By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) named MARS of Billings as the council's newest spotlight member. Get to know the company's story in the SEMA News interview with MARS of Billings' owner Devon Davidson below.  

SEMA News: Tell us the story of your shop.  

Devon Davidson: MARS of Billings started as a franchise business in January 2002. My cousin, Ward Lien, and I bought the M.A.R.S. (Mobile Appearance Reconditioning Service) franchise for Billings, Montana.

We really wanted to own our business and were intrigued by the automotive industry. We started in mobile trailers doing interior and exterior cosmetic reconditioning for used car dealerships. We improved our skills by working on used car inventory [and] making them more sellable; fixing paint chips, scratches, bumpers, windshields and leather seats, as well as installing pinstriping.

We eventually rented our first facility and then hired my brother, Lance Davidson, to operate our third mobile unit. In year five, my cousin and his wife decided to move to the Seattle area for her career. At that point, we bought out Ward [Lien], and he started his own M.A.R.S. business in the Auburn, Washington, area, which is still operating. We then decided to purchase our first facility and open our doors to the general public. We grew our team in this facility as well as added new services such as spray-in bedliners, paint-protection film, bolt-on accessories, leather kits, heated seats, remote starters and window tint.

In 2018, we built our dream facility (22,500 sq. ft.) on the west end of Billings and now employ 39 "Martians" and have continued to expand our service offerings and customer base. We have a state-of-the-art automotive detailing department and are the RestorFX (Paintless Clearcoat Repair) dealer here, as well as the ValuGard Underbody Corrosion Protection dealer. We also now install and calibrate windshields and install commercial and residential window films. We have been detailing and protecting airplanes, RVs, semis and boats with our vehicle-specific ceramic coatings. All in all, we are the one-stop shop, and our tagline is: PROTECT. RESTORE. ACCESSORIZE.

SN: Tell us about your business now and the projects that you are working on.  

DD: MARS of Billings in 2024 is working hard to continue to provide top-notch customer service and quality work to our broad customer base. We are focused on expanding a few new services we have brought on in the past year, including windshield replacement and calibration, windshield protection film, ValuGard Underbody Corrosion Protection, RestorFX Paintless Clear Coat Repair and our MARS home services, including window film and surface protection products.

SN: Tell us about a package/product that you are proud of.  

DD: We are proud of many products we provide at MARS of Billings, but we are most proud of our XPEL protective products. We have had a relationship with XPEL since 2007 and are now an exclusive partner with them throughout the MARS Nation community! We provide all of their protective products throughout our customer base, including Automotive PPF, Tint, and Ceramic Coatings; Home/Office Window Film and Home Surface Protective Products; Boeing-approved Aviation Ceramic Coatings and Marine PPF, Tint, and Ceramic Coatings.

SN: What advice do you have for young professionals contemplating a career in the automotive aftermarket?  

DD: If you have a passion for people and the automotive aftermarket industry, you can have a very rewarding and successful career if you join a company with a great culture. If you want to start your own business, MARS Nation has four different franchisees: MARS Automotive, MARS Home, MARS Marine and MARS Aviation. Check out our offerings at themarsnation.com.

Fill out a PRO member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the automotive restyling industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on PRO's social media, SEMA News and future PRO-member updates. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

California's Air Resources Board (CARB) announced last week that it will delay enforcement of its climate reporting requirements for 2026, providing relief to businesses navigating the state's SEMA-opposed Climate Accountability Package. 

The Climate Accountability Package, passed in 2023, includes SB 253 and SB 261, which set reporting requirements for large companies doing business in California. SB 253 applies to companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue and mandates public reporting of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions starting in 2026, with Scope 3 reporting beginning in 2027. These reports aim to create transparency regarding direct and indirect emissions from companies' operations. 

SB 261 requires companies with annual revenue exceeding $500 million to file biennial reports assessing their climate-related financial risks. These disclosures must align with standards set by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and are intended to provide stakeholders insight into how businesses address and manage climate risks. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom initially expressed doubts about meeting these deadlines and signed SB 219 in 2024, extending CARB's timeline to finalize reporting standards to July 1, 2025. Despite this, the 2026 reporting requirement remained intact. 

CARB's recent notice allows companies to report FY 2025 emissions using existing processes as of December 5, 2024, without facing penalties for incomplete data, provided they demonstrate good faith compliance. 

SEMA joined the business community in opposing these mandates in 2023, citing their burden on businesses and rushed timelines. This enforcement delay offers companies more time to document practices and prepare for clearer guidance next year. 

SEMA will continue to engage this issue and advocate for practical solutions to support its members. 

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

California's Air Resources Board (CARB) announced last week that it will delay enforcement of its climate reporting requirements for 2026, providing relief to businesses navigating the state's SEMA-opposed Climate Accountability Package. 

The Climate Accountability Package, passed in 2023, includes SB 253 and SB 261, which set reporting requirements for large companies doing business in California. SB 253 applies to companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue and mandates public reporting of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions starting in 2026, with Scope 3 reporting beginning in 2027. These reports aim to create transparency regarding direct and indirect emissions from companies' operations. 

SB 261 requires companies with annual revenue exceeding $500 million to file biennial reports assessing their climate-related financial risks. These disclosures must align with standards set by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and are intended to provide stakeholders insight into how businesses address and manage climate risks. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom initially expressed doubts about meeting these deadlines and signed SB 219 in 2024, extending CARB's timeline to finalize reporting standards to July 1, 2025. Despite this, the 2026 reporting requirement remained intact. 

CARB's recent notice allows companies to report FY 2025 emissions using existing processes as of December 5, 2024, without facing penalties for incomplete data, provided they demonstrate good faith compliance. 

SEMA joined the business community in opposing these mandates in 2023, citing their burden on businesses and rushed timelines. This enforcement delay offers companies more time to document practices and prepare for clearer guidance next year. 

SEMA will continue to engage this issue and advocate for practical solutions to support its members. 

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org. 

By SEMA News Editors

SCCA and PRI Join Forces to Expand Motorsports Access to All

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and PRI have announced a new partnership at the 2024 PRI Show aimed at driving the growth of United States motorsports. This collaboration will provide both PRI and SCCA members with benefits from each organization, fostering greater opportunities within the motorsports community.

Through this partnership, SCCA members who join PRI as an individual member will receive an exclusive membership rate, with a portion of their PRI annual membership supporting the SCCA Scholarship Fund. Additionally, SCCA members will enjoy a 20% savings on business memberships to PRI. With their PRI membership, SCCA members will gain access to a variety of exclusive offers from PRI's membership partners.

This partnership also aligns SCCA with the SEMA-PRI Regulatory and Legislative Advocacy efforts, as well as offering PRI presence at one or more of SCCA's National Championship events. SCCA, meanwhile, will exhibit at the 2025 PRI Show.

This announcement comes just one day after SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb and IMSA President John Doonan took part in a PRI-hosted session entitled "Attracting and Training the Next Generation of Motorsports Leaders" in the T.O.P.S. HQ (Tracks, Operators, Promotors and Sanctioning Bodies Headquarters) during the 2024 PRI Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"The partnership between PRI and SCCA is a natural one, especially considering that both organizations have the same goal of accelerating grassroots motorsports in the United States," said Cobb. "Thanks to this partnership, SCCA members will have access to PRI's resources, which include not only discount programs and access to a broad array of potential supplier partners but also to the latest industry news that is relevant to the hobby they hold so dear."

As part of this partnership, SCCA and PRI members will see relevant content from the other organization appear on their websites and in their e-newsletters. PRI members will also have the opportunity to join and participate in thousands of SCCA events each year.

"This partnership with the SCCA marks a significant step forward in uniting and strengthening the motorsports community," said PRI President Michael Good. "By combining the strengths of PRI and SCCA, we're creating new opportunities for enthusiasts, professionals, and businesses to grow and thrive in the U.S. motorsports landscape. Together, we're fueling the future of racing."

The announcement was made at the 2024 PRI Show in downtown Indianapolis. Relive the event on the PRI website here.
 

Announced at 2024 PRI Show: 'PRI Magazine' Now Available on Your Mobile Device

PRI has announced that, for the first time ever, PRI Magazine is now available to everyone at no cost in a digital format. While previously only available in print to Champion-level PRI members, the publication is now available digitally across the globe. Whether you're an industry member staying on top of trends or a racing enthusiast interested in learning more about the industry, the digital magazine is available in current and past issues.

Read more and claim your free subscription here.

Read more racing industry news on performanceracing.com/industry-news. 

By SEMA News Editors

Hearst Magazines Acquires MotorTrend Group

Hearst Magazines has acquired the MotorTrend Group, a Warner Bros. Discovery Business, which is comprised of MotorTrend and a portfolio of automotive digital, direct-to-consumer, social, print and live-event brands.

MotorTrend Group brands acquired in the deal include MotorTrend, HOT ROD, Roadkill, Automobile and more, as well as experiences like HOT ROD Drag Week, Roadkill Nights and the Japanese Automotive Invitational at Pebble Beach.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The MotorTrend brands will continue to operate out of offices in El Segundo, California, and Detroit, Michigan.

Hearst Autos brands include Car and Driver and Road & Track.

For more information, visit hearst.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Photo courtesy of Brian Williams.
 

Newly surfaced images of the BMW Neue Klasse sedan echo recent comments from BMW Group Design Director Adrian van Hooydonk, signaling that the company's upcoming Neue Klasse electric vehicles (EVs) will influence the company's entire lineup, including internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

"The big push with EVs--the technologies and design language--will extend across our entire product portfolio, including combustion vehicles," van Hooydonk said. "For customers, it will be seamless—they'll get modern BMWs and can choose their preferred drivetrain."

Van Hooydonk's comments align with new images of the Neue Klasse sedan in both ICE and all-electric variants. The ICE version is likely to retain the 3-Series name, while the electric model may carry the i3 badge. Both vehicles are slated to hit U.S. showrooms in 2026.

Photo courtesy of Brian Williams.
 

The spy shots reveal early prototypes that echo elements of the Vision Neue Klasse concept. However, noticeable differences from the concept include more restrained proportions and subtle design updates. Both ICE and EV models share key design cues, such as integrated one-piece headlights, seen previously on prototypes of the upcoming iX3 and X5 models. The signature kidney grille remains concealed. Notably, the hood design has evolved, with a sweeping beam now separating it from the headlights, according to the new images. Temporary rear lights, positioned high and extending into the trunk lid, also appear in these early images.

While the new images don't confirm the signature Hofmeister kink in the rear window design, both prototypes showcase colored brake calipers, hinting at sportier and more dynamic chassis setups.

The Neue Klasse sedan will debut in late spring 2026 and go on sale in fall 2026 as a '27 model. The ICE-powered 3-Series is expected to offer the same engine lineup as the current model. Meanwhile, the all-electric i3 will launch with a base version featuring 300 hp and a next-generation 800V battery system capable of delivering up to 621 miles of range on a single charge, sources said.

By SEMA News Editors

Following a successful measuring session for the '25 Toyota 4Runner, the SEMA Garage engineering team collected a significant amount of valuable 3D scan data across the multiple trim levels. This data is actively being uploaded into our Tech Transfer program, ranging from exterior, underbody, suspension and interior.

Interested in accessing this data? Visit semagarage.com/techtransfer or contact productdevelopment@sema.org.

By SEMA News Editors

Relive the passion, innovation and energy of the entire SEMA Show week, November 5-8, 2024, in Las Vegas. See what made this year's SEMA Show the biggest and best yet with more than 160,000 attendees, 2,400 exhibitors, 1,600-plus new products, heart-pounding activations and more!

By SEMA News Editors

SEMA and PRI's Government Affairs team, based in Washington, D.C., recently met with Drag Illustrated to share upcoming plans to support the motorsports industry, specifically maintaining fair innovation in drag racing.

Discover how SEMA and PRI, through programs like the SEMA Action Network (SAN), work year-round and around the clock to uphold the automotive aftermarket and racing industries. In addition, learn about racing-specific initiatives designed to grow motorsports, like the tax policy designed for small businesses and race track owners called the "Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act." 

Read the article on the Drag Illustrated website here.

For more information or to join SAN, visit semasan.com.

By SEMA News Editors

SEMA and PRI's Government Affairs team, based in Washington, D.C., recently met with Drag Illustrated to share upcoming plans to support the motorsports industry, specifically maintaining fair innovation in drag racing.

Discover how SEMA and PRI, through programs like the SEMA Action Network (SAN), work year-round and around the clock to uphold the automotive aftermarket and racing industries. In addition, learn about racing-specific initiatives designed to grow motorsports, like the tax policy designed for small businesses and race track owners called the "Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act." 

Read the article on the Drag Illustrated website here.

For more information or to join SAN, visit semasan.com.