By SEMA News Editors

 

SEMA, in collaboration with Acura, revealed a one-of-one '26 Acura MDX Type S Overland Concept, showcasing how modern OEM platforms can be thoughtfully reimagined through purposeful aftermarket upgrades to support off-road and overland adventure--without sacrificing daily comfort and refinement.
 

Designed and built at the SEMA Garage in Los Angeles, the MDX Type S Overland Concept showcases the innovation and technical expertise of SEMA-member companies. By pairing Acura's high-performance SUV architecture with cutting-edge aftermarket components, the build demonstrates a growing shift in the enthusiast market: the desire for "go anywhere" capability without sacrificing refined "daily driver" performance.
 

"This project is a perfect example of SEMA's mission in action--bringing OEMs and the aftermarket together to explore what's possible," said SEMA Director of Vehicle Technology & Product Development Luis Morales. "The 2026 Acura MDX Type S Overland Concept shows how the aftermarket can responsibly and creatively expand vehicle capability while retaining the refinement and performance consumers expect from a premium OEM."
 

Redefining the Modern Adventure Vehicle

Built on the performance-focused foundation of the '26 Acura MDX Type S, the vehicle was transformed into an adventure-ready, overland-capable concept through the integration of off-road wheels and tires, functional lighting, cargo solutions and camping equipment. The build is intended as a design and engineering exercise--not a production vehicle--to inspire enthusiasts and demonstrate fitment, function and integration across a modern OEM platform.

 

Multiple SEMA-member aftermarket brands contributed components to the project, including:
 

• Baja Designs – XL Linkable Light Bar and Squadron Pro Ditch Lights
• Black Rhino – Voll Wheels (18x8.5 ET25)
• Falken – WildPeak A/T4W Tires (275/65R18)
• Inspired Overland – Overland Stargazer Duo Rooftop Tent
• NoLo Designs – Ditch Light Brackets
• Prinsu – Roof Rack
• RiG'd – UltraSwing Spare Tire Carrier

Each component was selected to support off-road durability, overland utility and cohesive visual integration--illustrating how aftermarket innovation can extend vehicle capability beyond its original design intent.
 

Built at the SEMA Garage

The vehicle was assembled at the SEMA Garage–Los Angeles, SEMA's OEM-agnostic facility dedicated to aftermarket testing, product development and advanced vehicle technology. The Garage provided the tools, expertise and environment necessary to develop and validate aftermarket solutions on the MDX Type S platform.
 

"Builds like this help SEMA and our members better understand new vehicle platforms and develop real-world solutions," said Morales. "It benefits the aftermarket, OEMs, and ultimately the enthusiast."
 

Public Debut at California's 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

The 2026 Acura MDX Type S Overland Concept will made its public debut in the Acura display at the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, where attendees had the opportunity to see the one-off build up close. 
 

The SEMA Show: Where Aftermarket Trends Take Shape

At the 2025 SEMA Show, one standout trend was the growing number of performance-focused vehicles being outfitted for off-road and adventure use — a signal that enthusiasts increasingly want builds that don't fit neatly into a single category. While the MDX Type S isn't a supercar, this concept reflects the same go-anywhere mindset, translated into a premium SUV platform that many enthusiasts can realistically picture using every day.
 

Registration for the 2026 SEMA Show opens May 4, 2026. The Show remains the place where the industry gathers to spot what's next across trucks, SUVs, off-road, performance and lifestyle-driven builds.
 

For more information on SEMA, the SEMA Garage and OEM partnership programs, visit www.sema.org. For more information on the SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced Phase 1 of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) process for refunding International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. 
 

This first phase is narrow in scope: CBP will only accept CAPE declarations for entries that were liquidated within the preceding 80 days to ensure compliance with CBP's 90-day voluntary reliquidation period. 
 

• Through the CAPE Claim Portal, only the importer of record or its authorized broker(s) will be able to submit refund requests by uploading a CSV file listing eligible entries as described below.  Click here to read for information on the CAPE process.

Refund submissions will be subjected to a validation process and once validated, CAPE will remove IEEPA HTS numbers from covered entries, recalculate duties and support liquidation or reliquidation without the IEEPA duties, routing the refunds into CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) collections module for delivery with potential interest (if applicable). ACE is the United States's centralized digital system for processing imports and exports: cbp.gov/trade/automated.
 

Limited Start for Applying for IEEPA Refunds
 

Phase 1 of the IEEPA refund process only focuses on basic transactions and will not cover all entries on which IEEPA tariffs were paid. CBP will only accept CAPE declarations for entries that were liquidated within the preceding 80 days. The language from CBP suggests that importers will not be permitted to include "finally liquidated" entries in their Phase I refund declarations and will need to wait for a subsequent phase. 
 

In addition, CBP clarified certain other categories of entries that will not be accepted on a CAPE declaration during Phase 1:
 

• Entries flagged for reconciliation and Entry Type 09 – Reconciliation Summary entries
• Entries designated for drawback claims
• Entries covered by a protest
• Entries not filed in ACE and without a liquidation status in ACE
• Entries subject to antidumping and countervailing duties that have liquidation instructions

Following acceptance of a complete, validated CAPE refund declaration, and assuming no complicating issues, CBP still estimates there will be a 60 to 90‑day review period for even the most straightforward transactions. Subsequent phases of refund submissions are in process, but CBP has not released details on the next phases.
 

Preparing CAPE Refund Claims
 

To participate in the CAPE refund process, importers of record and their authorized customs brokers must have an ACE Secure Data Portal account and must ensure that bank account information for refund recipients is up to date in ACE. CAPE refund declarations must be filed in the ACE Portal by the importer or by the broker who originally filed the underlying entries, and refunds will be issued electronically.
 

Because CAPE is designed to handle refund requests in consolidated batches, importers should expect that refunds will not be immediate even once Phase 1 goes live and that CBP will likely prioritize submissions that pass automated validations and do not raise compliance concerns. The staged nature of CAPE means that importers may need to sequence their claims and maintain detailed tracking of which entries are included in each CAPE declaration, especially where multiple brokers or related entities are involved.
 

Compliance Risks When Filing CAPE Refund Claims
 

Each CAPE refund claim will require a certification by the importer that the entry summaries in the CAPE declaration comply with all applicable laws.  Importers, in advance, should identify risks posed by any historically non‑compliant entries before including those entries in a CAPE declaration, particularly where prior disclosures or internal reviews have not yet been completed. Companies with IEEPA-related supply chains may find that CAPE creates both an opportunity to recover material refunds and an obligation to reconcile past compliance gaps.
 

How to Prepare for IEEPA Refunds

Importers who paid IEEPA tariffs should consider the following measures:
 

1. Ensure that they have an account in CBP's ACE system
2. Establish an Automated Clearing House (ACH) link in ACE
3. Conduct a refund analysis and risk assessment.
4. Obtain import records/reports from ACE or your customs broker. Monitor United States imports for which IEEPA tariffs were paid and their liquidation status (e.g., unliquidated, liquidated but not yet final entries, and "finally liquidated" entries) and:
    

• Separate liquidated entries into two groups: (i) liquidated but not "final" entries that are within 80 days after liquidation (i.e., eligible for Phase 1) and (ii) entries more than 80 days past liquidation (which likely will need to be filed during a subsequent phase).
• Stay vigilant to preserve your right to refunds for IEEPA duties. For entries liquidated more than 90 days but less than 180 days, consider filing a protest with CBP. It is not clear, however, how such entries will be treated by subsequent CAPE phases. According to CBP's messaging, entries subject to a protest will not be eligible for Phase 1.
• For finally liquidated entries that are beyond the 180-day protest period, consider filing an appeal with the CIT before the end of the two-year statute of limitations from the date of entry. However, according to the Court's order on March 27, such entries are eligible for refund by CBP and will likely be included in a subsequent phase of CAPE.
   

For more information, contact SEMA Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock | Robert V Schwemmer

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced Phase 1 of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) process for refunding International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. 
 

This first phase is narrow in scope: CBP will only accept CAPE declarations for entries that were liquidated within the preceding 80 days to ensure compliance with CBP's 90-day voluntary reliquidation period. 
 

• Through the CAPE Claim Portal, only the importer of record or its authorized broker(s) will be able to submit refund requests by uploading a CSV file listing eligible entries as described below.  Click here to read for information on the CAPE process.

Refund submissions will be subjected to a validation process and once validated, CAPE will remove IEEPA HTS numbers from covered entries, recalculate duties and support liquidation or reliquidation without the IEEPA duties, routing the refunds into CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) collections module for delivery with potential interest (if applicable). ACE is the United States's centralized digital system for processing imports and exports: cbp.gov/trade/automated.
 

Limited Start for Applying for IEEPA Refunds
 

Phase 1 of the IEEPA refund process only focuses on basic transactions and will not cover all entries on which IEEPA tariffs were paid. CBP will only accept CAPE declarations for entries that were liquidated within the preceding 80 days. The language from CBP suggests that importers will not be permitted to include "finally liquidated" entries in their Phase I refund declarations and will need to wait for a subsequent phase. 
 

In addition, CBP clarified certain other categories of entries that will not be accepted on a CAPE declaration during Phase 1:
 

• Entries flagged for reconciliation and Entry Type 09 – Reconciliation Summary entries
• Entries designated for drawback claims
• Entries covered by a protest
• Entries not filed in ACE and without a liquidation status in ACE
• Entries subject to antidumping and countervailing duties that have liquidation instructions

Following acceptance of a complete, validated CAPE refund declaration, and assuming no complicating issues, CBP still estimates there will be a 60 to 90‑day review period for even the most straightforward transactions. Subsequent phases of refund submissions are in process, but CBP has not released details on the next phases.
 

Preparing CAPE Refund Claims
 

To participate in the CAPE refund process, importers of record and their authorized customs brokers must have an ACE Secure Data Portal account and must ensure that bank account information for refund recipients is up to date in ACE. CAPE refund declarations must be filed in the ACE Portal by the importer or by the broker who originally filed the underlying entries, and refunds will be issued electronically.
 

Because CAPE is designed to handle refund requests in consolidated batches, importers should expect that refunds will not be immediate even once Phase 1 goes live and that CBP will likely prioritize submissions that pass automated validations and do not raise compliance concerns. The staged nature of CAPE means that importers may need to sequence their claims and maintain detailed tracking of which entries are included in each CAPE declaration, especially where multiple brokers or related entities are involved.
 

Compliance Risks When Filing CAPE Refund Claims
 

Each CAPE refund claim will require a certification by the importer that the entry summaries in the CAPE declaration comply with all applicable laws.  Importers, in advance, should identify risks posed by any historically non‑compliant entries before including those entries in a CAPE declaration, particularly where prior disclosures or internal reviews have not yet been completed. Companies with IEEPA-related supply chains may find that CAPE creates both an opportunity to recover material refunds and an obligation to reconcile past compliance gaps.
 

How to Prepare for IEEPA Refunds

Importers who paid IEEPA tariffs should consider the following measures:
 

1. Ensure that they have an account in CBP's ACE system
2. Establish an Automated Clearing House (ACH) link in ACE
3. Conduct a refund analysis and risk assessment.
4. Obtain import records/reports from ACE or your customs broker. Monitor United States imports for which IEEPA tariffs were paid and their liquidation status (e.g., unliquidated, liquidated but not yet final entries, and "finally liquidated" entries) and:
    

• Separate liquidated entries into two groups: (i) liquidated but not "final" entries that are within 80 days after liquidation (i.e., eligible for Phase 1) and (ii) entries more than 80 days past liquidation (which likely will need to be filed during a subsequent phase).
• Stay vigilant to preserve your right to refunds for IEEPA duties. For entries liquidated more than 90 days but less than 180 days, consider filing a protest with CBP. It is not clear, however, how such entries will be treated by subsequent CAPE phases. According to CBP's messaging, entries subject to a protest will not be eligible for Phase 1.
• For finally liquidated entries that are beyond the 180-day protest period, consider filing an appeal with the CIT before the end of the two-year statute of limitations from the date of entry. However, according to the Court's order on March 27, such entries are eligible for refund by CBP and will likely be included in a subsequent phase of CAPE.
   

For more information, contact SEMA Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock | Robert V Schwemmer

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

 

 

A SEMA-sponsored California bill (SB 1069), aimed at reforming the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Executive Order (EO) process for aftermarket parts, has advanced out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

• EOs are required for many emissions-related aftermarket parts to be legally sold in California. While the standards themselves remain unchanged, companies must wait for CARB approval before bringing products to market, making the decision timeline a critical issue for the industry.

 

The measure, authored by Sen. Tim Grayson (D-Concord), is focused on improving the EO application process by establishing clear timelines for CARB to act on submissions and by adding transparency around how long approvals are taking. It does not change emissions requirements or limit CARB's authority to deny non-compliant products.

 

The reform is needed to bring predictability to a process that has become increasingly uncertain. Companies are investing heavily in testing and compliance; the process costs companies several thousand dollars for each application in fees that were intended to facilitate faster reviews. However, long and inconsistent wait times continue to delay product launches and tie up capital.

 

If you have any questions or are interested in supporting the effort, contact Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director for state government affairs, at christianr@sema.org.

 

This article was originally published on Thursday, April 16.

 

Top image courtesy of Shutterstock | Robert Schlie

Featured feed image courtesy of Shutterstock | Lane V. Erickson

 

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

 

 

A SEMA-sponsored California bill (SB 1069), aimed at reforming the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Executive Order (EO) process for aftermarket parts, has advanced out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

• EOs are required for many emissions-related aftermarket parts to be legally sold in California. While the standards themselves remain unchanged, companies must wait for CARB approval before bringing products to market, making the decision timeline a critical issue for the industry.

 

The measure, authored by Sen. Tim Grayson (D-Concord), is focused on improving the EO application process by establishing clear timelines for CARB to act on submissions and by adding transparency around how long approvals are taking. It does not change emissions requirements or limit CARB's authority to deny non-compliant products.

 

The reform is needed to bring predictability to a process that has become increasingly uncertain. Companies are investing heavily in testing and compliance; the process costs companies several thousand dollars for each application in fees that were intended to facilitate faster reviews. However, long and inconsistent wait times continue to delay product launches and tie up capital.

 

If you have any questions or are interested in supporting the effort, contact Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director for state government affairs, at christianr@sema.org.

 

This article was originally published on Thursday, April 16.

 

Top image courtesy of Shutterstock | Robert Schlie

Featured feed image courtesy of Shutterstock | Lane V. Erickson

 

By Laura Pitts

 

 

My Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (GPLB) weekend began in the passenger seat of a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, the safety car for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, with IMSA and TransAm champion Tommy Kendall behind the wheel. And yes, I fully understand how much that sentence captures a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

 

There's something visceral about experiencing a street circuit at speed from the seat of a Porsche before the crowds officially arrive. It's like seeing the track in its purest form––before the noise, before the chaos, before the big show.

 

Although, in true Long Beach fashion, the crowds were already there––lined up on public bridges, phones out, watching us flash underneath in a blur.

 

By the time we hit the main straight for the second time, it all started to sink in. The speedometer was creeping past 150 mph. I was pinned into the seat, trying––mostly failing––to capture the moment. It was equal parts surreal and slightly out of control (at least on my end) in the best possible way.

 

 

One lap later, we peeled into the pit lane and rolled to a smooth stop. That's when Kendall casually mentioned it was his first warm-up lap around the Long Beach street circuit in 20 years.

 

My immediate reaction?

 

"You could've fooled me."

 

From there, it was straight into the rhythm of Media Day––working pit lane, photographing Formula Drift builds up close and taking in the mix of competition cars and curated builds that define this event.

 

The Legacy of Jim Michaelian Carries On

 

Before we got into GP competition talk, the weekend took a moment to remember a longtime fixture of the event, Jim Michaelian, the Acura GPLB president and CEO who passed away in March.

 

It was the first Media Day where Michaelian was not addressing media members on stage since the Grand Prix's inception. His absence, but also his influence, was felt everywhere.

 

To help celebrate his legacy, every car on track––across every series during the GP weekend––will carry a sticker honoring Michaelian. The sense of legacy carried directly into the future of the event during conversations with LBGP leadership.

 

 

Jim Liaw, who most recently served as the general manager for PRI, was a familiar presence for our PRI team. He stepped into his role sooner than expected following Michaelian's passing.

Speaking to the press about evolution, Liaw shared how, under new ownership from Penske Corporation, the Acura GPLB is already seeing upgrades––new grandstands, expanded viewing areas, even a double-decker hospitality structure along pit row. There are murals now, too, scattered throughout the circuit, telling the story of a race that has been part of this city since 1975.

 

And beyond the racing, the Grand Prix Foundation continues to invest back into Long Beach, supporting local students year after year.

 

It's easy to focus on lap times and results, but weekends like this remind you that major events are ecosystems. They shape cities just as much as they showcase speed.

 

Inside the Formula Drift Mindset

 

 

Then came the Formula Drift press conference. (By the time this reaches readers, the Formula Drift season opener is already in the books, with Conor Shanahan taking the Round 1 win on the streets of Long Beach after a close final against Fredric Aasbø.)

 

If you want a snapshot of where Formula Drift is right now, it's this: the talent level has never been higher––and everyone knows it.

 

Reigning champion James Deane didn't sound like someone coasting on five titles, but someone ready to grab his sixth. He talked about watching other drivers' builds in the offseason, about how the overall level keeps rising, and about how competition forces everyone to find new limits.

 

Sitting just a few seats down, Fredric Aasbø echoed that sentiment. Yes, he believes he can win. But so can everyone else next to him.

 

That's the theme this year––depth. There are no easy rounds these days. And perhaps no one embodied that intensity more than Matt Field. He walked through his offseason in detail: training, nutrition, reaction work, even blood analysis. Every variable was optimized, he said.

 

"I've never been more ready," he said.

 

 

Of course, not every driver's season will follow a traditional path.

 

Hiroya Minowa is stepping back to run a partial schedule, shifting focus to rally racing with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Sliding a drift car, he explained, translates naturally to rally. But rally, in turn, sharpens precision, throttle control and decision-making.

 

It's a reminder of how interconnected motorsports has become, with drivers moving between disciplines, carrying skills from one to another.

 

Then there's Adam LZ, the driver who exists at the intersection of competition and car culture. He talked about his upcoming role in Sung Kang's movie "Drifter," and what it could mean for the sport.

 

Not immediately, maybe. But long term.

 

"The movies I watched when I was 12 or 13 shaped what I wanted to do," he said.

 

It's a simple idea, but an important one. Motorsports doesn't grow in isolation but through exposure, storytelling, and the next generation finding its entry point.

 

 

In hindsight, Shanahan was the driver to watch, building momentum that ultimately carried him to the Round 1 win. At the press conference, he spoke about the challenge of balancing programs across continents––adapting to different cars, tracks and judging styles from one weekend to the next.

 

"You're going from one side of the world to the other, trying to figure everything out from scratch," he said. "Sometimes you don't even get the perfect practice session, so you're constantly adapting."

 

With qualifying returning this season, Shanahan noted it should play to his strengths, giving drivers a clearer structure heading into competition.

 

More Than a Race Weekend
 

 

While Formula Drift has already crowned its Long Beach winner, the Grand Prix itself is still ahead, adding another layer of anticipation to a weekend that's already delivered plenty.

 

This weekend isn't just one race, it's many: NTT INDYCAR Series, IMSA, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Stadium SUPER Trucks and Historic Sports Car, all converging on the same streets. And for the first time, both marquee events will air on network television, bringing Long Beach to an even broader audience.

 

But what stayed with me most wasn't any single series.

 

It was the feeling that everything here––every lap, every upgrade, every tribute––is connected.

 

The city of Long Beach isn't just hosting motorsports. It's shaping where it goes next––and Long Beach is right at the center of it.

 

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

 

The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a wholly owned subsidiary of SEMA, is pleased to announce its sponsorship and participation as an exhibitor at Overland Expo West 2026, bringing its renewed advocacy focus to an expanded audience of the off-road community's most passionate, innovative, and committed enthusiasts and businesses. Additionally, ORBA is excited to announce that Overland Expo has joined the organization as a Platinum-level member.
 

Stop by ORBA's exhibitor lounge at Overland Expo West 2026, May 15-17, in Flagstaff, Arizona, where the organization's leadership will host scheduled sessions on land-use issues and the benefits of ORBA membership and preview the 2026 Overland Expo Industry Report.
 

"ORBA is thrilled to be a sponsor and participant of Overland Expo West 2026, one of our community's premier events for off-road and overland companies, as well as enthusiasts," said ORBA Interim Executive Director Sean P. Holman. "Attending Overland Expo West 2026 will be a unique opportunity to help further develop the relationships that will help to make our federal and state advocacy a success. We are equally excited to have Overland Expo join our growing membership roster, adding a significant consumer-facing organization to our ranks of advocates. At Overland Expo West 2026, our new leadership team will be meeting with our fellow enthusiasts, talking about the issues that impact our lifestyle and growing our ability to be a voice for all off-roaders. We are looking forward to getting to know many of the faces that make up our much-loved off-road community."
 

"Overland Expo has long served as a gathering place for the overland industry and enthusiast community, and partnering with ORBA and SEMA is a natural extension of that role," said Overland Expo Show Director Emily Boden. "ORBA's work ensures that businesses and enthusiasts alike have a voice in protecting access and opportunity, and we're excited to support their expanded advocacy efforts at Overland Expo West 2026."
 

Additionally, SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman will be a panelist during the popular Women Who Wander networking brunch, providing insights into efforts to advocate at the state and federal levels for motorized access to public off-road spaces.
 

BACKGROUND
 

ORBA, a membership-based organization, recently announced a robust relaunch with a broadened advocacy strategy, enhanced research capabilities and a renewed commitment to coalition-based action to protect the future of the off-road industry and enthusiast community.
 

As part of its relaunch, ORBA outlined several priority initiatives already underway:

• Protecting access to public lands
• Supporting federal legislation that preserves motorized access to outdoor spaces
• Continuing the ecologic partners collaboration
• Launching regional economic impact reports
• Expanding coalitions and partnerships
• Stewardship and education
   

With new tools, deeper partnerships and a renewed focus on collaboration, ORBA is positioning itself to be a more effective advocate for businesses, enthusiasts, and the lands that make off-road recreation possible. ORBA has also upgraded the membership benefits to include regular communications, sponsored brand content across ORBA and SEMA Action Network digital channels and access to consumer research tools and more.
 

For more information, visit offroadbusiness.org or overlandexpo.com.

 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock | marekuliasz

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

 

The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a wholly owned subsidiary of SEMA, is pleased to announce its sponsorship and participation as an exhibitor at Overland Expo West 2026, bringing its renewed advocacy focus to an expanded audience of the off-road community's most passionate, innovative, and committed enthusiasts and businesses. Additionally, ORBA is excited to announce that Overland Expo has joined the organization as a Platinum-level member.
 

Stop by ORBA's exhibitor lounge at Overland Expo West 2026, May 15-17, in Flagstaff, Arizona, where the organization's leadership will host scheduled sessions on land-use issues and the benefits of ORBA membership and preview the 2026 Overland Expo Industry Report.
 

"ORBA is thrilled to be a sponsor and participant of Overland Expo West 2026, one of our community's premier events for off-road and overland companies, as well as enthusiasts," said ORBA Interim Executive Director Sean P. Holman. "Attending Overland Expo West 2026 will be a unique opportunity to help further develop the relationships that will help to make our federal and state advocacy a success. We are equally excited to have Overland Expo join our growing membership roster, adding a significant consumer-facing organization to our ranks of advocates. At Overland Expo West 2026, our new leadership team will be meeting with our fellow enthusiasts, talking about the issues that impact our lifestyle and growing our ability to be a voice for all off-roaders. We are looking forward to getting to know many of the faces that make up our much-loved off-road community."
 

"Overland Expo has long served as a gathering place for the overland industry and enthusiast community, and partnering with ORBA and SEMA is a natural extension of that role," said Overland Expo Show Director Emily Boden. "ORBA's work ensures that businesses and enthusiasts alike have a voice in protecting access and opportunity, and we're excited to support their expanded advocacy efforts at Overland Expo West 2026."
 

Additionally, SEMA Senior Vice President for Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman will be a panelist during the popular Women Who Wander networking brunch, providing insights into efforts to advocate at the state and federal levels for motorized access to public off-road spaces.
 

BACKGROUND
 

ORBA, a membership-based organization, recently announced a robust relaunch with a broadened advocacy strategy, enhanced research capabilities and a renewed commitment to coalition-based action to protect the future of the off-road industry and enthusiast community.
 

As part of its relaunch, ORBA outlined several priority initiatives already underway:

• Protecting access to public lands
• Supporting federal legislation that preserves motorized access to outdoor spaces
• Continuing the ecologic partners collaboration
• Launching regional economic impact reports
• Expanding coalitions and partnerships
• Stewardship and education
   

With new tools, deeper partnerships and a renewed focus on collaboration, ORBA is positioning itself to be a more effective advocate for businesses, enthusiasts, and the lands that make off-road recreation possible. ORBA has also upgraded the membership benefits to include regular communications, sponsored brand content across ORBA and SEMA Action Network digital channels and access to consumer research tools and more.
 

For more information, visit offroadbusiness.org or overlandexpo.com.

 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock | marekuliasz

By SEMA News Editors

Westin

Power Retractable Tonneau Truck Bed Cover

 

The new Power Retractable Tonneau Truck Bed Cover from Westin combines convenience with cargo protection and significant load capacity, the company said. The power retractable cover offers a 500-lb. load capacity, as well as wireless remote operation, a dust-resistant and weather-tight seal, a compact roll-up canister to maximize usable bed space, easy install and anti-pinch technology.

westinautomotive.com

 

Superwinch

Scorpion 10SR Winch

 

The latest offering from Superwinch, the Scorpion 10SR winch, offers 10,000 lbs. of pulling power and fits easily into most factory and aftermarket winch bumpers, the company says, and at just 16.4 in. across, makes it roughly 25% more compact than other 10,000-lb. winches. Its reduced size is possible because of its advanced integrated control circuitry, a permanent magnet motor and a four-stage planetary gearbox. It is also equipped with an ergonomic free-spool clutch and intelligent overload protection.

superwinch.com

By SEMA News Editors

 

 

The exhibitor space rental agreement for the 2026 SEMA Show is now open, giving aftermarket brands the opportunity to secure their place on one of the industry's most influential stages, November 3-6 in Las Vegas. 

 

Exhibitors may still apply, but priority booth selection has concluded.

 

Securing your booth space is the first step toward success at the SEMA Show, which presents an unrivaled opportunity for aftermarket companies to drive sales, meet new clients and increase brand awareness.

 

While space applications are accepted at any time leading up to the event in November, submitting an ESRA and deposit early gives brands a head start on preparing for the event.

 

Exhibiting at the SEMA Show offers a myriad of benefits to your brand:

 

Increase Your Brand Awareness

Whether you are an established brand or looking to go from garage to global, exhibiting at SEMA is the best investment to advance your brand goals.

 

Connect With Your Customers

See existing customers and connect with them on the Show floor. Determine their business needs and use this opportunity to strengthen relationships.

"Nowhere else can we get to this many of our dealers and our consumers and show them new products that they get to touch and feel," said exhibitor John Meyers, KICKER. "On the internet, you just don't get that experience."

 

Expand Your Sales Channels

The connections you make at the SEMA Show can help take your products to new markets, whether through retailers, distributors or other sales channels, expanding your brand’s reach domestically and internationally.

 

Introduce New Products

We know you want your latest and greatest products to be seen by a large audience of potential customers and the SEMA Show guarantees opportunities for that to happen.

 

The booth plotting process is a little different this year. Questions? Read this article or contact SEMA at 240-ASK-SEMA (240-275-7362) or via email at customercare@sema.org.  

 

The 2026 SEMA Show is set for November 3-6, in Las Vegas. Interested exhibitors can buy a booth and learn more at semashow.com/exhibitor. Attendee and buyer registration opens in Spring 2026; to sign up for notifications, visit here. For more information, visit semashow.com.