By SEMA News Editors
The 2025 SEMA Show, which continues today through Friday, November 7, opened with a superb Day 1 yesterday, with 4.5 million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit and event space overflowing with the latest aftermarket innovations, technology and products, plus heart-pounding activations and world-class educational seminars.
Ribbon-Cutting Opening to the 2025 SEMA Show
The day began with more fanfare than in years past, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with some of the industry's top hitters. SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola was joined by Rep. Dina Titus, First Congressional District of Nevada; Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA); Glen Cromwell, the president of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA); Steve Hill, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) CEO and president; and Melanie White, SEMA Board Chair.
Against a backdrop of hundreds of customized vehicles, media and industry professionals, the ribbon-cutting ceremony captured the energy and excitement of the opening day at the SEMA Show.
Earlier in the morning, Spagnola opened the 2025 SEMA Show with a time-honored Show tradition, the Kickoff Breakfast, priming the early-morning audience for an exciting and productive week ahead at the aftermarket's premier trade event.
Spagnola then welcomed FIA's Sulayem to the stage to highlight the newly forged partnership between the organizations, emphasizing the impact the combined effort will have on the global mobility industry and beyond.
"We will have global reach, the passion, the innovation, the impact that we will have together, and the many enthusiasts here who are a part of this show," Sulayem said. "You have to have passion. Otherwise, it's just a business. There is business, there is competition, but there is enjoyment, also, and I believe working together is the only way."
The opening program continued with a fireside chat between comedian, car collector and industry advocate Jay Leno and Stellantis Head of American Brands, North America Marketing and Retail Strategy and RAM Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, who shared insights on the evolving landscape of automotive design, ingenuity and car culture at-large.
But the entertainment didn't stop there. Hoonigan Industries co-founder Brian Scotto offered an exclusive first look at the next edition of the internet-breaking Gymkhana film franchise. With Travis Pastrana behind the wheel of his third fully bespoke Gymkhana Subaru—the '78 Subaru BRAT "Brataroo" 9500 Turbo—the latest entry in the video series will take place across Australia and feature famed landmarks, legendary cameos, and the signature tire-shredding, close calls and massive jumps Gymkhana is known for.
New Trends on the 2025 SEMA Show Floor
On the Show floor, exhibitors were unveiling new products and vehicles to receptive crowds, eager to witness innovation on display, close and personal. One immediately recognizable trend from the SEMA Show floor was the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) features into products.
TraXtion highlighted its suite of AI-driven solutions--TreadSpecX, DamageSpeX and WheelSpec—all of which utilize advanced imaging and AI to provide digital inspections of vehicle components, from tire tread depth and alignment to body damage.
Located in Lower South Hall booth #42262, the brand is providing live demonstrations of the AI-driven systems all week for attendees, distributors and service providers.
Another exhibitor, Irvine, California-based SPARQ (North Hall booth #10969), revealed a new feature, the SPARQ CoLab, for its flagship SPARQ Diagnostics device, the plug-in tool and app that predicts and plans maintenance and repair needs.
SPARQ CoLab uses an AI diagnostics engine to interpret more than 50,000 vehicle codes, then allows the customer to share the verified diagnostic data directly with service centers, which the company says will eliminate communication between customer and mechanic.
"Every day, chaos finds the mechanic," said Codrin Cobzaru, co-founder and technical lead at SPARQ. "We built SPARQ CoLab to make the job of fixing cars less about fighting software and suspicion, and more about doing what mechanics love--getting people safely back on the road."
Interwoven through these activations and events was SEMA Live, the second annual program giving industry fans and enthusiasts an inside look at the aftermarket's exclusive trade-only event via livestream (learn more about SEMA Live here, and watch the Day 1 recap below.)
The 2025 SEMA Show continues in the Las Vegas Convention Center through Friday, November 7. Find dozens of events and sessions that work best for your SEMA Show Week on the SEMA Show app. For more information, visit semashow.com.
Attendee registration for the 2025 SEMA Show, November 4-7 in Las Vegas, is available online here. Online registration for qualified professional attendees is $100 per person, with badge pickup on-site on the SEMA Show campus. A SEMA Show badge includes access to both the SEMA Show and AAPEX.
Hotel reservations, including for several new properties in Las Vegas, are available at the guaranteed lowest rates exclusively for Show attendees through SEMA's official hotel provider, onPeak.
For more information about the 2025 SEMA Show, visit semashow.com.




