Manufacturer sales of specialty automotive products reached $12.94 billion in 2006, an 8.28% increase from the previous year, according to SEMA Research. This total represents just over a third of what the industry generated at the retail level—$36.7 million.

During the past 10 years the industry has had annual increases in growth at the manufacturer level averaging 7.4%, Several factors may contribute to the increase, say SEMA researchers: Since 1996, annual new-vehicle sales growth averaged 1.07 percent. By 2005, there were 238 million cars on the road, a 19.9% increase from 1996.

And finally, the popularity of shows like “Pimp My Ride” and “Overhaulin’” has taken the specialty-equipment market mainstream. A telephone survey commissioned by SEMA in March 2007 found that 25% of adult American drivers planned to purchase specialty-equipment products within 90 days. Nearly 20% said they planned to buy wheels, tires and/or suspension products.

For further insight into the market, link to the June 2007 issue of SEMA News by clicking here, or visit www.sema.org/research for more original market research made available exclusively to SEMA members.

Truck enthusiasts picked up the purchasing pace of brush guards during the last three months via online auction sales, pushing sales for the period of June 25-September up 27% compared to the previous three months, according to data from Terapeak, a developer of market-focused research software that monitors online sales and auctions.

The action in the mid- and late summer months couldn’t compare to sales during the winter months, however. For the period December 27-March 26, brush guard sales were up almost 10 percent over the current three-month period.

Terapeak's Motors P&A Research provides sellers with access to comprehensive research on the past year of online auction data and allows users to get in-depth research reports on the competition and themselves. More at www.terapeak.com/motors.

The collective efforts of SEMA and the Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) have led to revised wording of the SAE J2530 Wheel Standard, incorporating the concerns of the specialty-equipment industry into the wheel standards process. Immediate past WTC chairman George Finch, Frank Bohanan and SEMA Vice President of Vehicle Technology John Waraniak attended SAE's Balloting Review meeting of J2530 in Northville, Michigan, on September 12. SAE representative John Kinstler commented that "thanks to SEMA's involvement, we have a better standard" and recommended that "SAE accept the changes and approve the standard with SEMA's comments."

"The results of the J2530 balloting process is an excellent example of how our members and the association are having an increased voice and influence on the growth of the specialty-equipment and performance industry," Waraniak said.

Finch noted that "our strategy to coordinate the delivery of our remarks and thoughts to three levels within SAE—at the Wheel Standards Committee level, Standards Group level and SAE Leadership level—helped to ensure our comments and concerns were incorporated in the revised standard."

Efforts are also underway to have SEMA represented on the SAE Motor Vehicle Council, which is currently comprised of only OEMs. Several joint SAE-SEMA initiatives are planned for the 2007 SEMA Show to help accelerate the association's MVC membership and to reinforce OEM relations through SAE Technical Committee participation.

Toyota Corporate Marketing Manager Brian Smith will deliver his presentation, "Marketing for Personalization," at the 2007 SEMA Show Innovations Day luncheon, Monday, October 29. The presentation will include a 20-minute PowerPoint and Q&A session, and it will touch on specialty-equipment marketing support for both Scion and the Tundra. The Innovations Day discussion illustrates the importance of vehicle personalization and the specialty-equipment industry to the Toyota brands. 

To purchase Innovations Day luncheon tickets, click here.

For a complete listing of all the 2007 SEMA Show Seminars and Special Events, click here.

General Motors has appointed Martin Walsh general manager of the HUMMER Division, responsible for marketing, sales, distribution, dealer development and management of the HUMMER brand worldwide. Walsh began his career with GM in 1976 and served in a number of executive sales and marketing capacities with GM of Canada, and later transitioned to an executive role with Cadillac, becoming general director of marketing for the division. He has also served as executive director of sales and marketing support, North America vehicle sales, service and marketing, oversaw GM Creative Services, and headed up vehicle sales, service and marketing at General Motors of Mexico.

SEMA Manufacturing members are invited to attend a measuring session for the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser next week, Wednesday, September 26, in Torrance, California. Sessions will be limited to 60 minutes, no more than three companies at one time, and only two persons per company. Cameras will NOT be permitted. The all-new SUV icon launches in late October.

The deadline to register is Monday, September 24. E-mail a response with preferred time, name(s), company name, address, phone number and e-mail addresses to: measuringsession@sema.org.  

Location:
Toyota Service Development Center
2015 W. 190th St.
Torrance, CA 90501  

Date & Time:
Wednesday September 26, 2007
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Questions:
Bill Wolf, 909/396-0289 x177
Sandy Conolly, 909/396-0289 x155

Tune in for today's webcast, "The Future of Inventory Control—RFID," presented by Doug Jacobs of Restyler's Choice, at 10:00 a.m. (PST). With talk of barcodes disappearing and radio frequency identification (RFID) taking its place, businesses are finding themselves facing familiar questions: Will RFID really replace barcodes in the future? What are the costs associated with implementing RFID? How will this affect my business in terms of efficiency and accuracy? Learn the answer to these questions and more today.

During the webinar, you'll be able to interact and ask questions through the computer or over the phone. Simply click here and follow the steps outlined on the page.

In case you miss the presentation, stay tuned for the download to be posted next week.

And mark your calendar for October 4, when Gordon Booth presents “Unlocking Hidden Profits Through OEM CAD Data." Does your organization have access to or utilize OEM CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data? Do you want to learn how you can benefit from this valuable resource? This webinar will show you how OEM CAD data can help your company design, manufacture and create installation and marketing materials more quickly and efficiently for less and with improved quality.

For more information on webinars, visit www.sema.org/webinars.

The deadline for exhibitors of the 2007 SEMA Show to register products for the SEMA Show New Products Showcase is this Friday, September 21. For complete information and to register your products click here.

SEMA presents a New Products Showcase at the SEMA Show each year to provide exhibitors with an outstanding opportunity to introduce products, packaging and merchandising to industry buyers and media. The first product entered into the New Products Showcase is free if entered by September 21 using your exhibitor password. Your password was sent to your company's Show Contact (the same password used for exhibitor registration and your SEMA Show Directory listing update). If you need to obtain your password, contact Michelle Lowery at 702/450-7662, ext. 119, or mlowery@convexx.com.

For complete information on the 2007 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. 

Filler for eNews

Business owners, installers, restylers and wheel and tire specialists—gain a quality advantage in your market. Register now for the upcoming SEMA Installer Certification exams before it’s too late. The SEMA certification program includes five exams. All tests will be offered on Thursday, November 8, at more than 700 test centers in the United States and Canada. All testing begins at 7:00 p.m. local time. The five exams include: Z1/Electric Sunroofs; Z2/Truck Accessories & Body Exterior Components; Z3/Leather Interiors; Z4/Roof Treatments; Z5/Custom Wheel and Tire.

The registration deadline is this Friday, September 21.

Complete information on the SEMA exams, including registration forms, is available online at www.sema.org/certification, or by e-mailing beverlyr@sema.org.