GM’s all-electric vehicle assembly facility is the first automotive plant
to install dedicated 5G fixed mobile network technology.
GM EV Plant to Feature 5G Technology
General Motors announced that Factory Zero, the company’s all-electric vehicle assembly plant at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center, is the first automotive plant in the United States to install dedicated 5G fixed mobile network technology. Verizon’s 5G ultra-wideband service is operating now at Factory Zero, with its exponential increases in both bandwidth and speed supporting the ongoing transformation of the plant as it prepares to begin producing EVs in 2021.
Factory Zero is being completely retooled with a $2.2 billion investment, the largest ever for a GM manufacturing facility. Once fully operational, the plant will create more than 2,200 U.S. manufacturing jobs. Both the upcoming GMC Hummer EV and the Cruise Origin will be built at Factory Zero on GM’s Ultium battery platform. Ultium is flexible enough for a wide range of EVs—cars, trucks and more—and is the heart of GM’s future EV lineup.
Key benefits of 5G in a manufacturing plant include reliability, speed and sheer scale. 5G’s massive bandwidth offers scalability to manage thousands of devices across Factory Zero’s more than four million square feet of space, with ample capacity to support emerging technologies.
Many of SEMA360’s SEMA Education seminars are now available for
viewing online. Visit the SEMA YouTube channel for more details.
SEMA360 Education Seminars Now Available on Demand
Thousands of participants took part in the SEMA360 Education program last November, where they heard from leading experts and innovators and left motivated and educated on how to work better and smarter on various topics relating to the automotive specialty-equipment industry.
SEMA Education programs encompass all of the association’s educational efforts. For the first time ever at SEMA360, the education seminars took place virtually in absence of the in-person SEMA Show in Las Vegas, with each session designed to help businesses succeed and automotive aftermarket professionals advance their business goals.
For those who might have missed any of the SEMA Education seminars, many of them are now available to all industry members on the SEMA360 Education Playlist at the SEMA Show YouTube channel. Viewers will be able to see the actual presentations that took place during the exclusive SEMA360 event, including live questions and answers. The learning tracks and seminars available include such topics as advanced vehicle technologies; business management; hot-rod and off-road builders panels; vehicle accessorization demonstrations; Brew Talks; and interviews with industry leaders, legends and influencers on The Stage.
For more information, visit the SEMA360 YouTube page.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, slated to go on sale in Q1 2021, will
offer a V8 option for Jeep’s iconic bobtail for the first time in 40
years.
’21 Jeep Wrangler 392 to Feature 470HP V8
For the first time since 1981, Jeep will bring its flagship bobtail to market with a V8 option in 2021. The 6.4L V8, rated at 470 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, will be mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission and Selec-Trac fulltime active transfer case. The powertrain is said to power the Wrangler Rubicon 392 from 0–60 mph in 4.5 sec. and produce elapsed times in the quarter-mile of 13.0 sec., and it comes with a factory-backed warranty.
Away from the pavement, the trail-rated Wrangler Rubicon 392’s potent powertrain meshes with heavy-duty wide-track Dana 44 axles, a 3.73 final drive ratio, a transmission torque converter lockup control, a 2-in. lift, and standard 33-in. tires on 17-in. beadlock-capable wheels. The result is said to be the most capable Jeep Wrangler ever, with 10.3 in. of ground clearance; improved suspension articulation and maneuverability; approach, breakover and departure angles of 44.5, 22.6 and 37.5 degrees respectively; and the ability to traverse up to 32.5 in. of water.
The ’21 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 goes on sale in the first quarter of 2021 and will include 11 premium feature packages for consumers to choose from.
As automotive specialty-equipment businesses draw up their business plans for 2021, many undoubtedly face some degree of uncertainty. Will the pandemic fade into the rearview mirror? What was the economic impact on the industry? Will this year’s gains extend into 2021? To help answer those questions and more, SEMA Market Research has released an extensive and timely Fall 2020 “State of the Industry Report.”
“Over the past several months, we’ve done a lot of research into consumers and how they’ve handled the pandemic,” said SEMA Research Manager Kyle Cheng, the report’s lead analyst. “But a real question a lot of our members are asking is how the industry is doing. As we enter 2021, they’re looking for benchmarks and forecasts useful to their business planning
“We’ve heard anecdotally that many companies are doing better than last year. When we dive into the data, something that pops out is that there are definitely some companies doing well and others not as well. It’s kind of mixed, but across the board, things are not as bad as they looked early in the pandemic.”
E-commerce Sales As A Share Of All U.S. Retail Sales
The report is based on a statistical survey of aftermarket manufacturers, distributors and retailers/installers who were asked a series of questions surrounding their overall economic health in 2020 as well as their projections for 2021. Government data encompassing broader American e-commerce and business trends were also included for comparison with industry benchmarks. While the full report offers extensive details for planning, its five basic takeaways can be summarized as follows.
The Industry Is Already Rebounding
Like many sectors of the American economy, the automotive specialty-equipment industry experienced appreciable sales disruptions due to COVID-19.
Company Sales Performance During COVID-19 Outbreak
Nevertheless, the industry is showing overall resilience, with data indicating that a rebound is already taking place. Despite Q2 sales declines, most aftermarket companies met or exceeded both the first- and third-quarter goals they set at the beginning of 2020.
“Obviously, COVID-19 had an impact, particularly around March, April and May when the country wasn’t sure where things were going and everything locked down,” Cheng explained. “However, more than 90% of the aftermarket companies we surveyed reported that they were now seeing either business as usual or experiencing only short-term impacts from the pandemic. In fact, 55% of companies expect their 2020 sales to finish higher or at least the same as in 2019, and no companies said they have any plans of closing. When we look at government data, retail spending at motor vehicle part dealers is now at its highest point ever. Those are all positive indicators we expect to continue.”
In-Store Purchasing Remains Healthy
Nationwide growth in online shopping has received a lot of media attention throughout the pandemic, but it appears to be overly hyped. The data shows that specialty-equipment retail transactions remain mostly in-person affairs, and with many of the industry’s retailers designated as “essential businesses” during the shutdowns, they saw only modest increases in online purchasing.
Share Of Specialty Equipment Industry Sales By Channel
“Despite shifting consumer habits during the lockdowns, our industry and the retail sector across the country as a whole continues to be driven by in-store and physical-channel sales,” Cheng said. “Overall, e-commerce makes up only a small share of retail in the United States, and it’s projected to remain that way for the future. Companies in our industry report that 57% of sales this year still came from in-store and physical channels, only slightly down from the previous year.
“The bottom line for our industry is that people still want to touch and see our products. You can’t experience online what you can in a store while getting someone’s expertise.”
Staffing Is Holding Mostly Stable
While other American industries have suffered marked layoffs, most automotive aftermarket businesses have managed to avoid widespread staffing disruptions. In fact, the majority of companies surveyed either maintained or increased staff over the last year, and most plan on hiring over the next 12 months. Additionally, despite taking the brunt of the recent economic downturn, retailers/installers have held notably steady with their workforces.
Jobs Planning To Hire Within The Next 12 Months
This makes sense, considering that large manufacturing and distribution facilities faced a number of initial safety hurdles for maintaining capacity in the early days of the pandemic, resulting in temporary closures or worker furloughs for some. Being smaller operations and almost universally recognized as essential businesses, retail and installation operations had a slight advantage in that regard.
“What we found was that the larger a manufacturer in terms of annual sales, the more likely it was to change its staffing,” Cheng said. “But even with that, almost 90% of manufacturers and most of the industry plan on bringing back the staff they laid off.”
How Staffing Will Look At The End Of 2020
Aftermarket Businesses Are Feeling Bullish
As a whole, the industry shares a positive outlook for the coming year. Most businesses surveyed anticipate strong sales growth and a quick rebound for the entire aftermarket. In fact, nearly 70% think that the industry will bounce back to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2021, with 90% seeing recovery by the end of 2021.
“This wasn’t a recession about economics, lower demand or a contraction in desire for what we do,” noted SEMA Director of Market Research Gavin Knapp. “This was really about structure and whether or not you were able to have people in your facility to make or sell parts. So long as people are allowed to have their employees make their parts and sell them in stores, our industry is doing well.”
The Aftermarket Is Poised for 2021 Growth
Is the industry being overly optimistic? Not when you look at the economic numbers found in the “State of the Industry Report.” They show every indication that the industry is primed to resume the growth that was interrupted in late 2020.
When The Industry Will Return To Pre-Pandemic Levels
“Overall, our industry appears in good shape,” Cheng said. “Once the country reopens and effective vaccines are distributed, it appears that our industry will be able to readily bounce back and continue to grow.”
“That’s part of the reason companies are so optimistic,” Knapp added. “Once things open up and people are allowed to get back some normalcy, they’re going to want to go places. They didn’t stop working on their vehicles during this time, and they’re going to want to enjoy them again.”
Get All the Latest Research
For your free download of the 65-page Fall 2020 “State of the Industry Report,” visit www.sema.org/market-research. While there, you can also download SEMA’s “State of the American Consumer” snapshot report, which offers insights into current consumer sentiment.
SEMA also has a report about the quickly changing economic metrics. Check out the monthly “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” at the same link for regular updates on economic trends affecting the aftermarket.
According to business and trade analysts, COVID-19 dealt a series of
supply-chain and related market disruptions to the global tire industry
in 2020, with the repercussions likely to be felt for several years to
come.
Wheels and tires are more than essential vehicle components—they’re performance and style enhancers. Whether for street, track or trail, they’re among the easiest and most purposeful modifications an automotive enthusiast can undertake. With the right wheel-and-tire combo able to make all the difference for handling, confidence and ride enjoyment, it’s no wonder they have remained stalwart sellers for the aftermarket.
In fact, performance and special-purpose tires represent the largest sales category within the specialty-equipment tire market, according to the recently released “2020 SEMA Market Report.” From 2016 to 2019, the category’s market size grew from $2.22 billion to $2.54 billion. Of the application types in that total, midrange cars and pickups each took market shares of 19%, followed closely by sports cars (16%), SUVs (14%) and CUVs (11%).
Next to the performance category, off-road and plus-size tires are also strong performers, comprising a market total of $1.88 billion in 2019, up from $1.62 billion just three years prior. Pickup applications took the lion’s share of sales in that category, accounting for a massive 69% of purchasing. SUV applications followed at 22%.
Of course, tires are useless without wheels, and custom wheels as a category grew steadily in market size from a $1.21 billion valuation in 2016 to $1.32 billion in 2019. Again, pickup applications dominated in that category, comprising 40% of sales. Midrange vehicles followed at 10%, and SUVs at 13%. Although CUVs represent an increasingly popular vehicle category, their tire sales amounted to a mere 8% of market share.
Wheel- and tire-care products are natural aftermarket upsells, but the
wrong ones can wreak havoc. The SEMA Wheel & Tire Council
continues to make its “Wheel Care Guide” available for use in internal
staff training or as a counter-topper for customers.
Whatever the wheel or tire category, however, the storyline for the aftermarket over the past few years has been one of upward growth, with every expectation that the trajectory would continue well into 2021. But that was all before COVID-19.
According to Janine Young, a commissioning editor at Smithers Information, COVID-19 has dealt a series of critical disruptions to the global tire industry.
“The pandemic affected the global economy, collapsing vehicle and equipment production sales and usage as well as tire production and trade,” she said, adding that a recent Smithers market report, “The Future of Global Tires to 2024,” identified the following trends as likely to impact the industry for some time to come:
The industry is experiencing its largest volume declines in decades, and conditions have been characterized as “exceptionally soft.”
Recovery is expected to be slow, with lagging global resolution to the virus.
The weakened economy, lack of consumer confidence and high global unemployment rates have resulted in a plunge in auto sales and aftermarket tire sales.
In the supply chain, consumption of tire materials has dropped in line with tire manufacturing, creating declining prices for natural and synthetic rubber and other key commodities.
R&D budgets and investments in new technologies are being curtailed to shore up other critical business functions.
Changing consumer patterns, such as working from home and e-commerce, are likely to have a lasting effect on tire industry practices.
Industry production levels will be impacted for the long-term, with implications for global supply chains.
“In general, replacement-tire demand will remain muted during the recovery,” Young said. “Passenger car, SUV and noncommercial light-truck vehicles and tires saw a slight bounce over the summer but will likely take three-plus years to again reach 2019 demand. Passenger-car, light-truck and medium- to heavy-duty trucks are most impacted by commercial and personal traffic reductions.”
Supply-chain disruptions have produced temporary chrome
shortages and significant backorders for a variety of wheel products.
In 2021, look for colored wheels—and especially those with black
satin and sheen finishes—to remain popular alternatives over
polished chrome for consumers.
Related Smithers research also now forecasts a slump in the prestige, luxury and high-performance passenger-tire categories as well.
“Tire segments that are more resilient are commercial van tires, due to the tremendous growth in last-mile delivery for e-commerce shopping, and motorcycle tires, due to their shorter replacement cycle,” Young explained. “A lowering of consumer purchasing power and transportation needs will favor motorcycles at the expense of entry-level car purchases in some areas, although less commuting will overall damage replacement-tire demand.”
How that will play out in the domestic wheel and tire aftermarket remains to be seen. As of fall 2020, many SEMA-
member companies reported stable sales after an initial spring 2020 dip.
SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) select committee member Ted Schlaack is a business consultant for RimTyme, a franchised network of sales and rental custom wheel and tire stores that is entering 2021 in relatively good shape. Schlaack believes that tire sales have been helped by improvements at every level of product, making lower-priced lines more attractive to consumers.
Atturo is another—they’re sales are holding up as well as a Nitto, Toyo or BFG. Everyone wants a big brand, but they don’t necessarily want the big price. We’re seeing better quality out of off-name brand products, helping get sales or rentals with a lower price. Of course, the big companies have always done a great job, and their tires are lasting as long as they have in the past.”
Cerebrum is an example of new technologies being brought to bear in
the wheel and tire aftermarket. Inserted into tires, the smart sensors
transmit a broad range of tire data to the consumer’s smartphone—
well beyond the basic information supplied by TPMS.
On the Wheel Side
Meanwhile, the wheel market now appears to be recovering after also taking a hit in spring 2020.
“In February, March and April, we lost a lot of business, then it roared back, and by October we were exceeding 2019 results and having a banner year in 2020,” Schlaack said. “At our price points, of course, our customers want as much as they can get for as little as they can get it. We’re selling mostly one piece cast. We do have some forged wheels, but I just haven’t seen them selling among our customers as much as our standard, more reliable cast wheels.”
Schlaack said that RimTyme consumers also seem to be holding their own amid a tough economy, spending on average what they did before the pandemic.
“They’ve had more cash in their pockets,” he said. “Even though we’re primarily a rent to own organization, we’re still a wheel shop that does about 40%–50% of our business in direct purchases. The consumers who rent to own want the same products at lower-end price points, but we’re getting weekly and monthly payments that equates to a fair price, helping them get products that they may have not been able to otherwise attain.”
In terms of what’s selling, Schlaack noted several popular trends.
“In the last couple of years, we’ve seen a massive increase in the off-road market, particularly with Jeeps, so our customers who were formerly getting vehicles with 28-, 30- and 32-in. tires are now driving off with 35-in. or larger tires,” he said. “We’ve also seen the car market start to come back recently—more lightweight wheels and high-performance tires. In reference to those, of course, chrome is in shortage for us and likely everyone in the industry right now with everything that’s going on this year, so we see a lot of colored, black-sheen and polished wheels in our markets.”
Until the pandemic, the custom wheel aftermarket had been on a
steady four-year growth trajectory, with a total valuation of $1.32
billion through last year.
Malloy also noted that wheels manufactured by companies imbued with motorsports heritage are continually in demand.
“Track days have also gotten quite popular in the last five years,” he added. “The track-inspired look—aggressive but functional camber, lightweight wheels and proper-width tires—is here to stay.”
According to Malloy, consumer tastes are also driving a number of key manufacturing trends, with Japanese manufacturers now releasing more truck wheels and the entire industry perfecting the latest design and engineering technologies.
“Most performance enthusiasts work hard to reduce weight—especially the unsprung variety,” he observed. “Manufacturers with a rich motorsports heritage, such as BBS and Rays, continually push the limits of engineering to achieve the lightest but strongest wheel for street and track use. BBS shocked the world with the FI-R—a forged Y-spoke wheel with industry-first recesses in the actual spokes. It offered extreme strength, a proper load rating and low weight—a 20x12 wheel weighs 20.3 lbs. Shortly after, BBS released a forged-magnesium wheel program for street and track use in which a 20x12 weighs 18.6 lbs.
“The consumer now understands the difference between flow-formed cast wheels and traditional, low-pressure cast wheels. Flow-formed, flow-forged and radial-forged wheels are still cast but stronger and lighter. Also, the manufacturers can execute more complex designs when using that manufacturing process.”
In recent years, those more complex designs have been made increasingly possible with the assistance of additive-manufacturing—or 3-D printing.
At the SEMA360 trade event, Design Infini was a New Product Award runner-up with its Drifz D09 wheel. Founded by CEO Suny Chung in 1995, the company has helped to design and prototype wheels for a number of prominent brands, including Center Line, Gear and ATD Wheels. Now Chung and his team regularly employ an EnvisionTEC 3D printer to create their attention-grabbing concepts. According to Chung, a 3-D-printed prototype can be an invaluable tool to help clients rapidly grasp a new product design.
“We can visualize from a sketch because we’re trained, but some of our clients may not be able to,” Chung recently told 3D Printing Media Network, an additive manufacturing media outlet. “We have seven in-house designers. Our mission is to come up with designs and products that will lead the marketplace, and we always strive to be the best. It’s important for us to engage in today’s fast-moving technology. More and more, 3-D printing is going to be a big part of the plan.”
Steve Swanson, a national sales manager for The Carlstar Group and another WTC select committee member, said that in addition to the newer, cutting-edge styles there’s still a significant demand for restoration and period-correct designs from the ’60s through the ’80s. In fact, the influence of classic Camaro, Mustang and MOPAR styling cues persists, even among modern-muscle vehicle owners.
“It’s pretty straightforward stuff—cast aluminum, all steel, stamped and rolled, welded product,” he explained. “What has impacted the physical characteristics of the wheel are the massive brake systems now being installed on factory vehicles—large calipers, large rotors, positive offsets—where back in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, it was all standard, negative-offset stuff with drum or very small disc-brake systems. But today’s high-tech suspensions and their dynamics require lighter unsprung weights. That has absolutely impacted the design characteristics and cosmetic attributes of the wheel and the way the wheel is manufactured—gravity cast to flow-form to forged wheels. All of it changes the dynamics of the wheel.”
The performance and special-purpose category was king within the
tire market in 2019, worth an estimated $2.54 billion and growing.
Reinventing the Wheel and Tire
Invention has always been a key driver for the aftermarket, but wheels and tires are so basic in design and function that there can seem little to reinvent. For tires particularly, most technological advancements have come at the OE supplier level and have principally revolved around more efficient tread patterns, lighter and quieter rubber compounds, improved manufacturing techniques, run-flat or self-sealing features, lowered rolling resistance and RFID labeling. Although a number of major tire makers are known to be experimenting with tires better adapted to autonomous vehicles, more exotic materials, 3-D-printed treads and even shape-shifting designs, changes over the past decade have been more evolutionary than revolutionary.
One major goal has been the continued improvement of TPMS to shake out its quirks and frustrations for shop professionals and consumers alike. Luckily, that is one area where the aftermarket has been able to step up and demonstrate its technological prowess—especially in TPMS servicing.
An example is Bartec USA’s Tech600Pro tool, a runner-up in the Best New Tire and Related Product award category at the 2020 SEMA360 online trade event. The product utilizes a wireless VCI to the OBD-II port to detect and decode a vehicle’s year, make and model in seconds. Able to work with all OE and major programmable TPMS units, the handheld tool features a graphical interface to quickly guide service technicians through all the necessary TPMS relearning and programming steps for the given vehicle.
Meanwhile, another company is looking to move the tire world beyond basic TPMS with more advanced technologies. According to Keith Ferry, Cerebrum Sensor Technologies founder and CEO, the company’s recently introduced smart tire sensor can be used in any tire to provide the consumer with a wide range of tire analytics that can enhance safety and performance.
The sensor information transmits to any smartphone and includes data and alerts that can help consumers and fleet managers make better decisions about tire maintenance and driving. Cerebrum will also soon feature a dealer database to refer consumers to wheel and tire retailers based on inventory and service availability. The brand is a spin-off from Tire Stickers, a maker of tire lettering pens and raised decals, based in Van Nuys, California.
“Our products were initially intended for aesthetic use—personalizing vehicle tires with words or designs for a unique look,” Ferry explained. “As we developed a further understanding of the market, we identified the need for functional products to be used for tire inventory management, tracking, security and maintenance.”
That led the company to introduce products for QR and barcoding, along with RFID tags that could be affixed to tires.
“In the era of IoT [internet of things] and advanced vehicle systems, tires are still in the Stone Age,” Ferry asserted, adding that, while TPMS was a major advance, the technology falls short with limited and often confusing information.
“We saw this as an opportunity to use our patented technologies and expertise to bring a more intelligent solution to tires,” he said. “Our flagship product was initially intended for aftermarket use, as it can be installed to any vehicle tire without the involvement of the tire manufacturer. That enables consumers, jobbers or others to add Cerebrum technology to the tires with the same ease as a TPMS sensor but without the limitation and challenge of vehicle teaching or learning.
“For the enthusiast, Cerebrum can be used for high-performance ‘sessions’ that track and report temperature and pressure changes by the second, lap times, location and the like. Our latest feature measures tire load, which is of immense value to trucks and fleets. Our technology is scalable to all tire types, and we expect to see it used by OEs within the next two to three years.”
As an industry observer, Schlaack views the latest TPMS innovations as one of the most promising trends in the wheel and tire space.
“The sensor market has improved tremendously, and that’s really helped us on the installer side and the customer-satisfaction side as well,” he said. “TPMS sensor programing has advanced so much in 11 years. It used to take almost as long to program sensors as it did to install them. That has improved in the last couple of years, and I’ve been excited to watch [recent developments].”
Off-road and plus-size tires account for another major tire category,
reaching $1.88 billion in 2019 with pickup applications comprising a
whopping 69% of sales.
Adding Value for Consumers
With consumers driving fewer miles and extending the life of their purchases, helping them to properly care for and get the most from their wheel and tire products can be a powerful way to enhance value and cement relationships. Suggesting ancillary items such as ceramic coating and/or cleaning products, lug nuts, wheel bolts, spacers, stud conversions and even suspension upgrades can also increase margins. Perhaps most important of all, the pandemic has created a hunger among consumers for basic automotive knowledge and do-it-yourself skills. Fortunately, the SEMA WTC offers two downloadable sales tools to help retailers and installers demonstrate their expertise and stand out with potential wheel and tire purchasers.
The WTC “Ride Guide” report provides users with easy-to-understand graphical representations of test data surrounding the effects of various tire sizes. Compiled by the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, the vehicle performance data includes comparisons of ride comfort, road grip, steering-firmness response, directional response and steering-speed response. The guide is intended to arm sales professionals with information that can help consumers narrow their style and design options based on desired performance characteristics.
In addition, the WTC’s “Wheel Care Guide” provides tips and FAQs about proper wheel care, explaining common wheel surface finishes and the appropriate cleaning solutions for each. The guide can be used as a training aid for internal staff or as a counter-topper for customers. Either way, it can help staff share expertise with store visitors and suggest appropriate wheel-care products. Both WTC guides can be downloaded at www.sema.org/wtc-guides.
The ultimate good news is that consumer interest is already showing signs of rebound even though the wheel and tire markets have experienced setbacks from COVID-19. As always, businesses that keep a careful eye on industry trends and changed consumer purchasing habits will be best positioned to ride out what appears to be a temporary slowdown.
The Indonesia Vintage and Classic car association (PPMKI),
a 40-year-old association, boasts 2,000 members and local
branches throughout the country. There is a preponderance
of European vintage vehicles. The U.S. Embassy reports that
there is also interest in American musclecars. Noting some
well-known American musclecars [with a following] in
Indonesia include the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro,
and Dodge Charger. The classic Jeeps/Jeep Willys also
can be found. The association hosts show and shines and
vintage car touring events. Courtesy: Reiza Fauzy/
Shutterstock.com
As SEMA News continues its periodic series on promising global export markets for U.S. manufacturers, this month the focus is on Indonesia.
The fourth most populous country in the world (after China, India and the United States) with 270 million people, Indonesia presents opportunities and challenges for manufacturers of automotive specialty-equipment products. A recent World Bank report provided a positive picture of the growing economic climate in this archipelago nation. It enjoys an average annual gross domestic product growth rate of 5.6% and a rapidly growing middle class that now tops 52 million—20% of the population—and has become the world’s eighth largest economy in terms of purchasing-power parity.
The former Dutch colony has a young population with growing disposable income. More than 40% of Indonesia’s population is under the age of 24. Indonesia recorded national car sales of around one million units annually in recent years, according to the Indonesia car manufacturers association Gabungan Industri Kendaraan Bermotor Indonesia (Gaikindo).
Drag racing, drifting and other forms of motorsports have fan
bases in Indonesia. The Intersport World Stage—a pan-Asian
drifting event with Indonesian and world champions—was
most recently held in December 2019 in Tangerang, about 40
minutes west of Jakarta. It was one of the largest drifting
events in Southeast Asia and featured Indonesian as well
as international pro racers. Drag racing held its own event—
the Indonesia Drag Wars 2020—in the city of Jogjakarta. There are
two main tracks in Indonesia. This one is about 30 minutes from
the center of Jakarta and the Gelora Bung Tomo Circuit in
Surabaya, East Java. Indonesia has also been added to the
2020 Formula E schedule but was postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy: Topeng Yoyoa/Shutterstock.com
The vast majority of passenger cars sold in Indonesia—some estimate nearly 70%—are compact multipurpose vehicles (MPVs), crossovers and SUVs equipped with three rows of seats. That would put the percentage of these light trucks at one of the highest in the world market. In fact, the best-selling model in the market is the Toyota Avenza—a compact MPV. Pickups are also popular.
Japanese vehicles, many which are built within Indonesia, captured the lion’s share of the market at 90%. Most of the remainder is captured by European and, increasingly, Chinese brands. BMW, VW and Mercedes-Benz all build vehicles in Indonesia and capture much of the rest of the market, along with Chinese brands such as Wuling that are assembled in Indonesia.
U.S. brands have a minuscule share of the market. With the closing of Ford and GM plants, no U.S. vehicles are manufactured in Indonesia. Most recently, GM announced that it will no longer sell GM-branded vehicles in the country, closing all of its dealerships. Ford vehicles are sold through a network of about 30 dealerships in the country, but Chrysler, though currently limited in its offerings and its sales network, is looking to increase the number of dealers and hopes to grow its market share.
The Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Gladiator are currently sold in Indonesia, but the company plans to add to those offerings in the future, including the Jeep Compass Facelift 1.4, the all-new Grand Cherokee 3.6 and the New Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.0.
Dhani Yahya, COO of DAS Indonesia Motor, the newly appointed distributor of Chrysler products, was recently quoted in the media. “The growth of the Jeep market in Indonesia will be transformed from a limited market volume to a much larger market volume, with the market share of the premium segment growing from 2% to 15% to 20% in the next three to five years,” he said.
In another nod to the growing classic car scene in Indonesia, the
country in 2019 hosted its first edition of Concours d’Elegance
featuring local collections of vintage cars and motorcycles, including
a ’35 Mercedes Benz B 170 Cabrio and ’53 Chevrolet Corvette.
Pictured above is a ’56 Chevrolet Bel Air on display at a car show in
Surakarta, Indonesia. Courtesy Adhitya Nurfatoni/Shutterstock.com
NMAA
To grow the Indonesian automotive specialty-equipment industry, the National Modificator & Aftermarket Association (NMAA) has been established with the moto, “Standard is boring.” It seeks to grow the market by holding competitions to improve the skills of local builders and the knowledge of enthusiasts. The association sponsors a show called the Indonesia Modification Expo, with September 2019 being the second edition of the event. The association also hosts a weekly show “Modz Bidz,” among other activities.
Off-Roading
The Indonesia Off-road Federation (IOF) was founded in 1999 to promote off-roading. It is based in Jakarta, the country’s largest city. It has regional branches throughout the country and hosts off-road competitions. Among the off-road activities that have been regulated by IOF are off-road racing, mud racing, rock crawling, car crushes and off-road adventures.
The vehicles of choice for both off-road recreation and racing are Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40s (known as Hardtops), the Suzuki Jimny, and Jeeps—particularly the older Jeep Willys. Also sold are the Mitsubishi L200 Triton, the Toyota HiLux and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
This pristinely restored vehicle pictured above was on display at a
Central Java Show and Shine event. Courtesy: Arif
Budi/Shutterstock.com
Classic-Car Enthusiasts
The Indonesia Vintage and Classic Car Association is a 40-year-old group that boasts 2,000 members and local branches throughout the country. There is a preponderance of European vintage vehicles, but the U.S. Embassy reports that there is also interest in American musclecars.
Some well-known American musclecars with followings in Indonesia include the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Charger. Classic Jeeps and Jeep Willys vehicles may also be found. The association hosts show-and-shine events and vintage-car touring events, with a typical gathering featuring more than 300 vehicles traveling throughout
the country.
Challenges:
Overseas Brand Protection
Taking steps to protect your brand’s reputation is an important first step in any overseas market in which you wish to do business. It’s especially important in Indonesia as the U.S. government in 2019 as one of 11 countries worldwide with the most serious IP concerns. The United States Trade Representative identified Indonesia on its priority watch list due to the reported lack of adequate and effective IP protection and enforcement, local manufacturing and use requirements, compulsory licensing, and the lack of effective border enforcement against counterfeit and pirated goods as well as fair and equitable market access.
Unnecessary and Costly Testing
U.S. firms should be mindful of additional requirements for testing and certification imposed on a wide range of products. In many cases, U.S. exporters will need to pay for an Indonesian laboratory or certification body to conduct testing for individual shipments, adding to the overall cost of bringing goods to market.
The US Commercial Service sreports, in fact, that the NMAA has been in talks with the Indonesia Ministry of Industry. The association is urging the government to apply the Standard Nasional Indonesia (SNI) to automotive specialty products. The embassy reports that the NMAA hopes that it can protect local industry from foreign competition through SNI certification requirements, thus giving local industry a chance to grow. The U.S.Commercial Service noted that the compulsory two-year-old SNI certification on automotive lubricants has been shown to negatively impact many foreign small and medium lubricant players entering the Indonesian market.
This vehicle was displayed at the Custom Show, a new event held in
October 2020 in Jogjakarta, Indonesia, which is about seven hours
from Jakarta in Central Java. Courtesy Welly IKW/Shutterstock.com
Labeling
All imported consumer goods must identify the importing agents. Previously, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia required that information on product labels be distinctly and clearly written or printed or shown so that it can be seen easily and understood. Those requirements were somewhat eased with the implementation of a new Indonesian Ministry of Trade regulation (Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 73/M-DAG/PER/9/2015), which allows the label to be stamped in Indonesian on the product or inserted into the packaging.
On the other hand, additional products have been added to the list of products requiring labeling. On October 2019, the Indonesian Ministry of Trade issued regulation 79/2019, which amended regulation No. 73/2015 by including a list of goods and the required labeling, including for electronics, building materials, automotive spare parts, textiles and textile products.
As consumer purchasing power increases in Indonesia, so does the
ability of the country’s enthusiasts to buy specialty products and
enjoy many car hobbies, including motorsports such as drag racing,
drifting and off-roading as well as classic-car collecting. Another
favorite pastime is leisure off-roading, which increases the demand
for functional off-road products such as bull bars, lighting, winches,
suspension upgrades and turbochargers and superchargers.
Summary
As one of the quickest-growing economies in not only Southeast Asia but also the world, and one of the largest in terms of population, Indonesia provides opportunities with its growing middle class and accompanying disposable income for enthusiasts to purchase aftermarket upgrades.
Paying close attention to the types of vehicles on Indonesia’s roads as well as its regulations and other requirements will help improve the chance of success in the market. The country has a high social-media usage rate, aiding U.S. manufacturers in reaching consumers in the country to provide the latest in products and trends for enthusiasts eager and adept at seeking worldwide information on how to upgrade their rides or improve their vehicles’ performance on the track.
SEMA wishes to thank the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Elizabeth Couch in Washington, D.C., Eduard Roytberg in Ontario, California, and Michael Rosales in San Antonio, Texas, have provided ongoing support to SEMA. Special thanks also to Mario Simanjuntak, commercial specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, for pulling together information on the Indonesian automotive specialty-equipment market. Simanjuntak is an excellent contact on the Indonesian automotive market and can be reached at mario.simanjuntak@trade.gov.
For SEMA members interested in additional information on the Indonesian market, email lindas@sema.org.
George Lee Lane has passed away. Lane was born and raised in Southwest Michigan, where he met his lifelong wife and partner Janet and raised their two sons, Doug and David.
From humble beginnings to building an automotive powerhouse, Lane was a true pioneer. He had an unparalleled passion for cars and racing. To feed this passion, he made frequent trips to the Detroit area to purchase performance parts for himself and his friends. This ultimately led to his first startup, a part-time speed shop operated out of his garage.
As this venture began to flourish, Lane started selling these parts to local racers and hot-rod enthusiasts. His business grew quickly, and in 1964, Lane Automotive was formed. Not long after, in 1970, he launched Lane’s wholesale division, Motor State Distributing. This division brought performance and racing parts from manufacturers across the country to locally owned speed shops and retailers throughout the Midwest.
Lane later launched Allstar Performance—a brand focused on specialty racing parts and equipment. Over its 57 years in business, Lane Automotive has grown into a multi-generational company, which has been led by Lane, his children, and most recently, his grandchildren. Under Lane’s leadership, his company has grown to serve performance automotive enthusiasts around the world.
Regardless of the company’s growth, however, Lane remained heavily involved in the racing and hot-rod scene, and could often be found at local tracks on race day. He helped to support local tracks and racers, as well as to standardize many safety and certification practices across various sanctioning bodies. For this, Lane was honored with his induction into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Heavily involved with helping to promote and expand the automotive aftermarket industry, Lane saw the value and importance of supporting the industry’s organizations, shows and conferences through membership and participation.
Even after he formally retired, Lane continued to be actively involved with the company. He was a fixture at the annual Lane Automotive Car Show, and a regular at Cars and Coffee events, where he could often be found swapping stories with customers he had known for decades.
As of press time, no funeral arrangements have been announced.
Due to the ongoing health emergency in the District of Columbia and around the world, the 2021 Washington, D.C., Auto Show will be unable to open during the previously-scheduled March 26–April 4 time frame. Show organizers are working closely with the District government and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to find dates later in the spring to host the event.The 2020 show, which commenced before the COVID-19 pandemic, was one of the best-attended shows in the event’s history, and featured more than 600 new vehicles from nearly three-dozen auto manufacturers. Further details about the auto show's programming, including updates on scheduling, participating manufacturers, media and industry-related events, and much more, will be announced in the coming months.
Air Lift Company Announces Acquisition of Flo Airride
Air Lift Company has announced that it has acquired air tank manufacturer Flo Airride Mfg. Flo Airride specializes in the lowered truck market, specifically air tanks. Under the terms of the acquisition, all business operations will move from Flo Airride’s Oklahoma facility to Air Lift's Lansing, Michigan-based, headquarters. In addition to acquiring Flo Airride, Air Lift Company will gain the rights to Slam'd Magazine, a publication created to build a community of engaged automotive enthusiasts around the world. Air Lift Company will also welcome former Flo Airride-owner Mike Alexander to the Air Lift Performance team as the Air Lift performance brand manager. Alexander has worked for almost two decades within the automotive aftermarket, beginning his custom automotive career in the print publishing world and later as the Director of Marketing at AccuAir, before founding Slam'd Magazine in 2014 and Flo Airride in 2016. Air Lift Performance is currently transitioning the production of Flo Airride tanks to their Lansing, Michigan facility. The team anticipates that sales of Flo product will begin in February of 2021.
Joseph Wright
DENSO Products and Services Americas Names Operations Director
DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc., an affiliate of DENSO Corp., has named Joseph Wright its new director of Americas Operations. Wright is responsible for overseeing all DENSO shipping and receiving operations across North America, including DENSO’s warehouse and distribution centers in California and Indiana.
Wright brings more than 20 years of experience in warehousing, transportation, global logistics, procurement and production to the position.
"We’re excited to have Joseph join our team and propel us to a higher level of operational excellence," said Kazu Yanagawa, vice president of DENSO’s Supply Chain Management Group. "In addition to our superior products, the DENSO brand stands for unbeatable customer service. Joseph’s acumen and experience will help us continue to build on all these strengths."
Mid America Motorworks Unveils 2021 Catalog Featuring 12,500 Parts and Accessories For Classic Air-Cooled Volkswagens
Mid America Motorworks has announced the debut of its 148-page full-color 2021 catalog, which features more than 12,500 parts and accessories for owners and lovers of classic air-cooled Volkswagen models. The catalog—along with its accompanying site—focuses on a family of air-cooled Volkswagen models including Beetle, Super Beetle, Bus, Karmann Ghia, Thing and Type 3. A record 18,638 parts and accessories are offered within the catalog, with another 9,547 showcased on the Mid America Motorworks site. The 28,285 total parts and accessories range from a $1.99 screw to a $6,000 ready-to-install motor.
Cometic Gasket has announced the acquisition of Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, according to published reports. Klotz Synthetic Lubricants was founded in 1959 by John C. Klotz Jr. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company specializes in racing, high-performance, and traditional lubricants, and markets include automotive, karting, marine, motorcycle and RC categories. As part of the acquisition, Brad Kruckenberg has been appointed as the new president for Klotz Synthetic Lubrication. At the same time, company founder Klotz will continue in a leadership role as Chairman Emeritus. The business will continue to engineer, formulate and package its purpose-built lubricants out of its Fort Wayne headquarters.
MAHLE Motorsport Introduces 2021 Racing Components Application Guide
MAHLE Motorsport has introduced a new 2021 Application Guide. The guide offers a complete listing of all PowerPak and PowerPak Plus Piston Kits offered for domestic and import applications and features more than 35 pages of tech information for quick and easy ordering that includes motorsport ring sets, rails and expanders per bore.
LSI Chemical Expands Distribution to China, Signs Pioneer New Material Technology Co. Ltd.
LSI Chemical has announced on the heels of signing distribution in South Africa, a new major distribution partner—Pioneer New Material Technology Company Ltd., located in Luoyang, China. The addition of Pioneer represents a strong partner as the world’s third largest MoS2 manufacturer. Pioneer boasts an independent import and export license and a complete customs clearance system to ensure the smooth flow of domestic and foreign products. Pioneer is now authorized to distribute the entire line of LSI Chemical fuel and oil additives in China. Now, in addition to the company’s own manufactured products, which includes lubricating grease for automotive manufacturing, Pioneer will have access to fuel and oil additive technology to improve lubricants and fuels upstream at refineries in the Chinese market and abroad.
VP Racing Fuels Strengthens Distribution in Alabama, Georgia and Florida
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced that Davison Oil will no longer distribute VP products. Boswell Oil has been named the sole VP distributor for the state of Georgia, as well as for the areas of Alabama south of Birmingham. VP Southeast continues to service the state of Florida.
Engine Parts Group Announces Addition of NPW
Engine Parts Group, also known as Engine Pro, has announced the addition of NPW Companies as its newest member. NPW is a Florida-based automotive parts distributor with 30 warehouse locations and more than 50 store locations across the US. NPW had recently purchased Engine and Performance Warehouse Inc. (EPWI), a founding member of the Engine Parts Group.
Larry Magee
Parker Retires and Magee Elected AACF Board of Trustees
The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) announced the retirement of Lynn Parker, and the selection of Larry Magee as President of the Board of Trustees. Magee has been involved with the Foundation for over 25 years, and currently serves on the Foundation’s Executive Committee, Recipient Review Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Golf Committee.Parker served on the AACF Board for over 20 years and as AACF Board President the last 3 years.
“Lynn has been a dedicated and passionate volunteer and will be truly missed; we wish him the best in his new adventures,” said Joel Ayres, Executive Director of AACF.”Ayres went on to say, “AACF is fortunate that Larry will be stepping into this leadership position, his experience with the Foundation and many years in the aftermarket industry will be make this a smooth transition.”
During his career in the aftermarket Magee held CEO/President positions with several companies including Bridgestone/Firestone, Heartland Automotive, and Magnolia Enterprise Group.
For more information or to get involved, contact Joel Ayres at joel@aacfi.org.
Chevrolet Names First Sports Car Racing Program Manager
Chevrolet has named Laura Wontrop Klauser as its newly created sports car racing program manager as the manufacturer continues its shift toward an engineering-based approach throughout its motorsports programs. In her new position, Klauser will oversee the engineering and technical aspects of Corvette Racing on behalf of Chevrolet. Klauser, who resides in Detroit, currently manages the Cadillac DPi-V.R and Camaro GT4.R programs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Caliber Announces the Appointment of Aylwin B. Lewis to Board of Directors
Caliber has announced the appointment of Aylwin B. Lewis to its Board of Directors, effective January 25. Lewis, the former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Potbelly Corp., and a former top executive at Kmart, Sears and Yum! Brands, brings a long track record of leadership and performance to Caliber’s Board of Directors. In addition to the position on Caliber’s board, Lewis currently serves on the boards at Marriott International, Voya Financial and Chef’s Warehouse. In the past, Lewis has held board roles with Halliburton, Kmart, Red Robin, Sears, Starwood Hotels and the Walt Disney Company. As part of Caliber’s board, Lewis will help oversee and guide the company’s 1,200+ service centers that restore 1.5 million vehicles and customer lives each year and support more than 21,500 teammates and the communities they serve.
Brake Parts Inc. received Uni-Select's
highest supplier recognition, the
Diamond Award.
Brake Parts Inc. Receives Uni-Select Diamond Award
Brake Parts Inc. (BPI), part of the First Brands Group, was recently honored by Uni-Select with its highest supplier recognition, the Diamond Award, during Uni-Select’s AutoXPO Virtual Trade Show and Convention.
First Brands Group was chosen as the Uni-Select supplier of the year recipient for demonstrating true leadership of a supplier partnership. First Brands Group excelled in the ability to provide products, both national and private branded, throughout the Uni-Select Canadian network at all levels of distribution, from distribution center locations to automotive service providers. In addition, First Brands Group supported the in-field efforts of Uni-Select members and corporate stores to drive sales and product support.
In past years, BPI has been recognized for excellence by Uni-Select with the Diamond Award, two Golden Ally Awards for sales growth and marketing and the Innovator of the Year Award.
LSI Chemical Signs Pioneer New Material Technology Co. Ltd.
LSI Chemical has announced a new distribution partner located in Luoyang, China. Pioneer New Material Technology Company Ltd. is now authorized to distribute the entire line of LSI Chemical fuel and oil additives in the country. In addition to the company’s own lubricating grease for automotive manufacturing, Pioneer now has access to LSI’s fuel and oil additive technology for the Chinese market and abroad. The news comes after LSI announced NanoTech Petroleum as its new South African distributor.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
Mac Tools and Kalitta Motorsports Extend 20-Year Partnership
Kalitta Motorsports and Mac Tools have announced that one of the longest running sponsorship relationships will continue into its 20th NHRA season through a multiyear extension agreement. Doug Kalitta, one of the winningest Top Fuel racers in NHRA history, will continue to race the red-and-white 300-mph Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster throughout the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Kalitta, along with the rest of the Kalitta Motorsports team, will continue their commitment to building the Mac Tools brand, raising product awareness with fans and technicians while engaging with Mac Tools’ distributors across the country. Throughout the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, Kalitta Motorsports will highlight its Top 20 Mac Tools Moments. Additionally, the team designed a commemorative logo which will be featured throughout the season.
Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) will compete in a 550-hp electric SUV
inspired by the GMC HUMMER EV.
Chip Ganassi Racing to Enter Extreme E With GMC
GMC has announced a new multiyear sponsorship with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) for the team’s first electric racing venture in the inaugural Extreme E season in 2021. CGR will compete in a 550-hp electric SUV inspired by the GMC HUMMER EV. Noted off-road racers Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price will serve as drivers for CGR in the series. The Extreme E five-race global championship will take place in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles.
Season 1 Extreme E Calendar:
Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia: April 3-4
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal: May 29-30
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland: August 28-29
Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil: October 23-24
Glacier X Prix: Patagonia, Argentina: December 11-12
Drivers will compete in full-sized stock cars utilizing a 625-hp
NASCAR Yates spec engine and the same chassis components as
ARCA and the NASCAR Truck Series.
40 Races For Inaugural BMR Drivers Academy Season
Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) has released the 40-race schedule for the inaugural BMR Drivers Academy, which begins on March 26, at the All American Speedway in Roseville, California. The series will compete at five NASCAR National and Weekly Series tracks across the state. There are 16 two-day events on the calendar, which will visit oval tracks like Irwindale Speedway (Irwindale, California) and Kern County Raceway Park (Bakersfield, California). Road courses include Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, California) and Thunderhill Raceway (Willows, California). The roster of drivers includes standouts from grassroots motorsports across North America. Drivers will compete in full-sized stock cars utilizing a 625-hp NASCAR Yates spec engine and the same chassis components as ARCA and the NASCAR Truck Series.
After races 14, 24, and 30, the points leader will be awarded an opportunity to compete in the Bill McAnally Racing Toyota for a 2021 ARCA event. Drivers that win race events in the Drivers Academy during the season will also receive one entry per win towards a drawing for the opportunity to compete with BMR/MHR in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Phoenix in November. Races will be streamed live to a worldwide audience via SPEED SPORT TV. For more information, visit www.bmrdriversacademy.com.
Honda Performance Development (HPD) and Honda Motor Company
have announced a new scholarship program to support the Formula
Regional Americas series and the Super Formula Championship
based in Japan.
HPD Announces Super Formula Scholarship
Honda Performance Development (HPD) and Honda Motor Company have announced a new scholarship program to support the Formula Regional Americas series and the Super Formula Championship based in Japan. HPD and Honda Motor will award the 2021 champion of the Formula Regional Americas series with a scholarship—value of up to $600,000—to participate in the 2022 Super Formula series season.
The Formula Regional Americas (formerly F3) is an FIA-supported series promoted by Parella Motorsports Holdings and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. The internationally known Super Formula series is the top level of open-wheel racing in Japan and features a high downforce Dallara chassis powered by 500+ hp engines.
This is the upcoming Ford F-150 Raptor, and video confirms that at least one Raptor variant will pack a 5.2 V8 engine straight from the heart of the Shelby GT500, and will make between 725 and 750 hp, according to sources. The engineer was overly cautious when it came to accelerating, and even went as far as cutting through subdivisions to get back to Roush (the same Roush that helped develop the GT500).
One source said “Honestly, we had to counter RAM once we knew they installed the HellCat in the TRX”. The team is allegedly looking to beat the Ram TRX at all costs.
This is the upcoming Ford F-150 Raptor, and video confirms that at least one Raptor variant will pack a 5.2 V8 engine straight from the heart of the Shelby GT500, and will make between 725 and 750 hp, according to sources. The engineer was overly cautious when it came to accelerating, and even went as far as cutting through subdivisions to get back to Roush (the same Roush that helped develop the GT500).
One source said “Honestly, we had to counter RAM once we knew they installed the HellCat in the TRX”. The team is allegedly looking to beat the Ram TRX at all costs.
Established in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame recognizes people who have contributed a significant body of work to the industry over a long period of time, and is the most prestigious award presented to an individual by the association. It is designed to honor the leaders, innovators, creators and enthusiasts who have helped transform small, burgeoning businesses into an industry worth more than $44.6 billion annually.
Nominate an individual who epitomizes the essence of ingenuity in action, before the Friday, March 19, deadline.
To learn more about the SEMA Hall of Fame and for a list of inductees, visit www.semahof.com or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org or 909-978-6692.
SEMA International Programs
George Lee Lane has passed away. Lane was born and raised in Southwest Michigan, where he met his lifelong wife and partner Janet and raised their two sons, Doug and David.
MAHLE Motorsport Introduces 2021 Racing Components Application Guide
SEMA is