SEMA News—October 2019

EDUCATION

By Kenalyn Ang

200 High School Students Engaged in Customization Builds

C.D. Hylton High School customized an ’02 Jeep Wrangler Sport.

The SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program aims to introduce high-school students to the automotive customization hobby and lifestyle through real-world, hands-on educational experiences. This year, five high-school auto-shop programs across the United States participated in the program. The schools customized five ’96–’06 model-year Jeep Wrangler TJs during their spring semesters with the help of aftermarket industry companies that sponsored the builds through product donations and scheduled visits. Overall, the Wrangler TJ builds were sponsored by 33 companies that donated more than 220 products.

Upon completion, the finished builds were auctioned off through program partner Bring a Trailer, raising over $133,000 to be reinvested back into SEMA’s program. Proceeds will fund the next round of builds and contribute to the program’s expansion to 10 vehicles.

For student participants, the SEMA program provides the opportunity to learn numerous marketable skills in addition to acquiring a technical education. “The build helped to enforce what is already taught here—problem-solving skills and schedule management,” said Ed Stevens, automotive instructor at C.D. Hylton High School, one of the participating schools. “The experience provided them a real-world build environment where they managed a build schedule, a parts budget, troubleshooting and innovation.”

But the SEMA High School Vehicle Build program does more than working with aftermarket companies to supply parts and products to eager young wrenchers. The program also introduces students to potential employers in the automotive aftermarket, and a number of these companies have formed relationships with local high schools to recruit potential employees.

Santa Ynez Valley Union High School customized a ’97 Jeep Wrangler Sport.	Santa Fe ECO High School customized an ‘05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport.
R.L. Turner High School customized an ‘04 Jeep Wrangler X.	Comstock High School customized an ‘04 Jeep Wrangler Sahara.

Eastman Chemical Co., for instance, visited the students at R.L. Turner High School to perform a demonstration on properly installing window tint, and to talk about career opportunities within their company and other segments of the industry. This visit sparked the interest of some students in pursuing a career in window tint.

“The build helped to create new partnerships that will continue with us,” Ed Stevens noted, “and it also helped strengthen the ones we already had. Every year we take another step up and continue making the program and its impact on the community stronger.”

In addition, the students’ experience didn’t necessarily end with the finished build. After working with local restyler Auto Image on designing custom leather for Comstock High School’s build, one student builder is now employed by Auto Image. And students from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School were invited to attend the SEMA Installation Gala this past July, where they had the opportunity to network with industry leaders; their completed Jeep build was on display for attendees to see.

To learn more about the program, visit www.sema.org/student-builds.

Comstock High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan: ’04 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Photos: Beam Photography

This is the customized and finished ’04 Jeep Wrangler Sahara prior to auction during “SEMA Week of Customs” last July.	The clamp-on roof rack was donated by Just Jeep ‘N Stuff.
A 4-in. Skyjacker lift enabled fitment of 35-in. Trailblade Boss tires donated by Atturo Tires. The wheels are Rolling Big Power items donated by Pilot Automotive.	The front and back bumpers were donated by local company jcrOffroad.

The students behind this ’04 Jeep Wrangler Sahara custom build made excellent use of local resources and connections, including a Comstock High School auto-shop alumnus who is now a local bodyshop business owner.

The Wrangler was the program’s only hardtop Jeep and included a locally sourced donated roof-rack system from Just Jeep ‘N Stuff. Some of the other products from the 14 donors and sponsors who supported this build included fenders, a winch and a front lightbar from Rugged Ridge, rock sliders from JcrOffroad and a fresh coat of paint from Twisted Automotive. Further donations included a hood-mounted jack from Hi-Lift, LED lights from Diode Dynamics and floor liners from Husky Liners. Under the hood, the Jeep features a new cold-air intake kit donated by Rugged Ridge.

The students worked with local installer Auto Image to design a custom leather interior with product donated from Katzkin. The Atomic wheels donated from Rolling Big Power completed the Jeep’s new look.

The Jeep was auctioned off on July 23 with SEMA partner Bring a Trailer for $20,250. For more information on this build and the program, visit www.sema.org/student-builds/comstock.

C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia: ’02 Jeep Wrangler Sport

Photos: Chris Cervenka Photography

The students did extensive work under the hood and incorporated 19 replacement parts donated from Advance Auto.	Red and cream seats refurbished with Katzkin leather pair well with the white body and red frame around the seats.
This ’02 Jeep Wrangler Sport was constructed by students of C.D. Hylton High School.	The Jeep build included a 3.5-in. lift via a short-arm suspension kit donated by Rancho Suspension and Shocks.

The students of C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, performed a frame-off restoration of their ’02 Jeep Wrangler Sport. The vehicle’s entire chassis was repainted, along with a full-body color transformation from green to white using products donated by Finishmaster. Along with that, the students did extensive work under the hood and incorporated a variety of parts from Advance Auto, such as heater hoses, an oil filter and oil, and a radiator.

With the help of a total of 19 sponsors and donors, the vehicle underwent a major customization and restoration. The Wrangler gained a new hood donated by LKQ/Keystone, rubber door seals from Steele Rubber, and an accessory package from Covercraft that includes a sunscreen and car cover. A Safelite technician performed an installation demo for the students with a donated windshield.

Under the hood, the students installed a new cold-air intake kit and throttle spacer from Rugged Ridge. The newly done red and cream leather seats complement the vehicle’s white body. The interior was further enhanced by new Husky Liners floor liners. To top it off, LED taillights and bar lights by Rugged Ridge were added, along with a suspension kit by Rancho Suspension.

Perhaps some of the more visible additions include the T-Rex grille, as well as the new Travelstar Ecopath 35-in. tires donated by Unicorn Tire and the chrome Atomic wheels from Rolling Big Power. Two security items, a padlock and a cable lock, were donated by BOLT Lock. The Jeep was auctioned on July 25 with SEMA partner Bring a Trailer. For more information on this build and the program, visit www.sema.org/student-builds/cd-hylton.

R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas: ’04 Jeep Wrangler X

Photos: Collins Bros Jeep and Made Brand Studio

The green ’04 Jeep Wrangler X was built by students in Carrollton, Texas.	The Black Mountain front bumper and winch were donated by Dennis Collins of Collins Bros, who visited the school prior to his donation.
The hood mounting system is a Hi-Lift product donated from Bloomfield Manufacturing.	Here’s a closeup look at the interior refurbishment installed by Southside Trim and donated by Katzkin Automotive Leather.

This ’04 Jeep Wrangler X custom build—part of the SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program—caught the attention of Dennis Collins of Collins Bros Jeep, who visited the school and donated the winch and front bumper. The students were also visited by Eastman Chemical Co., which performed an installation demo of donated window tint for the build. The build also featured black Atomic Rolling Big Power wheels courtesy of Pilot Automotive, and a Painless Performance trail rocker trim.

Students built the vehicle with parts donated by a total of 17 sponsor companies. The Wrangler benefited from a paint touch-up on the hood by the students using donated PPG products, along with a custom leather interior by Katzkin and Hi-Lift hood mount by Bloomfield Manufacturing Co.

The signal lights as well as LED lights around the license frame were donated by Diode Dynamics, and the Wrangler has been equipped with a hurricane fender-flare kit in textured black, a cold-air intake kit and other key Rugged Ridge accessories donated by Omix-ADA. A total of more than $15,000 worth of products were installed.

Custom seatbelts from Seatbelt Planet are an example of the fine touches on the vehicle, and the Jeep sits on a 3.5-in. complete short-arm lift kit by Rancho Suspension, including shocks. QuietRide Solutions donated acoustic insulation kits for an enjoyable ride.

The Jeep was auctioned off on July 26 with SEMA partner Bring a Trailer during the “SEMA Week of Customs.” For more information on this build and the program, visit www.sema.org/student-builds/rl-turner.

Santa Fe ECO High School in Santa Fe, New Mexico: ’05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport

Photos: Gerry Ruelas Photography

The fully customized, beige ’05 Jeep Wrangler ECO Crawler was fitted with 37-in. Trail Blade Boss tires donated by Atturo Tires.	The Rugged Ridge winch and mounting plate were supplied by Omix-ADA, and the grille was donated by T-Rex Truck Products.
The build featured new trail doors.	Rugged Ridge supplied the phone mounting system.

After raising more than $56,000 on the program’s pilot Jeep build last year, Santa Fe ECO High School was proud to customize and build its second Jeep under the program earlier this year.

The Jeep is powered by a 4.0L straight six backed by a five-speed manual transmission, and uniquely features a vented hood, trail doors and a donated Rock Krawler Suspension long arm 3.5-in suspension kit with a 5-in stretch. With 13 donors and sponsors, the build also benefitted from a Covercraft accessory package that includes a car cover and sunscreen; Katzkin interior leather trim; Atturo Tires 37-in. Trail Blade Boss tires; and a J-Mount, 5/8-in. receiver lock, padlock and cable lock by BOLT Lock.

The build has Husky Liners floor liners as well as Rugged Ridge accessories donated by Omix-ADA both under the hood and externally, including a 10,500-lb. winch and mounting plate, a Spartacus heavy-duty tire carrier kit, an all-terrain entry guard kit, and Hurricane fender flares, among other upgrades.

The first car to be released for auction this year, this Jeep was auctioned off on July 22 for $26,000. The students had the experience of working with new components and exploring new methods of mounting and fixing the parts to the build.

For more information on this build and the program, visit www.sema.org/student-builds/santa-fe.

Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in Santa Ynez, California: ’97 Jeep Wrangler Sport

This is the customized ’97 Jeep Wrangler as it stood upon completion.	The exhaust is vented through a Mach Force-Xp 21/2-in. 409 stainless-steel cat-back system donated by aFe Power.
The interior was refurbished using leather seats donated by Katzkin and installed by Dealership Services Direct.	The 4-in. lift kit from Superlift, combined with fender flares, enabled fitment of 37-in. tires. Superlift also contributed the steering stabilizer.

Students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High built a ’97 Jeep Wrangler Sport, which retained its original 4.0L six-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. The Jeep now sits on donated 37-in. Atturo tires mounted on 17-in. Black Rock wheels and is topped with an American-flag-themed bikini top. It is also outfitted with a 4-in. Superlift Suspension lift and LLumar window tint by Eastman Chemical Co. has been applied during a product install demo from a company representative.

The students utilized multiple parts donated by a total of 14 sponsor companies. Alongside those listed above, they installed an AcoustiHood and AcoustiShield by QuietRide Solutions as well as an aFe Power stainless-steel cat-back exhaust system. A grille was donated by T-Rex Truck Products and installed to complete the look.

Omix-ADA was another major sponsor, donating no fewer than 15 Rugged Ridge kits and parts, including a windshield lightbar, a fender flare kit, a cold-air intake kit, an all-terrain entry guard kit, and LED kits for the brake lights and taillights.

The vehicle fetched $26,250 during the auction to help continue the program next year.

For more information on this build and the program, visit www.sema.org/student-builds/santa-ynez.

SEMA News—October 2019

INTERNATIONAL

By Linda Spencer

SEMA-Style International Networking: The 2019 SEMA Export Fair

Networking with fellow SEMA members and top trade buyers and a review of best practices by legal, digital and trade experts rounded out the two-day event that was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The biannual 2019 SEMA Export Fair attracted both experienced exporters and those new to selling abroad.

The SEMA Garage was the venue for the fourth SEMA Export Fair. SEMA members from 18 states traveled to Diamond Bar, California, for the two-day event. It included a series of sessions on hot exporting topics, such as the preferred method of communicating with overseas buyers (messaging apps rather than email is the way to go); how to find counterfeit versions of your products and remove them from global e-commerce sites; and tips from intellectual property rights attorneys. Four panels featuring top buyers provided overviews of the opportunities for selling into the racing and off-road markets in international markets, including Latin America, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

SEMA export attendees were able to meet one on one with the participants during the Fair portion of the event. It was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which sent a number of officials to the event to provide exporting assistance to attendees. In some good news, an extension of SEMA’s partnership with the U.S. government was announced. American companies traveling with SEMA in the upcoming year will be able to receive U.S. government grants to defray the cost of participating in the trade missions.

SEMA News talked to several Export Fair participants.

“International expansion is a company-wide goal for Supreme Suspensions,” said Christy Hill of Supreme Suspensions. “The SEMA Export Fair eased our apprehensions, helped in facilitating a path, and educated us in intellectual property and trademark law. We were even given the opportunity to meet with international direct buyers. It was a great experience, and we’re already looking forward to attending the next one.”

Jim Ford, Madico international sales manager, also reiterated the benefits of the Export Fair. “The export fair was very helpful. It brought to light the importance of patent and trademark registration in key global markets. The digital marketing and payment presentation were also eye-opening, and clearly demonstrated that this channel is no longer just the domain of B2C players. We hope to take advantage of similar workshops in the future.”

Additionally, “The SEMA Export Fair was an extremely valuable opportunity as a newly hired international sales representative for my organization,” added Rosana Del Rio, Design Engineering Inc. international account manager. “The fair provided me the opportunity to network with speakers and buyers from some of the countries I am interested in doing future business with. The presentations were informative and aligned with the vision and direction I am going with my business plan. I highly recommend this event to anyone interested in learning more about doing business with international buyers and understanding the dynamics beyond purchasing.”

Ed Hamburger, president of Hamburger’s Superchargers Inc./Specialty Vehicle Engineering Inc. also noted, “I felt the Export Fair was very worthwhile attending, especially since we participated in the United Arab Emirates and Australia SEMA business trips earlier this year.” “It helped clear up a number of questions we had after returning from both trips.

“The seminars provided valuable information regarding IP protection and understanding the benefits of using Alibaba, and interacting with the various global representatives gave me more insight on how we should approach each of the regions from a marketing perspective. I would definitely attend again!”

The accompanying photos and captions in this article show some of the highlights of the 2019 SEMA Export Fair event.

SEMA CEO and President Chris Kersting (facing the camera) opened the 2019 SEMA Export Fair, held recently at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. Nearly 125 SEMA members, international trade buyers, export experts, intellectual property legal advisors and U.S. government officials spent two days discussing best exporting practices, identifying top markets and networking at the two-day biannual international event.

SEMA’s Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs Daniel Ingber (right) moderated a panel of intellectual property rights attorneys specializing in patent and trademark protection. Also on the panel were Rachel Saltzman (second right) of the U.S. Government International Trade Administration’s Office of Intellectual Property Rights, as well as four trademark and patent attorneys. SEMA members took advantage of the opportunity to meet one on one with panel members.

Buyers from six countries, including regions such as the Middle East and Australia as well as North and South America, participated in the 2019 SEMA Export Fair. They participated in country/regional panel discussions, and time was set aside both days of the Export Fair for one-on-one discussions between the trade buyers and SEMA members.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) was once again a co-sponsor of the 2019 SEMA Export Fair. Liz Couch, an economist with the International Trade Administration’s auto team, spoke to the group. An extension for an additional year of SEMA’s Market Development Cooperator Program grant was announced at the Fair, enabling qualified participants on the 2020 SEMA trip to the Middle East (which will include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia) and a fall 2020 trip to Scandinavia to receive U.S. government grants to defray the cost of participating. The DOC has more than 100 U.S. export assistance centers around the country and in more than 70 markets abroad—a good and often overlooked resource. The participants were provided with the names and contact information for their local DOC officials to begin taking advantage of those resources, beginning with a one-on-one meeting with a local U.S. government official on the resources the department provides.

A dozen top trade buyers from Latin America (Colombia, Argentina and Peru), Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Australia met one on one with participants.

Mike Spagnola (third from right), SEMA’s vice president of OEM and Product Development Programs, led one of three tours of the SEMA Garage held during the Export Fair. Among the highlights of the tour was an overview of the Measuring Session program. “When new vehicles are brought onto the market, whether they’re international or domestic, we bring them in and invite manufacturers to come for a measuring session,” Spagnola explained. “When that vehicle hits the marketplace, all those accessories are ready to go. Two vehicles are currently available to SEMA members to measure through the international vehicle-measuring program. The program provides members with vehicles popularly accessorized internationally but not sold in the United States. We currently have a Nissan Patrol Y61 and ’16 Australian-spec Ford Ranger 4x4 double cab. With the Ford Ranger’s entrance into the U.S. market this year, members have an opportunity to view the differences between the rest-of-the-world Ranger and the model sold in the United States. Members are welcome to schedule a time to measure those trucks at the Garage or at your facility.”

Daniel Zhou (left) spoke on WeChat and its uses in business. WeChat is the primary messaging app in China. It is a robust program providing the ability for subscribers to pay within the app (WeChat pay) and to access business functions to promote and sell products directly through the app. Other popular global messaging services covered during the session included WhatsApp, Ding (most popular in China), Line (primarily Japan), and Telegram.

Seminars on selling to Latin America (pictured), Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Australia were featured at the SEMA Export Fair. Each panel included buyers focused on supplying the local racing market, while others specialized in supplying local off-road enthusiasts. The panel of trade buyers pictured was moderated by manufacturer’s rep and SEMA member Juan Jose Rebaza (far right) of ASAP Trading. Rebaza is based in San Diego, California, and frequently travels to Central and South America.

Josh Halpern, the founder of Going to Global and a former U.S. Department of Commerce official, led a discussion on digital literacy and global e-commerce platforms. Among the topics discussed was the growth of messaging apps abroad for conducting business and how they are often preferred to emails among international buyers. Among the most popular apps discussed both for messaging and for additional business purposes were WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger (global), We Chat (China), Ding (China), Vibe (Russia), and Line (Japan).

Joel Molina of SGS spoke about regulations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Molina noted that his company manages compliance programs across Africa and the Middle East. He talked about Saleem-Saber, which is a program that was implemented last year in Saudi Arabia. Some automotive parts are included and are thus regulated, with the list based on product descriptions and HS codes, including fuel for standard and racing engines, seat belts, brakes, air filters and rearview mirrors. For parts included on the list, the local distributor is required to have the product tested and the correct paperwork completed. A list of automotive parts covered under the Saleem-Saber standards is available by contacting Linda Spencer via email at lindas@sema.org. Molina also referenced a new automotive spare-parts standard in the United Arab Emirates. Details are still being worked out; contact Spencer for additional information on the developing standard for products such as seat belts and air filters.

Buyers met with SEMA members during the Fair portion of each day. The buyers represented some of the largest off-road and performance distributors and retailers in their respective markets.

Charlotte O’Roarke (left), owner of Accelerate Marketing Business Solutions and a SEMA member based in Canada, moderated the panel of trade buyers from her home country. With a population of 37 million, Canada is the number-one export market for U.S. automotive specialty-equipment manufacturers. “I believe that attending the SEMA Export Fair is well worth the time and cost, as it brings the automotive aftermarket from a worldwide prospective together,” noted O’Roarke. “This allows for a great discussion and exchange of information from everyone involved, including the many great speakers and subject matter experts lined up by the SEMA Export Fair team. It is an intense couple of days but being in a smaller environment at SEMA headquarters/SEMA Garage. You’re able to take it all in and go home with a lot of very helpful and useful information.”

Alibaba staff from the company’s U.S. and Chinese offices (pictured is Stephanie Yu from the company’s office in Hangzhou, China) conducted a hands-on workshop on how to use China’s mega e-commerce site’s intellectual property platform. The one-hour session provided participants with a step-by-step guide on how to actively monitor Alibaba (or its Tencent sister website) to search for and submit requests for the removal of products from vendors that are infringing on a rights holder’s trademark, copyright and/or patents. The company also released a draft guide outlining the so-called “takedown” process for removing counterfeits. Copies of the draft guide are available by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

“The SEMA Export Fair is a great platform to meet some of the most qualified international buyers in one setting,” observed participant Christina Kwan from the reseller relations, marketing, PR department at Race Ramps (right). “I found the information sessions and panels very helpful in understanding the opportunities and differences in each market. The concentration in topics and information provided will further allow me to identify the best ways to market and communicate with each region as well. I look forward to attending this event again in the future. Overall, it was a very valuable experience.” This is the first time that Canadian warehouse distributors participated in the SEMA Export Fair. While the Canadian and other buyers typically visit the SEMA Show and/or PRI Trade Show, the more leisurely pace of the Export Fair provided a great opportunity to network either at the one-on-one meetings or at an In-N-Out Burger dinner or a happy hour held in conjunction with the event.

SEMA News—October 2019

INTERNET

By Joe Dysart

7 Easy Video Marketing Solutions

With Artificial Intelligence, It’s a Snap

Scores of AI-driven programs are automating the creation of marketing videos.

Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are making it ridiculously easy to auto-generate professional-looking marketing videos these days, complete with story lines, special effects, cool transitions, soundtracks and narration. Incredibly, some of these solutions enable users to auto-generate a marketing video in as little as 15 seconds by simply entering some marketing copy into the app and then allowing its AI to automatically pull together stock audio and video into a finished production.

Like to do some tweaking? No problem. The AI apps generally also come with editing tools you can use to customize what’s produced in just a few minutes.

“Our publishing partners spend under six minutes, on average, producing original videos,” said Zohar Dayan, cofounder and CEO of Wibbitz. “These videos are intricate and are composed of beautiful media, text overlays, custom-branded graphics, diverse soundtracks and more.”

And, many AI solutions won’t break the bank. Some are offered as freebies as part of larger applications, and others start at as little as $4.99 per month.

Essentially, AI-driven marketing video production is yet another manifestation of the world-changing emergence of thinking machines. They’re real. They’re here. And they’re offering to enable you to be a much more competitive video marketer on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and every place else you showcase your marketing videos.

Here is a representative sampling of the AI video-creation tools available right now:

< Effects and transitions are also all handled by the AI, including all camera zooms and panning.

Magisto (www.magisto.com); starts at $4.99/month: Getting Magisto to do most of the work of creating a marketing video starts with the uploading of photos and videos that you’d like to use in your production. After that, it’s simply a matter of choosing an editing-style “feel” you’d like for your video, selecting music you’d like playing in the background, and allowing Magisto to work its magic.

Once triggered, Magisto analyzes all the visuals you’ve uploaded—including detection of all faces and objects—along with how those will be featured throughout the video. Meanwhile, Magisto also sorts through your video to decide how all the voices and music you’ve provided will work best together in the production. The AI also constructs a storyline for your video, including the featuring of a main character, your topic for the video, and moments it considers most “share-worthy” from an emotional point of view.

Effects and transitions are also all handled by the AI, including all camera zooms and panning. And technical tweaks get the same treatment, including color correction, image stabilization and other image enhancement technologies, which together ensure that your pictures and video footage look as good as possible.

Once Magisto serves up the finished product, you can accept the video as is or you can use a complete range of editing tools to further tweak it. Major reworks on the “feel” of your video can also been done in seconds. You can start with Magisto’s “Roaring Twenties” production feel for a video, for example, and then switch to other styles Magisto offers, such as Sentimental Style, Party Beat Style or Romance Style.

We’re making video marketing agile, completely changing the economics of video production and drastically improving its return on investment,” said Magisto CEO and Founder Oren Boiman.

You can find sample videos created with Magisto on the company’s explore page (www.magisto.com/explore).

Gliacloud (www.gliacloud.com/en); call for pricing: Gliacloud is one of a number of AI applications that is able to create a marketing video by simply analyzing marketing copy you input into its app and then putting together a video production based on that copy using stock images and stock videos. Users can input marketing copy by simply uploading copy they already have on a computer or a smartphone, or they can input a web address where Gliacloud can access the marketing copy online.

Gliacloud uses AI to analyze the copy you feed it, generating a storyline and appropriate video and still images it retrieves from its stock library. All video and images chosen emphasize major topics and keywords that the AI lifts from your copy.

Don’t quite like the results? Simply instruct Gliacloud to rerun the process as many times as you’d like until you get the alternate version of the video you’re looking for.

You can check out sample videos created with Gliacloud on its website. Scroll to the page bottom for the sample videos.

Wibbitz (www.wibbitz.com/pricing); starts at $500 per month): Wibbits is another text-to-video app similar to Gliacloud. Simply add your marketing copy to Wibbits, and it will condense your text into a storyline complete with still images, video and even voice-over narration.

Amazingly, it takes Wibbitz about 10–15 sec. to generate a complete video from uploaded marketing copy—video that can be customized further with editing tools if you prefer.

You can find sample videos produced by Wibbitz on its website (www.wibbitz.com/#latest-videos).

Lumen 5 (www.lumen5.com); pricing starts at free: Lumen 5 also offers a text-to-video service, generating marketing video complete with audio, still images and text based on marketing copy you upload to it, or a web address you feed it.

Some customers automatically generate videos with Lumen 5 every day by plugging their website’s RSS feeds into the app and allowing Lumen 5 to continually generate videos based on the new content continually added to those feeds, according to the company.

Lumen 5 also enables you to stylize your video with your brand’s unique colors. And the company will customize the way its software works for your company’s marketing content for an additional fee.

You can find sample videos created by Lumen 5 at the bottom of its homepage (www.lumen5.com).

Wochit (www.wochit.com); call for pricing: Wochit also offers text-to-video services. You can find Wochit sample videos in its showroom domain (www.wochit.com/showroom).

Raw Shorts (www.rawshorts.com) starts at $39 per month: If you’re looking for automated animation, Raw Shorts is a service to evaluate. Simply upload your marketing copy to Raw Shorts, and its AI will generate a lively animation, complete with effects, transitions, narration and other audio.

You can publish the finished product as is, or you can edit it with the full range of editing tools Raw Shorts offers.

Microsoft Photos App (with Story Remix); free: Many people using Windows 10 don’t realize that they have an automated AI video-editing program that comes standard with the operating system. Known as Story Remix (located within Microsoft Photos app), the app enables you to simply upload videos and still images and then turn it over to the app’s AI engine to generate a complete video with cinematic transitions and soundtrack.

You can add the iOS version of Story Remix to Apple products and the Android version of Story Remix to Android hardware so that anything you shoot on those competing hardware platforms can be effortlessly added to your Story Remix production on Windows 10.

Story Remix also enables you to choose a “star” to ensure that person or object is featured prominently in the production. And you can generate alternate versions of the production by simply pressing the “Remix it for Me” button in the app.

To access the Microsoft Photos App with Story Remix, ensure that you’ve updated Windows 10 to at least the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, released in Fall 2017 (www.tinyurl.com/windows10fall).

You can find a sample video created with Story Remix on Microsoft’s Blog (www.tinyurl.com/choosestar).

Quikstories developed by GoPro (www.tinyurl.com/gopro-com-help-article); free: A free app included with GoPro software, Quikstories works with all GoPro Hero5 or newer cameras. The app automatically creates videos featuring customizable music, filters and effects that are based on video footage and still images you’ve recently shot with your GoPro.

There are also plenty of editing tools you can use to tweak the results, including adding text, slow motion, additional filters and music.

“QuikStories is our biggest leap forward since the invention of the GoPro itself,” said GoPro Founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman. “QuikStories is the simple storytelling solution our customers have been dreaming about for years. It’s an absolute game changer.”

You can find a sample GoPro Quickstories video on YouTube (www.tinyurl.com/goproquickstories).

Joe Dysart is an internet speaker and business consultant based in Manhattan.

646-233-4089

joe@joedysart.com

www.joedysart.com

SEMA News—October 2019

EVENTS

By Douglas McColloch

17 Must-See Features at the 2019 SEMA Show

The Thumbnail Directory to SEMA Show Features and Events

The Hoonigan crew is back at the SEMA Show for the second year in a row. A hit at last year’s Show, the Hoonigan cast and its array of project vehicles will return to generate daily highlights on the Hoonigan Twitch feed.

Even though expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center is well underway, the 2019 SEMA Show will be held this year largely in the same familiar spaces. But the Show’s features and events, which continually evolve year after year, will reflect and respond to changes in the specialty automotive industry. This year’s Show will offer a mix of some favorite industry events, builds and competitions, along with some brand-new events.

While the SEMA Show floor is organized by category and numbered to improve navigation, a convenient way to simplify the Show experience is with the 2019 SEMA Show app, which contains detailed exhibitor information, interactive floorplans and up-to-date event information—all from your mobile device. The Show app also features a scanning function that allows attendees to capture product and exhibitor information from feature vehicles on display. The app puts the entire SEMA Show in your pocket, and is available as a free download from your mobile device’s native app store or by logging on to www.SEMAShow.com/app.

The New Products Showcase

Skybridge Between Central and South Halls

A first stop for many attendees and a must-see for everyone else, the New Products Showcase provides a window into the automotive aftermarket for the coming year as hundreds of manufacturers roll out their latest innovations. In all, the 2019 New Products Showcase is expected to exhibit more than 3,000 new and featured products. By visiting the Showcase, buyers can focus their efforts on the companies they need to keep the product pipelines active and their inventories fresh, and media attendees can get a glimpse of the latest trends to emerge from the industry’s leading influencers. Additionally, complimentary on-site scanning tools enable communications between buyers and exhibiting companies to generate leads and drive future sales.

OPTIMA Street Car Alley

North Road

Situated along the strip between North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the OPTIMA Street Car Alley will feature more than 80 of OPTIMA Batteries’ Ultimate Street Car Invitational competitors. OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car entrants will kick off the SEMA Cruise by leading the motorcade to SEMA Ignited.

SEMA Cruise

Silver Drive to Red Road

Vehicles from the 2019 SEMA Show begin parading out of the Convention Center at Show close—4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8—to the delight of thousands of fans in grandstands along the route. More than 1,000 vehicles will take part in the cruise, which proceeds toward the Platinum Lot and SEMA Ignited, the Show’s official after-party. The Cruise has become one of the Show’s most anticipated events since its inception in 2011.

Hoonigan SEMA of Shred

Silver Lot, Booth #62000

A hit with Showgoers when it debuted at the 2018 SEMA Show, the Hoonigan gang returns for 2019 with an exhibition that promises to be even more entertaining than the last. On hand again will be the Hoonigan cast and vehicles, along with demonstrations, burnouts and trademark donuts. Attendees are invited to watch two live events each day, and Showgoers unable to attend can still take in the action on Hoonigan’s Twitch channel or view highlights at the show’s daily YouTube feed.

A first stop for many attendees, the New Products Showcase provides Showgoers with an up-close opportunity to examine the more than 3,000 new products on display at the Show.	A perennial favorite, SEMA Cruise is a prelude to SEMA Ignited, as a four-wheeled procession of Show vehicles motors down Silver Drive to the Show’s finale in the Platinum Lot. Along the parade route, it’s open to the public.
Overlanders—purpose-built backcountry and lifestyle vehicles—have exploded in popularity over the past decade, and The SEMA Overland Experience, a first-time exhibit at this year’s Show, spotlights the latest tech and trends in this market segment with a host of project rigs and educational programs.	At Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT), teams of high-school students get the chance to hone their engine-building skills—and to compete for millions of dollars in college scholarships— at the HROT Dual National Championships.

The SEMA Overland Experience

Performance Pavilion, Adjacent to South Hall

This segment of the truck and off-road lifestyle aftermarket, which has exploded in popularity over the last decade, will be showcased in the SEMA Overland Experience, a brand-new feature at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty featured vehicles will be on display. Throughout the week you can attend educational programs detailing the evolution and growth of overlanding, the people and products that are moving the market, and what the growth of this segment can mean for your business.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

Silver Lot, Booth #60007

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) is a nonprofit that hosts engine challenges across the country to drive youth participation the aftermarket performance and automotive industry in a series of high-school team competitions held throughout the year. At the 2019 SEMA Show, the series’ top teams will compete in HROT’s Dual National Championship (the other championship event takes place at the PRI Trade Show in December) for the opportunity to win millions of dollars in college scholarships.

The concluding event of the 2019 SEMA Show, SEMA Ignited closes out the Show with drifting exhibitions, show vehicles, live music and entertainment—and plenty of big air.	Located on the Silver Lot, the Shell “Pioneering Performance” Live Stage will play host throughout the week to Q&As with industry leaders, live music performances, prizes and giveaways, and a special appearance or two, such as the ’68 “Bullitt” Mustang that was unveiled there at the 2018 SEMA Show.
It’s not quite like jumping through hoops of fire, but Ford Out Front has enough eye-catching action to hold the attention of any Blue Oval enthusiast. Also on hand at the event will be a slew of feature vehicles and exhibits from some of the most legendary Ford builders.	Some of the automotive industry’s most prominent artists will have their newest creations on display at Artwalk, located in the Central Hall Pre-Function Area.

First-Time & Featured Exhibitor Areas

Multiple Areas Throughout the Show

The SEMA Show comprises more than 2,400 exhibitors divided into 12 Show sections. Each year, the Show welcomes more than 400 new exhibitors, who bring new ideas and never-before-seen products. To accommodate this expansion, the Show has created several designated areas for first-time and featured companies at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Upper South Hall, Lower South Hall, Performance Pavilion and Racing Annex. Each area offers exhibitor displays of new and innovative products representing all 12 Show categories.

SEMA Electrified

Booth #34000

Another feature that debuts at the 2019 SEMA Show is SEMA Electrified, a showcase of the latest electrification trends and technological innovations that are redefining the performance aftermarket. Some custom electric vehicle conversions will be spotlighted, as will some of the parts and products that are helping to drive the market.

Continental Tire Extreme Driving Experience

Outside South Hall, Booth #69100, #69200

At Extreme Driving Experience, Show attendees are invited to hitch a drifting ride in a car equipped with new Continental performance tires. An on-site DJ will provide tunes, and attendees are welcome to take in a display of project vehicles that have been crafted for the Show by some of world’s most gifted builders.

The QUAD, Powered by SEMA Education, provides Showgoers with a venue to learn about aftermarket job opportunities, network with prospective employers or employees, post a résumé, or have a professional headshot taken.

Back at the SEMA Show after its 50th-anniversary celebration last year, Hot Wheels Legends will witness more than 20 eye-catching vehicles vying for the opportunity to join the best-selling Hot Wheels product line as a die-cast car or truck.

SEMA Ignited

Platinum Lot

On Friday, November 8, from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., the 2019 SEMA Show concludes with a bang at SEMA Ignited, a multi-event extravaganza that takes place at the Platinum Lot, east of South Hall. Among the featured events are Formula Drift drifting demonstrations, a live filming of “SEMA Battle of the Builders,” and appearances by featured SEMA Show vehicles, along with celebrities, live music and food trucks. It’s open to the public, and while they need to pay an admission fee to access the event, your Show badge gets you in free of charge. (Active-duty military are also admitted free.)

Shell “Pioneering Performance”

Silver Lot, Booth 60003

The Shell “Pioneering Performance” experience also returns to the SEMA Show for 2019. Attendees can view a lineup of one-of-a-kind automotive creations and get up close and personal with legendary performance builder John Hennessey, Barrett-Jackson head Craig Jackson and many other industry leaders. Throughout the week, the “Pioneering Performance” Live Stage will host talks with industry personalities, live entertainment, prizes and giveaways. as well as special vehicle reveals such as the original ’68 “Bullitt” Mustang that was unveiled at last year’s Show.

Ford Out Front

Silver Lot, in front of Central Hall

Ford Out Front provides Show attendees with the option to ride along with professional drivers on a closed course, or to simply sit back and watch the pros put their Ford Performance vehicles through their paces. Ford Out Front is also where attendees will find a number of Ford-based projects and Show vehicles from some of the world’s best-known Blue Oval builders and customizers.

Art Walk

Central Hall Pre-Function Area

Some of the automotive industry’s premier artists will be displaying their newest creations in the SEMA Show Art Walk, including this year’s SEMA Show design artist, “old-school” Alex Carmona. Expressed in a variety of media, the automotive art features an extensive collection of pieces to complement both the home and office. You’ll find it in the Central Hall Pre-Function Area and can even meet the artists during the popular Art Walk Happy Hour, Tuesday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Even with parking space at a premium due to construction, getting to and from the Convention Center can be as quick and easy as taking the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs directly from the center to some of the Strip’s leading hotels. It’s also a great way to meet some of your fellow Showgoers.

The annual New Products Breakfast, held at the Westgate, honors the innovators of the automotive aftermarket industry by spotlighting their newest product offerings, with prizes awarded to the most inventive and imaginative new products seen at the Show.

The QUAD—Powered by SEMA Education

Upper North Hall Concourse, Outside of Room N251

Your portal to SEMA Show Education provides Showgoers with a space to learn about aftermarket careers, professional development and student programs. Attendees can search for jobs and upload a résumé, and prospective employers can search for qualified applicants. As a special incentive for Showgoers, SEMA Education will capture and print your 2019 Show experience. Take a photo, tag #SEMAEDUCATION on Instagram, then visit The QUAD to pick up your picture.

SEMA Gear

Various Locations

Nine SEMA Gear stores—in the Bronze Lot, East Lobby, SEMA Central, Westgate, Grand Lobby, Grand Plaza, Central Hall, Skybridge and Lower South Hall Lobby—are located throughout the Show for your shopping convenience. Don’t forget to stop by and pick up gifts and SEMA Show memorabilia for friends and business associates back home. At each store, you’ll find T-shirts, hats, bags and more. A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to SEMA Cares charities.

Toyo Treadpass

Treadpass

Toyo Tires hosts two unique spaces at the 2019 SEMA Show. First, the Toyo Tires Treadpass connects the Central and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Treadpass is an expansive destination sporting dozens of custom cars and trucks along with the full line of Toyo Tires products. Visitors can also rest their feet and re-charge their devices in the lounge area.

New Products Breakfast

Westgate Las Vegas Casino & Hotel, Paradise Event Center

The SEMA Show’s annual New Products Awards competition, which takes place Tuesday, November 5, from 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m., recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the Show. Products are judged in 16 award categories, with each category having one winner and two runners-up. For more information about entering the New Products Showcase, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

SEMA News—October 2019

EVENTS

By Douglas McColloch

17 Must-See Features at the 2019 SEMA Show

The Thumbnail Directory to SEMA Show Features and Events

The Hoonigan crew is back at the SEMA Show for the second year in a row. A hit at last year’s Show, the Hoonigan cast and its array of project vehicles will return to generate daily highlights on the Hoonigan Twitch feed.

Even though expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center is well underway, the 2019 SEMA Show will be held this year largely in the same familiar spaces. But the Show’s features and events, which continually evolve year after year, will reflect and respond to changes in the specialty automotive industry. This year’s Show will offer a mix of some favorite industry events, builds and competitions, along with some brand-new events.

While the SEMA Show floor is organized by category and numbered to improve navigation, a convenient way to simplify the Show experience is with the 2019 SEMA Show app, which contains detailed exhibitor information, interactive floorplans and up-to-date event information—all from your mobile device. The Show app also features a scanning function that allows attendees to capture product and exhibitor information from feature vehicles on display. The app puts the entire SEMA Show in your pocket, and is available as a free download from your mobile device’s native app store or by logging on to www.SEMAShow.com/app.

The New Products Showcase

Skybridge Between Central and South Halls

A first stop for many attendees and a must-see for everyone else, the New Products Showcase provides a window into the automotive aftermarket for the coming year as hundreds of manufacturers roll out their latest innovations. In all, the 2019 New Products Showcase is expected to exhibit more than 3,000 new and featured products. By visiting the Showcase, buyers can focus their efforts on the companies they need to keep the product pipelines active and their inventories fresh, and media attendees can get a glimpse of the latest trends to emerge from the industry’s leading influencers. Additionally, complimentary on-site scanning tools enable communications between buyers and exhibiting companies to generate leads and drive future sales.

OPTIMA Street Car Alley

North Road

Situated along the strip between North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the OPTIMA Street Car Alley will feature more than 80 of OPTIMA Batteries’ Ultimate Street Car Invitational competitors. OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car entrants will kick off the SEMA Cruise by leading the motorcade to SEMA Ignited.

SEMA Cruise

Silver Drive to Red Road

Vehicles from the 2019 SEMA Show begin parading out of the Convention Center at Show close—4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8—to the delight of thousands of fans in grandstands along the route. More than 1,000 vehicles will take part in the cruise, which proceeds toward the Platinum Lot and SEMA Ignited, the Show’s official after-party. The Cruise has become one of the Show’s most anticipated events since its inception in 2011.

Hoonigan SEMA of Shred

Silver Lot, Booth #62000

A hit with Showgoers when it debuted at the 2018 SEMA Show, the Hoonigan gang returns for 2019 with an exhibition that promises to be even more entertaining than the last. On hand again will be the Hoonigan cast and vehicles, along with demonstrations, burnouts and trademark donuts. Attendees are invited to watch two live events each day, and Showgoers unable to attend can still take in the action on Hoonigan’s Twitch channel or view highlights at the show’s daily YouTube feed.

A first stop for many attendees, the New Products Showcase provides Showgoers with an up-close opportunity to examine the more than 3,000 new products on display at the Show.	A perennial favorite, SEMA Cruise is a prelude to SEMA Ignited, as a four-wheeled procession of Show vehicles motors down Silver Drive to the Show’s finale in the Platinum Lot. Along the parade route, it’s open to the public.
Overlanders—purpose-built backcountry and lifestyle vehicles—have exploded in popularity over the past decade, and The SEMA Overland Experience, a first-time exhibit at this year’s Show, spotlights the latest tech and trends in this market segment with a host of project rigs and educational programs.	At Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT), teams of high-school students get the chance to hone their engine-building skills—and to compete for millions of dollars in college scholarships— at the HROT Dual National Championships.

The SEMA Overland Experience

Performance Pavilion, Adjacent to South Hall

This segment of the truck and off-road lifestyle aftermarket, which has exploded in popularity over the last decade, will be showcased in the SEMA Overland Experience, a brand-new feature at the 2019 SEMA Show. Twenty featured vehicles will be on display. Throughout the week you can attend educational programs detailing the evolution and growth of overlanding, the people and products that are moving the market, and what the growth of this segment can mean for your business.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow

Silver Lot, Booth #60007

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) is a nonprofit that hosts engine challenges across the country to drive youth participation the aftermarket performance and automotive industry in a series of high-school team competitions held throughout the year. At the 2019 SEMA Show, the series’ top teams will compete in HROT’s Dual National Championship (the other championship event takes place at the PRI Trade Show in December) for the opportunity to win millions of dollars in college scholarships.

The concluding event of the 2019 SEMA Show, SEMA Ignited closes out the Show with drifting exhibitions, show vehicles, live music and entertainment—and plenty of big air.	Located on the Silver Lot, the Shell “Pioneering Performance” Live Stage will play host throughout the week to Q&As with industry leaders, live music performances, prizes and giveaways, and a special appearance or two, such as the ’68 “Bullitt” Mustang that was unveiled there at the 2018 SEMA Show.
It’s not quite like jumping through hoops of fire, but Ford Out Front has enough eye-catching action to hold the attention of any Blue Oval enthusiast. Also on hand at the event will be a slew of feature vehicles and exhibits from some of the most legendary Ford builders.	Some of the automotive industry’s most prominent artists will have their newest creations on display at Artwalk, located in the Central Hall Pre-Function Area.

First-Time & Featured Exhibitor Areas

Multiple Areas Throughout the Show

The SEMA Show comprises more than 2,400 exhibitors divided into 12 Show sections. Each year, the Show welcomes more than 400 new exhibitors, who bring new ideas and never-before-seen products. To accommodate this expansion, the Show has created several designated areas for first-time and featured companies at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Upper South Hall, Lower South Hall, Performance Pavilion and Racing Annex. Each area offers exhibitor displays of new and innovative products representing all 12 Show categories.

SEMA Electrified

Booth #34000

Another feature that debuts at the 2019 SEMA Show is SEMA Electrified, a showcase of the latest electrification trends and technological innovations that are redefining the performance aftermarket. Some custom electric vehicle conversions will be spotlighted, as will some of the parts and products that are helping to drive the market.

Continental Tire Extreme Driving Experience

Outside South Hall, Booth #69100, #69200

At Extreme Driving Experience, Show attendees are invited to hitch a drifting ride in a car equipped with new Continental performance tires. An on-site DJ will provide tunes, and attendees are welcome to take in a display of project vehicles that have been crafted for the Show by some of world’s most gifted builders.

The QUAD, Powered by SEMA Education, provides Showgoers with a venue to learn about aftermarket job opportunities, network with prospective employers or employees, post a résumé, or have a professional headshot taken.

Back at the SEMA Show after its 50th-anniversary celebration last year, Hot Wheels Legends will witness more than 20 eye-catching vehicles vying for the opportunity to join the best-selling Hot Wheels product line as a die-cast car or truck.

SEMA Ignited

Platinum Lot

On Friday, November 8, from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., the 2019 SEMA Show concludes with a bang at SEMA Ignited, a multi-event extravaganza that takes place at the Platinum Lot, east of South Hall. Among the featured events are Formula Drift drifting demonstrations, a live filming of “SEMA Battle of the Builders,” and appearances by featured SEMA Show vehicles, along with celebrities, live music and food trucks. It’s open to the public, and while they need to pay an admission fee to access the event, your Show badge gets you in free of charge. (Active-duty military are also admitted free.)

Shell “Pioneering Performance”

Silver Lot, Booth 60003

The Shell “Pioneering Performance” experience also returns to the SEMA Show for 2019. Attendees can view a lineup of one-of-a-kind automotive creations and get up close and personal with legendary performance builder John Hennessey, Barrett-Jackson head Craig Jackson and many other industry leaders. Throughout the week, the “Pioneering Performance” Live Stage will host talks with industry personalities, live entertainment, prizes and giveaways. as well as special vehicle reveals such as the original ’68 “Bullitt” Mustang that was unveiled at last year’s Show.

Ford Out Front

Silver Lot, in front of Central Hall

Ford Out Front provides Show attendees with the option to ride along with professional drivers on a closed course, or to simply sit back and watch the pros put their Ford Performance vehicles through their paces. Ford Out Front is also where attendees will find a number of Ford-based projects and Show vehicles from some of the world’s best-known Blue Oval builders and customizers.

Art Walk

Central Hall Pre-Function Area

Some of the automotive industry’s premier artists will be displaying their newest creations in the SEMA Show Art Walk, including this year’s SEMA Show design artist, “old-school” Alex Carmona. Expressed in a variety of media, the automotive art features an extensive collection of pieces to complement both the home and office. You’ll find it in the Central Hall Pre-Function Area and can even meet the artists during the popular Art Walk Happy Hour, Tuesday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Even with parking space at a premium due to construction, getting to and from the Convention Center can be as quick and easy as taking the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs directly from the center to some of the Strip’s leading hotels. It’s also a great way to meet some of your fellow Showgoers.

The annual New Products Breakfast, held at the Westgate, honors the innovators of the automotive aftermarket industry by spotlighting their newest product offerings, with prizes awarded to the most inventive and imaginative new products seen at the Show.

The QUAD—Powered by SEMA Education

Upper North Hall Concourse, Outside of Room N251

Your portal to SEMA Show Education provides Showgoers with a space to learn about aftermarket careers, professional development and student programs. Attendees can search for jobs and upload a résumé, and prospective employers can search for qualified applicants. As a special incentive for Showgoers, SEMA Education will capture and print your 2019 Show experience. Take a photo, tag #SEMAEDUCATION on Instagram, then visit The QUAD to pick up your picture.

SEMA Gear

Various Locations

Nine SEMA Gear stores—in the Bronze Lot, East Lobby, SEMA Central, Westgate, Grand Lobby, Grand Plaza, Central Hall, Skybridge and Lower South Hall Lobby—are located throughout the Show for your shopping convenience. Don’t forget to stop by and pick up gifts and SEMA Show memorabilia for friends and business associates back home. At each store, you’ll find T-shirts, hats, bags and more. A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to SEMA Cares charities.

Toyo Treadpass

Treadpass

Toyo Tires hosts two unique spaces at the 2019 SEMA Show. First, the Toyo Tires Treadpass connects the Central and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Treadpass is an expansive destination sporting dozens of custom cars and trucks along with the full line of Toyo Tires products. Visitors can also rest their feet and re-charge their devices in the lounge area.

New Products Breakfast

Westgate Las Vegas Casino & Hotel, Paradise Event Center

The SEMA Show’s annual New Products Awards competition, which takes place Tuesday, November 5, from 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m., recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the Show. Products are judged in 16 award categories, with each category having one winner and two runners-up. For more information about entering the New Products Showcase, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

SEMA News—October 2019

HERITAGE

By Drew Hardin

Grandfather of the C8 Corvette

Photo Courtesy Eric Rickman, Petersen Publishing Company Archive

Those who tuned in to the live-stream introduction of Chevrolet’s mid-engine C8 Corvette in July saw vintage footage of a single-seat roadster driving around GM’s Milford Proving Grounds and fishtailing up the dirt switchbacks of Pikes Peak. Chevy’s ’20 Corvette has roots back to that little car, the first Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle, or CERV I.

Many are familiar with Zora Arkus-Duntov, the passionate Belgian engineer who was almost single-handedly responsible for persuading Chevrolet to up the Corvette’s performance game in the mid-’50s. When it debuted in 1953, the Corvette was more boulevard cruiser than sports car, its swoopy fiberglass body powered by a pedestrian six-cylinder engine. Thanks to Duntov’s efforts, a small-block V8 went into the Corvette for 1955, and the car’s fortunes turned. On Duntov’s watch, the Corvette set records on the sand at Daytona Beach, won races against fierce European and domestic competition, and proved popular at the showroom as well.

Duntov’s goal of creating a world-class sports car was coming true. But he realized even then that a whole new level of performance could be achieved with a radical reimagining of the car’s layout. Packaging the engine behind the driver (a trend that was beginning to take hold in Formula 1 and would soon make its way to Indianapolis) would center the car’s mass, a tremendous advantage for handling and the driver’s visibility. In 1959, he began work on what would become CERV I to test that and other high-performance concepts.

Duntov shook the car down at Milford and on the Peak and then debuted it publicly at Riverside Raceway in November 1960. Hot Rod was on hand to document the event, while racers Dan Gurney and Stirling Moss shared driving duties with Duntov.

Hot Rod Technical Editor Ray Brock (seen in the photo at the rear of the car talking to Duntov in the sunglasses) described the CERV I as “Designed to test new engineering ideas… [with] fully independent suspension, transaxle, tube frame and 350-lb. aluminum V8 with one horsepower per pound.” Brock noted that “the car was run in excess of 170 mph” at Milford, while the run up Pikes Peak “produced times comparable to those turned in by the fastest championship cars.” At Riverside, both Gurney and Moss ran laps of around 2 minutes 4 seconds, not far off Moss’s lap record of 1 minute 55 seconds, which he set in a Lotus Grand Prix car.

Ultimately CERV I would be tested for several years using a variety of engines and would lead to two more test mules carrying the CERV designation, in 1963 and 1990, as well as a number of mid-engine prototype and concept cars. Rumors of those concepts becoming a mid-engine production Corvette would ebb and flow over the years, but it took six decades before Duntov’s mid-engine dream would finally become reality.

SEMA News—October 2019

SEMA Show 2019: Trend Spotting

Chris Kersting

With just four weeks to go, we can report that the 2019 SEMA Show is going to be an outstanding opportunity for industry buyers and sellers to do business. As in past years, exhibitor participation is stretching the limits of the facility. The Las Vegas Convention Center floorplan is packed with a remarkable array of companies representing every industry segment—and emerging new trends within those segments.

Show registration data indicates that new-product offerings will be arrayed on a record number of one-off feature vehicles, tangible evidence of the innovation and imagination our industry fosters. Exhibitors are working to finalize their booth displays and planning product demonstrations, special pricing offers and backing their efforts with expert personnel. And again this year, hundreds of first-time exhibitors are poised to bring new ideas and offerings to the Show.

Industry activity is consistent with past Shows, and yet the industry and the SEMA Show are rapidly evolving. One barometer of change is the range of new products exhibitors bring to the Show, which often reveal new trends the industry is capturing.

For example, the overlanding trend continues to build as outdoor adventure-seekers rig up purpose-built, rugged vehicles for expeditions and camping. This growing subset of the off-road market has caught the attention of SEMA manufacturers, spawning a range of products that put self-contained adventure travel in reach for more customers.

While tricked-out trucks have surged in recent years, 2019 Show registration data indicates that this year’s feature vehicle crop includes a significant wave of sport compacts, Euro tuners and exotics.

Another trend can be seen in the products that relate to advanced driver-assistance systems, otherwise known as ADAS. In this fast-growing segment, companies are producing products that allow shops to offer safety as a new form of performance—and customers to update their cars with state-of-the-art systems.

In the emerging-segment category, we are beginning to see companies converting a wide range of cool cars and trucks to electric propulsion, including race cars and classics. At the same time, traditional OEMs are exciting the industry with new e-models aimed at enthusiasts. While still early in the market cycle, those at the leading edge of this segment are seeing rapid growth. This year’s SEMA Show will showcase the trend along with some of the companies leading the segment, and we’ll see parts and equipment that make it possible for a wide variety of vehicles to enjoy new life as electric cars.

The Show will also illustrate how the industry is evolving in the competition to reach customers and convince them to buy. In this issue, you’ll find a special supplement that lists the SEMA manufacturers that have achieved Platinum status with the SEMA Data Co-op, the industry’s largest repository of digitized product information. These are the manufacturers that offer the most accurate, up-to-date product data to retailers, complete with enhanced images, videos and fitment information that power product listings that get customers to commit. Retailers can use this supplement to efficiently identify manufacturers offering top product data and target them as part of their Show plan.

We’ll be keeping an eye on those trends and others as they develop. And we’ll be working to assure that this year’s SEMA Show offers the core value that both exhibitors and attendees have come to expect.

Speaking of planning, if you haven’t yet finalized your own plan for the 2019 SEMA Show, there is still time for domestic attendees to register for the Show and have their badges mailed. That deadline is October 11.

At www.SEMAShow.com, you’ll find all the information you need to get prepared so you can hit the ground running and have your most productive SEMA Show ever!

SEMA News—October 2019

BUSINESS

ADAS at the SEMA Show

See the Latest Tech on Full Display in Las Vegas

By Mike Imlay

A perennial SEMA Show exhibitor, Brandmotion is one of many aftermarket ADAS technology suppliers slated to display their innovations at the 2019 Show. The trade event is a premier venue for spotting new products and trends in the rapidly growing ADAS category.

Staying atop the unprecedented explosion of new technologies transforming the automotive world is a crucial yet constant challenge for today’s aftermarket businesses. This is especially true of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), which are already having a major impact on the ways that vehicles are repaired, customized and serviced. In fact, experts maintain that there will be virtually no specialty-equipment segment left untouched by these safety-performance technologies within a few short years. Traditionally, the SEMA Show is the premier venue for aftermarket trend-spotting, so it should be no surprise that the many opportunities and challenges of the ADAS category will be on full display at this year’s trade event, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Three years ago, the Show saw the announcement of a SEMA-led “Advanced Vehicle Technology Opportunities” report conducted with Ducker Worldwide and the Center for Automotive Research. The groundbreaking report was designed to alert the aftermarket to the tremendous potential of ADAS products. At the study’s unveiling, the value of the ADAS aftermarket was estimated at just under $1 billion, with a projected 9%–10% compound annual growth rate through 2021.

Since that report, SEMA researchers have continued to track sales channels and consumer buying habits for ADAS products. According to the “2019 SEMA Market Report,” 67% of aftermarket manufacturers supplying such technologies confirmed sales growth in 2018. While new-vehicle dealerships accounted for a 27% share of sales dollars, physical and online aftermarket sales channels accounted for a combined 67% share. The report shows consumers purchasing safety-performance products in near-equal dollar shares across virtually every vehicle segment, from small cars to CUVs, SUVs and pickups. SEMA research further indicates that passive parking-assistance products make up the bulk of present aftermarket offerings, but other yet-untapped areas can be expected to grow as well, driven by several key factors:

• The lower cost of aftermarket ADAS alternatives to OEM products, which are often bundled into higher-trim and option packages.
• The potential for aftermarket brands to “fill the gap” with ADAS products that lack sufficient annual take-rates for OEMs to offer.
• The aftermarket’s ability to retrofit older vehicles and lower new-model trim levels.
• The improvement and simplification in aftermarket systems, such as passive parking assistance, that allow for easier self-installations.
• The increasing consumer interest in the “safety and awareness” that ADAS delivers.

SEMA research projects immediate aftermarket opportunity in retrofitting newer ADAS technologies into vehicles that lack them. This chart represents the estimated compound annual growth rate of aftermarket ADAS-product upfitments in millions over the current five-year term.

“ADAS is a vehicle technology that will eventually affect all of us in the SEMA community,” confirmed John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. “Consumer demand for these safety-performance systems, products and technologies is growing rapidly. Automakers are integrating passive and active ADAS technologies into new cars, and these systems are bringing significant real-world benefits by reducing automotive injuries and accidents. Today, more than 60 million vehicles in the United States are already equipped with ADAS technologies, including blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and forward collision-avoidance systems, according to a recent report from Frost
& Sullivan.

“In the next five to 10 years, nearly 80% of all vehicles in operation in the United States will have some level of ADAS technology onboard. ADAS technologies are the gateway to automated driving systems being developed by automakers and creating new kinds of vehicles and business models and product development for both OEMs and aftermarket companies. Our Vehicle Technology Forums at the SEMA Show—along with additional SEMA-sponsored seminars and vehicle reviews throughout the year—are helping our members customize with confidence as they modify vehicles equipped with the latest factory-installed ADAS technologies as well as updating and retrofitting existing cars not originally equipped with ADAS.”

According to SEMA research, while independent repair and specialty businesses currently take the lion’s share of ADAS sales and servicing, parts chains will gain significant footing by 2022.

In addition to the 2019 SEMA Show technology forums, Show attendees can deepen their understanding of the ADAS category by visiting the increasing number of suppliers bringing their innovations to the Show floor.

Supply and Demand

Although more and more manufacturers jump into the category each year, ADAS is still very much a growth channel, said Ittai Racine, co-founder of Castel Technologies, a Miramar, Florida-based manufacturer planning to exhibit at this year’s Show.

“I do not know if competition is on the rise or not, [but] the market is so huge and the supply is so varied that I do not think that there is really a question of strong competition. The products available offer different solutions at different price levels and for different applications. In applications such as [car audio], one has many products to choose from, and the same with ADAS. Cameras, radar, night vision, with or without screens… There is room for everybody.”

Gentex Corp. hopes to educate 2019 SEMA Show attendees about its next-generation Full Display Mirror (FDM), among other products. FDM is an intelligent rear-vision system utilizing a custom camera and mirror-integrated video display for optimized, panoramic rearward views.

For its part, Castel Technologies offers an Enicar Universal Kit to combine infotainment, camera and navigation, security and connected-car technologies into a single head unit so that all of those features can be controlled and viewed from one location.

“We decided on the development of our product not in order to differentiate it and our company from others but because we wanted the best solution for the driver,” Racine said. “In this case, it was clear to us that it is best to use one platform, one piece of hardware, and a kit with one touch screen for safety of the driving experience, for efficiency and for cost effectiveness.”

Racine currently sees “limitless and endless opportunities for innovation” for ADAS suppliers, although he conceded that retailers have yet to fully grasp the opportunities.

“Their behavior is a normal one, described in statistics as ‘normal distribution,’” he said. “Some are more skeptical and require more education; some are less skeptical and easier to convince and sell; but the majority need education, incentives and hard work to acquire their support.”

Right now, cameras represent the most ubiquitous ADAS product lines hitting retailer shelves. Known as a passive technology because they alert a driver to impending dangers rather than engage vehicle systems to automatically take action, cameras range from single backup units to multi-camera 360-degree view systems. The latter can help protect drivers from ill-advised lane changes as well as unseen rear and cross-traffic hazards. The question is where to safely display all that visual information, and differing manufacturers offer a host of solutions.

Based in Michigan, returning SEMA Show exhibitor Gentex Corp. recently launched its next-generation Full Display Mirror (FDM), an intelligent rear-vision system utilizing a custom camera and mirror-integrated video display for an optimized, panoramic rearward view. A simple flip of a lever alternates between the actual mirror view and a clear, bright, LCD display appearing through the mirror’s reflective surface. The FDM is also central to the company’s camera monitoring system (CMS), which uses three discretely mounted cameras to provide comprehensive views of a vehicle’s sides and rear. A roof-mounted camera adds to the composite views that stream to the FDM, and the entire ensemble can create a platform for additional rearward-facing ADAS functionality.

“When it comes to automotive rear and side vision, our goal is to help the auto industry transition from analog to digital technology, “ said Steve Downing, Gentex president and CEO. “We have solutions ready for immediate OEM adoption, the aftermarket, and future solutions in development with customers. Moving forward, digital vision solutions will play a critical role in driver information delivery as the industry moves through the stages of autonomous driving.”

Hunter Engineering is one of several SEMA Show tool and equipment suppliers bringing new ADAS calibration solutions to market. It offers a camera kit to integrate Hawkeye Elite aligners with the Autel MaxiSys ADAS Aftermarket Calibration Kit, streamlining calibration times by 50% or more.

Meeting the Challenges

Although ADAS promises many new opportunities for the aftermarket, they won’t come without growing pains. Perhaps no one knows that better than representatives of the collision-repair industry, which has been a sort of canary in the coal mine for impending ADAS challenges.

OEMs now embed factory ADAS cameras as well as radar and lidar sensors throughout their vehicles, sometimes in the most unexpected places such as windshields and taillights. Replacing and straightening parts can throw the sensors off, sometimes without triggering a trouble code. Moreover, changes in vehicle weight, ride heights, suspension systems, wheels and tires or even bumper materials can also hinder the safety of ADAS equipment.

The lessons collision repairers are learning, along with the tools and equipment they’re developing to cope with these potential liabilities, will likely prove a boon for parts manufacturers and retail installers as well.

“The reality is that ADAS is an industry-invented category,” said Ben Johnson, director of product management for Mitchell1, a provider of information solutions and scanning/recalibration tools for automotive professionals. “It includes all those things that help keep vehicles safe on the nation’s highways. Blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking are just a few features that fit into that category.

“Those features and the ADAS category have been evolving for more than 10 years. In fact, by 2008, considered to be the older end of the ‘aftermarket sweet spot,’ ADAS-related features were found on some mainstream as well as luxury models from 18 manufacturers. Those systems are already being attributed with having saved tens of thousands of lives through accident avoidance, and consumers generally really like them.”

The good news is that, despite all this diversity, a scan tool that supports ADAS and some time are all you need to calibrate many vehicles on the road today, Johnson said. To address that need, Mitchell1 will showcase its ProDemand repair-information software designed to make diagnosing, calibrating and repairing ADAS-equipped vehicles quick and easy.

“Our ADAS quick-reference feature has been so well received that we’ve ramped up our development cycles to get information into our ProDemand product more rapidly,” Johnson said. “At Mitchell1, we pride ourselves on being first to market with quick service information such as lube capacities, tire fitment and other items that are done while vehicles are still in warranty. Because the ADAS calibrations may need to be done as a result of maintenance items such as alignments, we’ve now added ADAS to our quick service development categories, so ADAS-related information will be in ProDemand within a few months of a vehicle being introduced to market.”

Among the advanced collision-repair tools for ADAS at the SEMA Show will be Mitchell1’s ProDemand repair information software, an application designed to make diagnosing, calibrating and repairing ADAS-equipped vehicles quicker and easier.

Another improvement Mitchell1 will be touting at the SEMA Show is ProDemand’s access to wiring diagrams.

“While that doesn’t seem immediately to be an ADAS feature, and it’s certainly not limited to ADAS, when a technician is diagnosing these newer technologies, many times it will be his or her first time dealing with these complex systems,” Johnson explained. “We wanted to make it easier to navigate the many wiring diagrams available to help with troubleshooting.”

Mitchell1 will not be alone at the Show. Other diagnostics suppliers such as AirPro Diagnostics, asTech and Hunter Engineering also stand ready to highlight and explain the latest strides they are making with ADAS-capable products. Kaleb Silver, Hunter Engineering’s director of product management for systems technology, said that the Show is the ideal venue for tool and equipment companies to not only exhibit their state-of-the-art technologies but also participate in industry education initiatives.

“The SEMA Show is the place to see and experience the latest technology in the industry,” he said. “Training classes provide great content on current topics, and SEMA members demonstrate solutions to address vehicle maintenance, repair and customization needs. Hunter Engineering will be participating in both training classes and in booth demonstrations for wheel service, alignment and ADAS-related topics.”

Rearview and sideview cameras are popular items, along with systems that can integrate them and other safety-performance technologies into a single package. Enicar is bringing its universal kit for infotainment and connected-car technologies to this year’s Show.

According to SEMA market research, the mobile-electronics category as a whole has slowed somewhat in recent years, partly as a result of the stepped-up sound packages now offered by OEMs. That has led a number of audio companies to expand their product-development efforts into the ADAS category—a natural fit that they believe will bring renewed growth to their market. For now, those companies are vying for an edge with passive ADAS technologies such as head-up displays and other devices that give audible, visual or tactile warnings to help drivers avoid accidents. However, Scosche Industries Manager of Automotive Product Development Shane Condon recently told SEMA News that he expects that to rapidly change as more and more suppliers crack the early barriers to more advanced technologies. (See “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems,” SEMA News, April 2019, p. 26.)

“While there are many segments of the driver-assist categories that appear to be impacted, there is still plenty of room for innovation to create new and improved solutions,” Condon said. “For example, backup cameras come to mind, especially with the average vehicle on the road in the United States being 11 years old. Connected devices or driver-assist devices augmented by now-common tech in smartphones are a definite target area, especially with the anticipated emergence of 5G. As technology and electronics continue to mature and evolve, we expect to see more opportunities around OEM integration and add-ons of both passive and active ADAS systems.”

Staying Current

In the end, regardless of a Show attendee’s place in the industry, ADAS technologies represent a segment you want to get up to speed on, Waraniak advised.

“Nearly 70% of automotive service is performed outside the OEM dealer network, so independent repair shops as well as SEMA-shop organizations must be just as diligent and vigilant about staying on top of this rapidly changing safety performance technology,” he said. “In addition to everything attendees can see and learn on this topic at the SEMA Show, our association has created the “ADAS Resource Guide” on the SEMA Garage website to help members stay on top of ADAS by providing the latest information on ADAS technologies and business opportunities as well as the SEMA Advanced Vehicle Technology Opportunity Study [found at www.semagarage.com/services/vehicleadas].”

ADAS Suppliers at the 2019 SEMA Show

The following are 2019 SEMA Show exhibitors that have specifically announced they offer ADAS-related products. Listings were accurate as of press time (August 21, 2019), so be sure to consult the full list of exhibitors at www.SEMAShow.com for the most up-to-date information.

AAMP Global
Booths #V21, #V22
www.echomaster.com

• Echo Master products; rearview cameras, blind-spot sensors, front cameras, 360-degree cameras and more.

Accele Electronics
Booth #11817
www.accele.com

• Rear cameras and rearview mirror displays.

AirPro Diagnostics
Booth #15116
www.airprodiagnostics.com

• Subaru diagnostic scan tool for calibrating ADAS repairs.

asTech
Booth #15525
www.collisiondiagnosticservices.com

• ADAS-capable post-repair calibration equipment, including a remote diagnostic tool.

BlackVue
Booth #11961
www.blackvue.com

• Mobile Eye recording dash cameras.

Boyo
Booth #11729
(See also Vision Tech America)

Brandmotion
Booth #11733
www.brandmotion.com
Radar blind-spot detection, 360-degree camera and OEM rear-vision systems.

Car Mate USA/RAZO
Booths #V252, #20627
www.carmate-usa.com

• Dash cameras and parking sensors.

Cyber Concept Technology Co. Ltd./Cybcar America Drive Assist
Technology
Booth #11627
www.cybcar.us

• Blind-spot detection systems.

Dynavin GmbH
Booth #12010
www.dynavin.com

• Reverse cameras.

Gentex Corp.
Booth #12071
www.gentex.com

• Auto-dimming mirrors, displays, camera systems, lighting, blind-side alerts and other driver-assist technologies.

JpanVista/JPP
Booth #11810
www.jpanvista.com

• Backup cameras and rearview mirror displays.

LinksWell Automotive/Integration Electronic (Sintegrate)
Booth #11681
www.linkswellinc.com

• Multi-camera interfaces.

Mitchell1, aka Mitchell Repair Information Co. LLC
Booth #16607
www.mitchell1.com

• ProDemand OEM repair information software with ADAS capabilities.

MITO Corp.
Booth #11661
www.mito-auto.com

• OE-grade automotive electronics, including Gentex auto-dimming rearview mirrors available with a rear camera and HomeLink displays.

Rostra Accessories
Booth #11617
www.rostra.com

• Customized and universal electronic aftermarket cruise-control systems and automotive parking assists.

Rockford Fosgate
Booth #11839
www.rockfordcorp.com

• Backup cameras, license-plate cameras, tailgate cameras, wireless backup cameras, blind-spot monitors and park assist systems.

Scosche Industries
Booth #11717
www.scosche.com

• Smart dash and backup cameras, rearview-mirror and head-up displays.

Toppking Electronics Ltd.
Booth #11711
www.blindspotsolution.com

• Blind-spot detection systems, parking sensors and car security integration.

Ultronix Products Ltd.
Booth #11828
www.ultronix.cn/en/index.asp

• Parking sensor systems and cameras.

Ventra Technology
Booth #33297
www.ventrainc.com

• HD vehicle video recorders and backup cameras.

Vision Tech America Inc.
Booth #11729
www.visiontechamerica.com

• Rearview camera systems, backup cameras and monitors, mirror monitors and head-up displays.

VOXX Electronics Corp.
Booth #12017
www.voxxelectronics.com

• Blind-spot detection, wireless cameras, smart rearview mirrors and backup cameras.

Whistler Group
Booth #11917
www.whistlergroup.com

• Radar dash cameras with built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
  

SEMA News—October 2019

BUSINESS

ADAS at the SEMA Show

See the Latest Tech on Full Display in Las Vegas

By Mike Imlay

A perennial SEMA Show exhibitor, Brandmotion is one of many aftermarket ADAS technology suppliers slated to display their innovations at the 2019 Show. The trade event is a premier venue for spotting new products and trends in the rapidly growing ADAS category.

Staying atop the unprecedented explosion of new technologies transforming the automotive world is a crucial yet constant challenge for today’s aftermarket businesses. This is especially true of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), which are already having a major impact on the ways that vehicles are repaired, customized and serviced. In fact, experts maintain that there will be virtually no specialty-equipment segment left untouched by these safety-performance technologies within a few short years. Traditionally, the SEMA Show is the premier venue for aftermarket trend-spotting, so it should be no surprise that the many opportunities and challenges of the ADAS category will be on full display at this year’s trade event, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Three years ago, the Show saw the announcement of a SEMA-led “Advanced Vehicle Technology Opportunities” report conducted with Ducker Worldwide and the Center for Automotive Research. The groundbreaking report was designed to alert the aftermarket to the tremendous potential of ADAS products. At the study’s unveiling, the value of the ADAS aftermarket was estimated at just under $1 billion, with a projected 9%–10% compound annual growth rate through 2021.

Since that report, SEMA researchers have continued to track sales channels and consumer buying habits for ADAS products. According to the “2019 SEMA Market Report,” 67% of aftermarket manufacturers supplying such technologies confirmed sales growth in 2018. While new-vehicle dealerships accounted for a 27% share of sales dollars, physical and online aftermarket sales channels accounted for a combined 67% share. The report shows consumers purchasing safety-performance products in near-equal dollar shares across virtually every vehicle segment, from small cars to CUVs, SUVs and pickups. SEMA research further indicates that passive parking-assistance products make up the bulk of present aftermarket offerings, but other yet-untapped areas can be expected to grow as well, driven by several key factors:

• The lower cost of aftermarket ADAS alternatives to OEM products, which are often bundled into higher-trim and option packages.
• The potential for aftermarket brands to “fill the gap” with ADAS products that lack sufficient annual take-rates for OEMs to offer.
• The aftermarket’s ability to retrofit older vehicles and lower new-model trim levels.
• The improvement and simplification in aftermarket systems, such as passive parking assistance, that allow for easier self-installations.
• The increasing consumer interest in the “safety and awareness” that ADAS delivers.

SEMA research projects immediate aftermarket opportunity in retrofitting newer ADAS technologies into vehicles that lack them. This chart represents the estimated compound annual growth rate of aftermarket ADAS-product upfitments in millions over the current five-year term.

“ADAS is a vehicle technology that will eventually affect all of us in the SEMA community,” confirmed John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. “Consumer demand for these safety-performance systems, products and technologies is growing rapidly. Automakers are integrating passive and active ADAS technologies into new cars, and these systems are bringing significant real-world benefits by reducing automotive injuries and accidents. Today, more than 60 million vehicles in the United States are already equipped with ADAS technologies, including blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and forward collision-avoidance systems, according to a recent report from Frost
& Sullivan.

“In the next five to 10 years, nearly 80% of all vehicles in operation in the United States will have some level of ADAS technology onboard. ADAS technologies are the gateway to automated driving systems being developed by automakers and creating new kinds of vehicles and business models and product development for both OEMs and aftermarket companies. Our Vehicle Technology Forums at the SEMA Show—along with additional SEMA-sponsored seminars and vehicle reviews throughout the year—are helping our members customize with confidence as they modify vehicles equipped with the latest factory-installed ADAS technologies as well as updating and retrofitting existing cars not originally equipped with ADAS.”

According to SEMA research, while independent repair and specialty businesses currently take the lion’s share of ADAS sales and servicing, parts chains will gain significant footing by 2022.

In addition to the 2019 SEMA Show technology forums, Show attendees can deepen their understanding of the ADAS category by visiting the increasing number of suppliers bringing their innovations to the Show floor.

Supply and Demand

Although more and more manufacturers jump into the category each year, ADAS is still very much a growth channel, said Ittai Racine, co-founder of Castel Technologies, a Miramar, Florida-based manufacturer planning to exhibit at this year’s Show.

“I do not know if competition is on the rise or not, [but] the market is so huge and the supply is so varied that I do not think that there is really a question of strong competition. The products available offer different solutions at different price levels and for different applications. In applications such as [car audio], one has many products to choose from, and the same with ADAS. Cameras, radar, night vision, with or without screens… There is room for everybody.”

Gentex Corp. hopes to educate 2019 SEMA Show attendees about its next-generation Full Display Mirror (FDM), among other products. FDM is an intelligent rear-vision system utilizing a custom camera and mirror-integrated video display for optimized, panoramic rearward views.

For its part, Castel Technologies offers an Enicar Universal Kit to combine infotainment, camera and navigation, security and connected-car technologies into a single head unit so that all of those features can be controlled and viewed from one location.

“We decided on the development of our product not in order to differentiate it and our company from others but because we wanted the best solution for the driver,” Racine said. “In this case, it was clear to us that it is best to use one platform, one piece of hardware, and a kit with one touch screen for safety of the driving experience, for efficiency and for cost effectiveness.”

Racine currently sees “limitless and endless opportunities for innovation” for ADAS suppliers, although he conceded that retailers have yet to fully grasp the opportunities.

“Their behavior is a normal one, described in statistics as ‘normal distribution,’” he said. “Some are more skeptical and require more education; some are less skeptical and easier to convince and sell; but the majority need education, incentives and hard work to acquire their support.”

Right now, cameras represent the most ubiquitous ADAS product lines hitting retailer shelves. Known as a passive technology because they alert a driver to impending dangers rather than engage vehicle systems to automatically take action, cameras range from single backup units to multi-camera 360-degree view systems. The latter can help protect drivers from ill-advised lane changes as well as unseen rear and cross-traffic hazards. The question is where to safely display all that visual information, and differing manufacturers offer a host of solutions.

Based in Michigan, returning SEMA Show exhibitor Gentex Corp. recently launched its next-generation Full Display Mirror (FDM), an intelligent rear-vision system utilizing a custom camera and mirror-integrated video display for an optimized, panoramic rearward view. A simple flip of a lever alternates between the actual mirror view and a clear, bright, LCD display appearing through the mirror’s reflective surface. The FDM is also central to the company’s camera monitoring system (CMS), which uses three discretely mounted cameras to provide comprehensive views of a vehicle’s sides and rear. A roof-mounted camera adds to the composite views that stream to the FDM, and the entire ensemble can create a platform for additional rearward-facing ADAS functionality.

“When it comes to automotive rear and side vision, our goal is to help the auto industry transition from analog to digital technology, “ said Steve Downing, Gentex president and CEO. “We have solutions ready for immediate OEM adoption, the aftermarket, and future solutions in development with customers. Moving forward, digital vision solutions will play a critical role in driver information delivery as the industry moves through the stages of autonomous driving.”

Hunter Engineering is one of several SEMA Show tool and equipment suppliers bringing new ADAS calibration solutions to market. It offers a camera kit to integrate Hawkeye Elite aligners with the Autel MaxiSys ADAS Aftermarket Calibration Kit, streamlining calibration times by 50% or more.

Meeting the Challenges

Although ADAS promises many new opportunities for the aftermarket, they won’t come without growing pains. Perhaps no one knows that better than representatives of the collision-repair industry, which has been a sort of canary in the coal mine for impending ADAS challenges.

OEMs now embed factory ADAS cameras as well as radar and lidar sensors throughout their vehicles, sometimes in the most unexpected places such as windshields and taillights. Replacing and straightening parts can throw the sensors off, sometimes without triggering a trouble code. Moreover, changes in vehicle weight, ride heights, suspension systems, wheels and tires or even bumper materials can also hinder the safety of ADAS equipment.

The lessons collision repairers are learning, along with the tools and equipment they’re developing to cope with these potential liabilities, will likely prove a boon for parts manufacturers and retail installers as well.

“The reality is that ADAS is an industry-invented category,” said Ben Johnson, director of product management for Mitchell1, a provider of information solutions and scanning/recalibration tools for automotive professionals. “It includes all those things that help keep vehicles safe on the nation’s highways. Blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking are just a few features that fit into that category.

“Those features and the ADAS category have been evolving for more than 10 years. In fact, by 2008, considered to be the older end of the ‘aftermarket sweet spot,’ ADAS-related features were found on some mainstream as well as luxury models from 18 manufacturers. Those systems are already being attributed with having saved tens of thousands of lives through accident avoidance, and consumers generally really like them.”

The good news is that, despite all this diversity, a scan tool that supports ADAS and some time are all you need to calibrate many vehicles on the road today, Johnson said. To address that need, Mitchell1 will showcase its ProDemand repair-information software designed to make diagnosing, calibrating and repairing ADAS-equipped vehicles quick and easy.

“Our ADAS quick-reference feature has been so well received that we’ve ramped up our development cycles to get information into our ProDemand product more rapidly,” Johnson said. “At Mitchell1, we pride ourselves on being first to market with quick service information such as lube capacities, tire fitment and other items that are done while vehicles are still in warranty. Because the ADAS calibrations may need to be done as a result of maintenance items such as alignments, we’ve now added ADAS to our quick service development categories, so ADAS-related information will be in ProDemand within a few months of a vehicle being introduced to market.”

Among the advanced collision-repair tools for ADAS at the SEMA Show will be Mitchell1’s ProDemand repair information software, an application designed to make diagnosing, calibrating and repairing ADAS-equipped vehicles quicker and easier.

Another improvement Mitchell1 will be touting at the SEMA Show is ProDemand’s access to wiring diagrams.

“While that doesn’t seem immediately to be an ADAS feature, and it’s certainly not limited to ADAS, when a technician is diagnosing these newer technologies, many times it will be his or her first time dealing with these complex systems,” Johnson explained. “We wanted to make it easier to navigate the many wiring diagrams available to help with troubleshooting.”

Mitchell1 will not be alone at the Show. Other diagnostics suppliers such as AirPro Diagnostics, asTech and Hunter Engineering also stand ready to highlight and explain the latest strides they are making with ADAS-capable products. Kaleb Silver, Hunter Engineering’s director of product management for systems technology, said that the Show is the ideal venue for tool and equipment companies to not only exhibit their state-of-the-art technologies but also participate in industry education initiatives.

“The SEMA Show is the place to see and experience the latest technology in the industry,” he said. “Training classes provide great content on current topics, and SEMA members demonstrate solutions to address vehicle maintenance, repair and customization needs. Hunter Engineering will be participating in both training classes and in booth demonstrations for wheel service, alignment and ADAS-related topics.”

Rearview and sideview cameras are popular items, along with systems that can integrate them and other safety-performance technologies into a single package. Enicar is bringing its universal kit for infotainment and connected-car technologies to this year’s Show.

According to SEMA market research, the mobile-electronics category as a whole has slowed somewhat in recent years, partly as a result of the stepped-up sound packages now offered by OEMs. That has led a number of audio companies to expand their product-development efforts into the ADAS category—a natural fit that they believe will bring renewed growth to their market. For now, those companies are vying for an edge with passive ADAS technologies such as head-up displays and other devices that give audible, visual or tactile warnings to help drivers avoid accidents. However, Scosche Industries Manager of Automotive Product Development Shane Condon recently told SEMA News that he expects that to rapidly change as more and more suppliers crack the early barriers to more advanced technologies. (See “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems,” SEMA News, April 2019, p. 26.)

“While there are many segments of the driver-assist categories that appear to be impacted, there is still plenty of room for innovation to create new and improved solutions,” Condon said. “For example, backup cameras come to mind, especially with the average vehicle on the road in the United States being 11 years old. Connected devices or driver-assist devices augmented by now-common tech in smartphones are a definite target area, especially with the anticipated emergence of 5G. As technology and electronics continue to mature and evolve, we expect to see more opportunities around OEM integration and add-ons of both passive and active ADAS systems.”

Staying Current

In the end, regardless of a Show attendee’s place in the industry, ADAS technologies represent a segment you want to get up to speed on, Waraniak advised.

“Nearly 70% of automotive service is performed outside the OEM dealer network, so independent repair shops as well as SEMA-shop organizations must be just as diligent and vigilant about staying on top of this rapidly changing safety performance technology,” he said. “In addition to everything attendees can see and learn on this topic at the SEMA Show, our association has created the “ADAS Resource Guide” on the SEMA Garage website to help members stay on top of ADAS by providing the latest information on ADAS technologies and business opportunities as well as the SEMA Advanced Vehicle Technology Opportunity Study [found at www.semagarage.com/services/vehicleadas].”

ADAS Suppliers at the 2019 SEMA Show

The following are 2019 SEMA Show exhibitors that have specifically announced they offer ADAS-related products. Listings were accurate as of press time (August 21, 2019), so be sure to consult the full list of exhibitors at www.SEMAShow.com for the most up-to-date information.

AAMP Global
Booths #V21, #V22
www.echomaster.com

• Echo Master products; rearview cameras, blind-spot sensors, front cameras, 360-degree cameras and more.

Accele Electronics
Booth #11817
www.accele.com

• Rear cameras and rearview mirror displays.

AirPro Diagnostics
Booth #15116
www.airprodiagnostics.com

• Subaru diagnostic scan tool for calibrating ADAS repairs.

asTech
Booth #15525
www.collisiondiagnosticservices.com

• ADAS-capable post-repair calibration equipment, including a remote diagnostic tool.

BlackVue
Booth #11961
www.blackvue.com

• Mobile Eye recording dash cameras.

Boyo
Booth #11729
(See also Vision Tech America)

Brandmotion
Booth #11733
www.brandmotion.com
Radar blind-spot detection, 360-degree camera and OEM rear-vision systems.

Car Mate USA/RAZO
Booths #V252, #20627
www.carmate-usa.com

• Dash cameras and parking sensors.

Cyber Concept Technology Co. Ltd./Cybcar America Drive Assist
Technology
Booth #11627
www.cybcar.us

• Blind-spot detection systems.

Dynavin GmbH
Booth #12010
www.dynavin.com

• Reverse cameras.

Gentex Corp.
Booth #12071
www.gentex.com

• Auto-dimming mirrors, displays, camera systems, lighting, blind-side alerts and other driver-assist technologies.

JpanVista/JPP
Booth #11810
www.jpanvista.com

• Backup cameras and rearview mirror displays.

LinksWell Automotive/Integration Electronic (Sintegrate)
Booth #11681
www.linkswellinc.com

• Multi-camera interfaces.

Mitchell1, aka Mitchell Repair Information Co. LLC
Booth #16607
www.mitchell1.com

• ProDemand OEM repair information software with ADAS capabilities.

MITO Corp.
Booth #11661
www.mito-auto.com

• OE-grade automotive electronics, including Gentex auto-dimming rearview mirrors available with a rear camera and HomeLink displays.

Rostra Accessories
Booth #11617
www.rostra.com

• Customized and universal electronic aftermarket cruise-control systems and automotive parking assists.

Rockford Fosgate
Booth #11839
www.rockfordcorp.com

• Backup cameras, license-plate cameras, tailgate cameras, wireless backup cameras, blind-spot monitors and park assist systems.

Scosche Industries
Booth #11717
www.scosche.com

• Smart dash and backup cameras, rearview-mirror and head-up displays.

Toppking Electronics Ltd.
Booth #11711
www.blindspotsolution.com

• Blind-spot detection systems, parking sensors and car security integration.

Ultronix Products Ltd.
Booth #11828
www.ultronix.cn/en/index.asp

• Parking sensor systems and cameras.

Ventra Technology
Booth #33297
www.ventrainc.com

• HD vehicle video recorders and backup cameras.

Vision Tech America Inc.
Booth #11729
www.visiontechamerica.com

• Rearview camera systems, backup cameras and monitors, mirror monitors and head-up displays.

VOXX Electronics Corp.
Booth #12017
www.voxxelectronics.com

• Blind-spot detection, wireless cameras, smart rearview mirrors and backup cameras.

Whistler Group
Booth #11917
www.whistlergroup.com

• Radar dash cameras with built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
  

SEMA News—October 2019

RETAIL SPOTLIGHT

Brick-and-Mortar Retailing

Four Ways to Play Up Your Advantages

By Mike Imlay

Far too many automotive stores look alike, so injecting your distinct personality into yours can give you an edge. Survey what others do, then ask what you can do to stand out and create a better experience for customers.

There’s little doubt that the explosive growth of online sellers has given local retailing a run for its money. Still, while big sellers such as Amazon can be tough competitors, they can’t completely drive traditional brick-and-mortar stores out of business. That’s because local retail outlets have several inherent advantages that the big guys can never match.

“We see far too many brick-and-mortar retailers looking at internet sellers and saying, ‘I can’t do what they do,’” said Tom Shay, principal of Profits Plus Solutions, a small-business advisory firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida. “What we don’t see enough of is retailers looking at the other side of the equation and asking, ‘What can I do that they can’t or won’t do?’

“The key is making the business something a customer wants to be around. As an example, I read where Starbucks decided to stop selling its products on its website. Others may sell Starbucks products online, but Starbucks will not. Their reason is that they want their customers to experience their stores. That represents a lot of confidence in what their stores look like and how their people perform.

“How confident are aftermarket retailers that a customer would have a great experience in their place? If they aren’t going to try to win customers by having the lower price on an item, then what are they going to do to win the customer?”

According to Shay, the right answers involve recognizing your brick-and-mortar strengths and then playing them up.

As competition from online sellers continues to tighten, brick-and-mortar stores still boast several advantages, including the ability to directly engage customers. Learning to play up such advantages can help a retailer thrive.

1. Offer Customers an Experience

First of all, brick-and-mortar stores are still the one place where consumers can see and touch merchandise while getting their questions instantly answered in detail. Despite misconceptions floating around the popular media, research indicates that the desire among consumers to personally investigate and buy products in a retail setting cuts across all demographics, including Millennials. To play up that advantage, a retail owner should make his or her brick-and-mortar outlet stand out as an experience.

According to Shay, a store should have so many touchpoints (sights, sounds, etc.) seamlessly working together that a customer can’t figure out what exactly makes the overall experience inviting—they just know that it is. Just as important, those touchpoints should start presenting themselves long before a customer even walks through the door.

“I recently stopped into an auto-parts store in Arkansas,” Shay related. “The sign they had out front was so faded that you couldn’t read anything on it. Its lights were burnt out, and the metal post was all rusted. That’s the first impression. Tell me about your parking lot. Is it clean? Is it striped? Does it have potholes? Do you have lights in the parking lot and on the front of the building? Fifty-three percent of a customer’s impression of a business comes from when they first see it, not when they get in it. The key is to start selling from where I can first see you, 200–300 yards away.”

He added that owners should ensure that their promotional signage is current and that it doesn’t obscure the goodies inside the windows. Even seemingly minor details make a difference.

“Once you get inside the door, then we’re down to lights, which can move you around the store simply by where they are concentrated,” he said. “If I want to get customers to a corner of a store, all I have to do is add more lights there. Even the music matters. I like country and jazz, but the right kind of music is a lighter jazz—almost an instrumental piece—because it’s not offensive. It’s the least hated music out there.”

Shay also advised another simple way to set your store apart from competitors: Ditch the branded racks.

“Walk into most places, and you’re in nothing but a collection of manufacturer display racks,” he said. “That’s wrong. This is your store. What you’re selling is your personality. If every other store is filled with the same identical racks, how have you shown personality?”

Shay said that it’s fine in the end to get ideas from other retailers, but don’t outright copy them. Instead, ask yourself what those other businesses get right and what they do wrong, then strategize how you can take their ideas and do better. The point is to create innovative touchpoints that differentiate your outlet and the shopping experience it offers from your rivals down the street, since auto-parts stores everywhere tend to look far too similar to begin with.

Creating kits of items needed to get a job done right is one way to differentiate your store from online sellers. At the very least, employees should learn how to brainstorm related products they can suggest to customers who come in for one or two items.

2. Strive for Engagement

The ability to engage customers in person is a tremendous advantage, which makes customer service all the more important. You may think you offer great customer service, but Shay suggested that you start by checking your reviews on Yelp and other social media if you truly want an honest appraisal. What you find may surprise you.

“I always ask business owners one question,” he said. “Do you have a class that meets on some regularly scheduled basis in which everyone who works for you comes, participates, and does things like practice selling? If the answer is no, then how do you expect me to believe you really give great customer service? Do you think it just happens? I encourage people to teach everyone who works for them how to do customer service.”

Remember, a parts store can be intimidating for a do-it-yourself customer, especially when the sales people stand behind a counter staring at screens while looking up items and prices.

“You want the customer involved as part of the transaction,” Shay said. “Don’t leave them twiddling their thumbs. Turn the screen sideways, and let the customer look at it with you. Sit them down and talk.”

In fact, take a good hard look at your staff and how they dress. Do they stand out? Are they wearing distinctive clothing proudly branded with your shop’s insignia? Can they be spotted the moment a customer steps into the store? Can they handle several customers at once? No customer should ever have to wait for acknowledgment, let alone go on a search for help.

“When you’re good as a sales person, you can wait on several people at the same time,” Shay said. He also advised that staff take parts from boxes and place them in customers’ hands while demonstrating their features.

“We know that if I can get the product in the customer’s hand, there’s something psychologically that happens to the customer,” he explained. “They begin to own the merchandise.”

Lastly, if an item isn’t in stock, salespeople should check to see when it will arrive and inform the customer. Better yet, take the customer’s contact information and promptly alert him when the product does come in. Supply additional information about the product and its manufacturer to whet the customer’s appetite. Make it worth their time to return and get the item from you. Strive to take customer service to the next level of actual customer engagement.

3. Add Value to Your Sales

Online sellers certainly offer a wide variety of products at competitive prices, but they often display little knowledge of what aftermarket customers truly need for a project. That’s another deficiency that retailers can turn to their advantage.

“There’s so much more that a physical retailer can do as part of the sale to help the customer get the job done right,” Shay explained. “For example, let’s say I’m going to sell you an alternator. I can do it like an online retailer and try to compete on price, which gets ugly. But think about it: What else does the customer need? How about a sample-size tube of dielectric grease, thread locker and new bolts?”

Don’t just suggest those items as upsells. Instead, actually bundle them all into a single kit that ultimately saves the customer time and effort at little, if any, additional cost. Your shoppers will appreciate not only the convenience but also the thinking ahead that you’ve done for them. That adds incalculable value, Shay said.

“What customer is going to go back to somebody’s website and calculate the cost of all those separate items?” he asked. “It’s no longer a comparison of apples to apples. You’re making your sale a different product than what the others have got.”

When it comes to actual upselling, be sure that your people clue customers into special deals and shop promotions, even if there’s no obvious connection to what they originally came in for. Explain the benefits of those deals to the customer. If you’re having a “buy-one-get-one-free” offer on wiper blades, talk up the safety and convenience of always having a spare set on hand. Do it in a spirit of helpfulness. In fact, as part of your staff’s customer-service training (see bullet #2 on p. 294), play a variation on the old hot-potato game. Gather your employees in a circle and pass around a product, giving each one 10 seconds to suggest something else they can offer a customer who came in for that item.

4. Be a Community Hub

Retailers have one final advantage over online sellers: They know their community. Look for local groups doing automotive events and ask how you can participate. Or else organize your own. Send out a weekly e-newsletter reporting your activities and the automotive exploits of your customers. Invite manufacturers to demonstrate new products at customer gatherings several times a year and serve up hot dogs. Those are just a few of the many simple ways you can make your brick-and-mortar store more visible within your locality.

“Even better, come to the SEMA Show and make sure you go to the business seminars,” Shay suggested. “And go around the Show and look. It’s a good investment. When you come to the SEMA Show, you’re the first to see whatever is new.”

Position yourself as a sort of consumer correspondent at the Show for your customers back home. Using social media, share your photos, experiences and first-hand impressions of the latest trends as you walk the Show floor. Invite your followers to share likes and comments on what you’re posting. Doing so will further your reputation as an aftermarket expert, strengthen your customer relationships, and make your store an indispensable hub of your local enthusiast community.