche, grew even more dramatically in the same nine-year period, with retail sales growing 64% and manufacturer sales climbing 60%.



SEMA surveyed automotive magazine subscribers this year to learn how enthusiasts customize their cars, receiving 3,354 responses to an e-mail survey sent September–November. About 37% were classified as musclecar enthusiasts (those who indicate an interest in musclecars and subscribe to musclecar magazines), while only 14% indicated little or no interest in musclecars.

A brief look at how these consumers modify their vehicles is shown in the table below. Notice that musclecar enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts buy many of the same products, though the order of preference varies significantly. 



Below are the top 20 hot rods owned by the musclecar enthusiasts surveyed.



For further insight into the musclecar market, visit www.sema.org/research for a copy of the 2006 SEMA Hot Rod Report, or contact the Market Research department at 909/396-0289, ext 125.

Source: Dale Jewett "Dodge Challenger SRT8-Going, Going..." AutoWeek Daily Drive, December 6, 2007

Of the 14 new product categories open to exhibitors at the 2007 SEMA Show, parts for vintage vehicles recorded the largest growth, increasing 17.6% from last year’s entries. “Vintage” loosely refers to vehicles 25 years old and older, and the bulk of parts entered into new-products judging were for mid-'50s to mid-'70s vehicles, according to SEMA research.

The growth in this category mirrors findings from SEMA surveys during the last two years, which reveals that the number of enthusiasts expressing interest in these vehicles, as well as subscribing to relevant restoration magazines, has grown 80%.

Rounding out the top five growing new-product categories were tools and equipment (14%), mobile electronics and technology (9.3%), styling and appearance accessories (6.2%), diesel products (6.1%) and luxury-vehicle accessories (2.2%).

Although styling and appearance accessories narrowly edged diesel products in terms of growth, the number of enthusiasts that own diesel-powered vehicles surveyed by SEMA has risen by 20%.

For more market insight and research, visit www.sema.org/research.

Filler for eNews

Unclear about the latest developments in anti-trust law regarding resale price agreements and minimum advertised pricing (MAP) programs? SEMA members can now visit our webpage dedicated to breaking news and analysis of this complex area of law, recently revised by the Supreme Court.

The webpage is listed under the "Legislation & Regulations" link on www.sema.org, and contains links to previous webinars, SEMA News articles and other writings on the subject. Visit the page now by clicking here: Regulation of Resale Pricing Policies.

Tune into the Discovery Network's TLC SEMA Show 2007 one-hour special on Thursday, December 13, at 10 p.m. Industry expert Jimmy Shine takes viewers on an exclusive behind-the-scenes look of the massive event and profiles how the four-day show brings more than 130,000 industry professionals together for an experience that is truly unlike anything else in the world.

Check local listings for specific air time and channel, or visit http://dsc.discovery.com.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed a two-year process of reorganizing and simplifying the lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, without making any changes of substance. The regulation has been amended many times since it was first adopted in 1967 in order to address technological advances and enhance safety. As a consequence, the old regulation was unnecessarily complex and difficult to understand.

SEMA submitted comprehensive comments to NHTSA when it issued its draft revision in December 2005. SEMA was generally pleased with the proposal and commended NHTSA on its continued treatment of FMVSS No. 108 as a performance standard. SEMA is still reviewing the final revision to confirm that the completed product achieves the results desired by both the NHTSA and the industry—a streamlined rule with no changes of substance.

As SEMA recommended, the revised standard incorporates previous clarifications to FMVSS No. 108 issued via “letters of interpretation” over the past several decades. These 2,000 letters of interpretation continue to have the force of law and remain accessible to those who seek clarification on specific agency policy. Among the letters are confirmations issued by NHTSA in November 2005 and August 2006 in response to SEMA inquiries that confirm that aftermarket products may have different designs than original equipment, so long as it complies with FMVSS No. 108's performance requirements.

NHTSA also incorporated performance and test requirements previously referenced in about 35 standards adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). SEMA supported this approach in order to create a self-contained standard. As SEMA also recommended, NHTSA removed a reference to “auxiliary lamps” since such lamps are not regulated by the federal government (but are subject to state regulation).

SEMA worked with SEMA’s Lighting Task Force, the Transportation Safety Equipment Institute (TSEI), the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) and other industry associations and businesses to prepare its comments on the draft rule.

For a copy of NHTSA’s final rule:  
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-5644.pdf.

Questions or comments may be directed to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Is your company exhibiting at the 2008 SEMA Spring Expo/SEMA OFFROAD on February 8–9, in Indianapolis? If so, send in your product release now! As part of our comprehensive coverage of the event, SEMA News will offer buyers and attendees a preview of the new products on display at the Show in our February issue. Exhibitors are encouraged to e-mail a press release, high-resolution image and company contact information to Carrw@sema.org. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, December 12. Please include "SSE/SOR" on the e-mail subject line.

Registration for SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD, February 8–9, 2008, in Indianapolis, is in full swing and available for attendees online by visiting www.semaspringexpo.com and www.semaoffroad.com. The spring events deliver the acclaimed SEMA Show experience to the Indianapolis area and surrounding regions.

With a special emphasis on trucks and SUVs, attendees will see a variety of products and services covering accessories, restyling, wheels and tires and mobile electronics. The Show is sponsored by the Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (TORA) and Professional Restylers Organization (PRO). For more information about TORA, click here or e-mail Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org. For more information about PRO, click here or e-mail Ellen McKoy at ellenm@sema.org.