By Zane Clark

The 2019 SEMA Show Education Program features seven sessions specific to getting the most out of your company's digital marketing and outreach.

Join Google and (un)Commen Logic on Monday, November 4, for a SEMA Show exclusive on “How to Avoid the 5 Worst Pitfalls in Digital Marketing.” Taking place from 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. in the upper North Hall education room N256, the seminar will tackle what it takes to “win” in digital marketing in 2020.

This seminar, presented by Jim McKinley, co-founder of (un)Common Logic and adjunct professor of digital marketing at Baylor University, and Chris Moreno, group lead at Google, will highlight the five biggest pitfalls digital marketers make. They will share examples and mini-case studies of the pitfalls and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Seminar attendees can expect to take home tangible ideas of what they can do today to improve the performance of their digital marketing.

Register now!

Want to learn more about digital marketing? Check out these sessions:

• Platform-Specific Tips to Engage Your Social Audience
• Instagram 2019: Beat the Algorithm and Boost Engagement
• Facebook: Unlock the Algorithm and Boost Traffic
• SEO in 2019: How to Win in a Mobile-First World
• The Art of Digital Persuasion
• The Daily Post: Content Creation Strategies that Win Attention, Fuel Engagement, and Drive Results.
• Data-Driven Digital Marketing

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all seminars and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

Showgoers are guaranteed low rates with no hidden fees when booking through the official SEMA Show housing partner, OnPeak. The Travel & Lodging page on www.SEMAShow.com features a real-time listing of the hotel deals and discounts available for the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas. The page also offers information, such as price, location and shuttle availability, to help Showgoers determine the hotel that best accommodates their needs.

Showgoers are guaranteed low rates with no hidden fees when booking through the official SEMA Show housing partner, OnPeak. The Travel & Lodging page on www.SEMAShow.com features a real-time listing of the hotel deals and discounts available for the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas. The page also offers information, such as price, location and shuttle availability, to help Showgoers determine the hotel that best accommodates their needs.

By SEMA Editors

Todd Sanders

Todd Sanders Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation Board of Trustees

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) has elected Todd Sanders to its board of trustees. Sanders is the senior vice president of professional sales for the Advance enterprise brands. Prior to the Advance Auto Parts acquisition, Sanders served as vice president of professional markets for Carquest, overseeing the TechNet professional program, Carquest Technical Institute, B2B e-commerce and the company’s national accounts. For more information or to get involved, contact Joel Ayres at joel@aftermarketfoundation.org.

Meyer Distributing Names Air Lift Co., Camco and Mickey Thompson Vendors of the Year

Meyer Distributing has named Air Lift Co., Camco and Mickey Thompson vendors of the year in their respective categories. In the truck accessory division, Air Lift has stood out with its efforts with Meyer to communicate and educate the dealers and consumers about load support. Camco has really stood out to Meyer with its products, service and partnership in the RV and towing industry. Mickey Thomson has proven to be a strong partner with its eagerness to work with the purchasing, sales and marketing teams, and vast array of tires and wheels that appeal a wide audience.

Motovicity Adds G-Sport by GESI to Product Lineup

Motovicity Distribution has introduced another brand to its lineup. G-Sport by Global Emissions Systems Inc. (GESI)—a developer of emissions-control technology.

Aeromotive Inc. Appoints Kahn Media as Agency of Record

Kahn Media has been selected as the agency of record for Aeromotive Inc. Celebrating 25 years in business, Aeromotive is looking to reinforce its consumer and business-to-business marketing efforts by utilizing Kahn Media’s full suite of services. Kahn Media will handle public relations, digital and content marketing, social media management, influencer outreach and event marketing support and assist with creative services. The partnership allows for Aeromotive to utilize Kahn Media’s extensive network of resources and in-house experts to provide support and connect Aeromotive directly to its target markets with cohesive brand messaging.

Members of the Indiana Automotive Equipment team, now an exclusive distributor of Stertil-Koni heavy-duty vehicle lifts.

Stertil-Koni Expands Distributor Network With Addition of Indiana Automotive Equipment

Stertil-Koni has announced that it has expanded its network of exclusive distributors across North America with the addition of Indiana Automotive Equipment, based in Maxwell, Indiana. For its part, Indiana Automotive Equipment (IAE) has experience in vehicle equipment sales, parts and service. And now, as a Stertil-Koni distributor, IAE has added heavy-duty vehicle lifting systems to its offerings. Stertil-Koni has experienced record growth in the first six months of 2019, and with IAE on board, the company has the opportunity to expand its presence in parts of Indiana and Kentucky.

Motorz TV C10 Build to Be Featured at 2019 SEMA Show

Duke Networks LLC, publisher of the Automotive Improvement television series “Motorz,” is bringing its ’69 Chevrolet C10 “Blue Moon” project vehicle to the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 5–8. The project truck, built in partnership with Vintage SpeedShop and Painkiller Customs in Arizona for the TV show, will be featured at the Wastegate Technologies Inc. booth #61016, where it will be used to demonstrate new wrap films in its current partial build state. Current product sponsors include Year One, Craftsman, Katzkin, Early Classic Enterprises, Sikkens, Old Air Products, Flex-A-Lite, Precision Replacement Parts, Dynacorn, POR-15, Vibro Solution and LMC Truck.

Chris Bovis

Chris Bovis Joins Hart Marx Advisors as Partner

Chris Bovis, an expert in the performance, racing and automotive aftermarket industries, has joined Hart Marx Advisors. Bovis will apply his 20 years of client development, acquisitions and integration, and marketing expertise to his new role as a partner at the firm. Bovis previously served as vice president of marketing and business development at WELD Racing, where he created an acquisition-based growth strategy, which resulted in the resurgence of the wheel manufacturing brand in the performance and motorsports industry. As WELD Racing transitioned into new ownership, Bovis played an instrumental role in the acquisitions of wheel brands CCW, HiPer Technology and Forgestar from 2015–2017, helping to greatly diversify the company’s product offerings. As a partner within the firm, Bovis will be involved at a granular level with business development, client relationship cultivation, deal making and negotiating, as well as oversight and implementation of critical marketing initiatives. Bovis started his career with Yokohama Tire Corp. before entering the motorsport industry as a live-event promoter for some of the largest motorsport events in the United States. Prior to joining WELD Racing, he served as vice president of sales and marketing for HiPer Technology, a carbon-fiber wheel and safety manufacturer, culminating in more than 20 years of career experience in the performance and motorsport industries.

Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout 2 Cars Badly Burned in Fire

Power Automedia’s Horsepower Wars $10K Drag Shootout 2 suffered a massive blow as its four race cars cars were recently involved in a fire disaster during transport. The transporter that was hauling the $10K Drag Shootout 2 cars caught fire and the blaze engulfed the vehicles. Three of the four $10K Drag Shootout 2 cars on the rig were damaged, but, most notably, the COMP Cams Dream Team’s Ford Mustang was totally destroyed, while Team Bigun’s Ford Granada wagon’s entire front clip, including the engine and transmission, were scorched. Once the full scope of the extensive damage was assessed, it became clear that it was more practical to push the race forward to Donald Long’s “Lights Out” event in February 2020. Despite being badly burned, it has been confirmed that the teams intend to rebuild. Rather than simply cover the rebuild with a blog or video blog, the goal is to still allow the competitors to showcase their technical talents and determination as originally intended in a full episode. While the scheduled race and final episode will be delayed, the remainder of the build episodes will air every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. (PST)/8:00 p.m. (EST) as scheduled.

(L–R): John Gabriel, DEI powersports division manager, and Mike Zenone, DEI inside sales supervisor.

DEI Hires Mike Zenone as Inside Sales Supervisor and John Gabriel as DEI Powersports Division Manager

DEI has announced two new supervisory positions. Former DEI employee Mike Zenone has been rehired as the company’s inside sales supervisor. John Gabriel has been hired as DEI’s powersports division manager. Zenone previously worked for a decade with DEI as the company’s brand manager and manager of business development where he was responsible for double-digit sales growth prior to taking a position at Flaming River Industries Inc., where he served in a capacity of sales, customer service, technical assistance and media relations roles. In his new position as inside sales supervisor, he will manage activity of inside sales representatives for automotive, and report directly to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing Tom Miller. Zenone has a prior proven track record of successfully managing a team of sales representatives for DEI and handling retail, dealer and wholesale phone sales for Flaming River. Gabriel has two decades of experience in the powersports market, first working with Russell Performance Products as the company’s national motorcycle sales manager where he worked with top brands in the industry—Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Custom Chrome, LeMans and Tucker. Previously, he worked as a powersports manufacturer’s rep, increasing his sales experience to an expanded brand list of powersports aftermarket companies. Prior to joining DEI he served as an account manager for Progressive Suspension LLC. As powersports division manager, Gabriel will be responsible for driving top-line revenue growth with a strategic plan for this market segment, which includes motorcycle, side-by-side (UTV), ATV and snowmobile. He will work with all product brand managers developing new products, manage inside and outside sales representatives and represent the DEI powersports division at all B2B and B2C shows and events. 

S/P2 Partners With WD-40 Co. to Give Students the Opportunity to Earn an Industry Credential

S/P2 has joined forces with WD-40 Co. to offer student technicians across industries an opportunity to gain critical knowledge and boost their resume through a new online training course. In the course “Cleaning, Storage, and Maintenance of Tools and Equipment,” students learn how rust can negatively affect tools, what to look for when cleaning and maintaining tools and how proper maintenance and storage can help extend the life of their tools. WD-40 Company brings industry best practices and a wide breadth of tips, tricks and solutions to the course. The credential is available to career tech schools and post-secondary institutions as part of the S/P2 automotive, heavy-duty/diesel and welding course bundles. After passing the course, students earn a certificate of completion and a third-party industry credential that can be highlighted in their portfolios and used as a differentiator during job interviews. More than 21,000 students have completed the course and earned the WD-40 Co. credential since it debuted in August.

California Tire Dealers, 1-800EveryRim to Host January Luncheon

The eighth annual California Tire Dealers (CTDA)/1-800EveryRim New Year Luncheon will be held January 29, 2020, in Santa Fe Springs, California, and will feature Tire Industry Association (TIA) Vice President Dan Nothdurft of Tires, Tires, Tires and SEMA Wheel & Tire Council Select Committee Member George Finch of The Carlstar Group. In addition, master of ceremonies will be Chris Barry, senior sales director of The Independent Tire Dealer Group (ITDG) and CTDA past president. All tire industry members are welcome to attend, and retail tire dealers are invited free of charge. For sponsorship information, contact CTDA Director Marc Connerly at 916-214-6495. Early RSVPs are now being accepted. Contact Billy Eordekian at 562-351-4840.

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.

By Christian Robinson

The United States agreed to postpone a tariff increase from 25% to 30% on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports that was scheduled to take effect on October 15. In exchange, China agreed to purchase $40–$50 billion more U.S. farm products annually (compared to $24 billion before the recent trade war). 

Additional details on the deal between the two countries are still being finalized. President Trump said that the agreement covers agricultural structural issues and purchases, intellectual property, forced technology transfer, currency and financial services. 

The deal does not address structural reforms being sought by the United States, including specific steps China will take to enforce intellectual property protections for U.S. companies, enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with a final agreement, and eventual removal of the tariffs already in place on $360 billion of Chinese imports. These other issues would be addressed in a subsequent agreement.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By Christian Robinson

The United States agreed to postpone a tariff increase from 25% to 30% on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports that was scheduled to take effect on October 15. In exchange, China agreed to purchase $40–$50 billion more U.S. farm products annually (compared to $24 billion before the recent trade war). 

Additional details on the deal between the two countries are still being finalized. President Trump said that the agreement covers agricultural structural issues and purchases, intellectual property, forced technology transfer, currency and financial services. 

The deal does not address structural reforms being sought by the United States, including specific steps China will take to enforce intellectual property protections for U.S. companies, enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with a final agreement, and eventual removal of the tariffs already in place on $360 billion of Chinese imports. These other issues would be addressed in a subsequent agreement.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By Christian Robinson

Legislation (H.B. 100) in North Carolina to lower the age of vehicles eligible for an antique license plate to 30 years old passed the legislature and now goes to Governor Roy Cooper for approval.

Legislation (H.B. 100) in North Carolina to lower the age of vehicles eligible for an antique license plate to 30 years old passed the legislature and now goes to Governor Roy Cooper for approval. Current law only authorizes owners of vehicles that are at least 35 years from the date of manufacture.

Owners with a vehicle ’43 model year or older will retain the option of choosing antique or horseless carriage plates.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By Christian Robinson

Legislation (H.B. 100) in North Carolina to lower the age of vehicles eligible for an antique license plate to 30 years old passed the legislature and now goes to Governor Roy Cooper for approval.

Legislation (H.B. 100) in North Carolina to lower the age of vehicles eligible for an antique license plate to 30 years old passed the legislature and now goes to Governor Roy Cooper for approval. Current law only authorizes owners of vehicles that are at least 35 years from the date of manufacture.

Owners with a vehicle ’43 model year or older will retain the option of choosing antique or horseless carriage plates.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By Christian Robinson

Prior to enactment of the FAST Act, the United States had just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass-produce millions of vehicles.

SEMA filed a petition in federal appellate court to require the government to allow replica car manufacturers to immediately begin production. Under a 2015 law—the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)—low-volume automakers may sell up to 325 replica cars each year that resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago. The FAST Act set a deadline of December 4, 2016, for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue any necessary regulations to implement the law. The agency has yet to take any action.

Prior to enactment of the FAST Act, the United States had just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass-produce millions of vehicles. The lack of regulatory flexibility prevented small businesses from manufacturing turn-key vehicles. Eager to produce replica vehicles under the new law, many companies made capital investments and took customer orders on the assumption that sales could begin in late 2016. However, NHTSA has failed to issue regulations or undertake any other action allowing the small automakers to produce and sell vehicles as permitted by law.

“SEMA warned NHTSA in 2018 that it would file suit if companies could not begin production of turnkey cars as authorized by the FAST Act,” said SEMA President and CEO Christopher J. Kersting. “SEMA has made every effort to work collaboratively with NHTSA for over three and a half years, although the agency has taken no action to implement the replica car law. Consequently, companies have not hired workers, businesses have lost money, and consumers have been denied their rights to purchase replica cars.” 

Vehicles produced under the FAST Act will be current model-year clean cars. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have developed guidelines and regulations to confirm that the engine packages to be installed will meet current emissions standards. 

The replica car provision was designed to be easy for NHTSA to implement, as it is an extension of the common-sense approach to overseeing kit car production that the agency has employed for decades. While the FAST Act requires NHTSA to “issue such regulations as may be necessary” to implement the law, the agency also has other options such as issuing a guidance document that will allow production to begin immediately. SEMA has asked the court to compel NHTSA to take action. 

For more information, contact Juan Torres at 909-978-6722 or juant@sema.org.

By Christian Robinson

Prior to enactment of the FAST Act, the United States had just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass-produce millions of vehicles.

SEMA filed a petition in federal appellate court to require the government to allow replica car manufacturers to immediately begin production. Under a 2015 law—the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)—low-volume automakers may sell up to 325 replica cars each year that resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago. The FAST Act set a deadline of December 4, 2016, for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue any necessary regulations to implement the law. The agency has yet to take any action.

Prior to enactment of the FAST Act, the United States had just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass-produce millions of vehicles. The lack of regulatory flexibility prevented small businesses from manufacturing turn-key vehicles. Eager to produce replica vehicles under the new law, many companies made capital investments and took customer orders on the assumption that sales could begin in late 2016. However, NHTSA has failed to issue regulations or undertake any other action allowing the small automakers to produce and sell vehicles as permitted by law.

“SEMA warned NHTSA in 2018 that it would file suit if companies could not begin production of turnkey cars as authorized by the FAST Act,” said SEMA President and CEO Christopher J. Kersting. “SEMA has made every effort to work collaboratively with NHTSA for over three and a half years, although the agency has taken no action to implement the replica car law. Consequently, companies have not hired workers, businesses have lost money, and consumers have been denied their rights to purchase replica cars.” 

Vehicles produced under the FAST Act will be current model-year clean cars. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have developed guidelines and regulations to confirm that the engine packages to be installed will meet current emissions standards. 

The replica car provision was designed to be easy for NHTSA to implement, as it is an extension of the common-sense approach to overseeing kit car production that the agency has employed for decades. While the FAST Act requires NHTSA to “issue such regulations as may be necessary” to implement the law, the agency also has other options such as issuing a guidance document that will allow production to begin immediately. SEMA has asked the court to compel NHTSA to take action. 

For more information, contact Juan Torres at 909-978-6722 or juant@sema.org.