SEMA Show registration is available at SEMAShow.com.

SEMA Show registration is available at SEMAShow.com.

By SEMA Editors

The information contained in the SEMA Emissions Compliance Handbook is intended as a complete guide for any interested party to understand the emissions-compliance process and to maximize the probability of a successful compliance experience.

Over the years, SEMA has received many requests from members seeking information about federal and state emissions-compliance requirements. If you manufacture emissions-related aftermarket parts for regulated vehicles, the parts will likely need to be tested to confirm that vehicles will still meet applicable clean-air standards after the part has been installed. Emissions-related parts are regulated under U.S. clean-air laws and are primarily enforced by two government agencies: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

SEMA wants to give members all the tools necessary to comply with the law in a cost-effective manner. That includes explaining the law and providing an option to test their products. Emissions-related aftermarket parts include any specialty part that interacts with the vehicle’s emissions system and changes the performance levels of the equipment being replaced or supplemented. They are commonly called “add-on” or “modified” parts. The product may be “emissions-related” if it is installed anywhere between the air intake and the outlet end of the catalytic converter. The term does not include ordinary replacement parts.

The information contained in the SEMA Emissions Compliance Handbook is intended as a complete guide for any interested party to understand the emissions-compliance process and to maximize the probability of a successful compliance experience. SEMA has staff available to assist members throughout the process.

Download the SEMA Emissions Compliance Handbook today.

For more information, contact Peter Treydte, SEMA technical consultant, at 909-978-6673 or petert@​sema.​org.​

By SEMA Editors

The information contained in the SEMA Emissions Compliance Handbook is intended as a complete guide for any interested party to understand the emissions-compliance process and to maximize the probability of a successful compliance experience.

Over the years, SEMA has received many requests from members seeking information about federal and state emissions-compliance requirements. If you manufacture emissions-related aftermarket parts for regulated vehicles, the parts will likely need to be tested to confirm that vehicles will still meet applicable clean-air standards after the part has been installed. Emissions-related parts are regulated under U.S. clean-air laws and are primarily enforced by two government agencies: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

SEMA wants to give members all the tools necessary to comply with the law in a cost-effective manner. That includes explaining the law and providing an option to test their products. Emissions-related aftermarket parts include any specialty part that interacts with the vehicle’s emissions system and changes the performance levels of the equipment being replaced or supplemented. They are commonly called “add-on” or “modified” parts. The product may be “emissions-related” if it is installed anywhere between the air intake and the outlet end of the catalytic converter. The term does not include ordinary replacement parts.

The information contained in the SEMA Emissions Compliance Handbook is intended as a complete guide for any interested party to understand the emissions-compliance process and to maximize the probability of a successful compliance experience. SEMA has staff available to assist members throughout the process.

Download the SEMA Emissions Compliance Handbook today.

For more information, contact Peter Treydte, SEMA technical consultant, at 909-978-6673 or petert@​sema.​org.​

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Pavan Desaneni

Yokohama Tire Promotes Pavan Desaneni to Vice President of Information Technology

Yokohama Tire has hired 20-year IT veteran Pavan Desaneni as its new vice president of information technology. He replaces Wasi Ahmed and will report to Tom Masuguchi, Yokohama executive vice president and CFO. Desaneni, who graduated from Osmania University with a degree in computer science, joined Yokohama in 2014 as senior manager, enterprise architect and platform. He was promoted to director, enterprise architect and platform before ascending to vice president. Prior to joining Yokohama, Desaneni worked as IT manager at Ventura Foods and a senior systems engineer at Pharmavite LLC.

Legendary Builder Stephan Papadakis Documents Development of 1,000+ hp Motor for YouTube Series

2018 SEMA Masters of Motors winner Stephan Papadakis invites YouTube viewers to join him for an all-access look at what it takes to develop and create a 1,000+ hp motor for the MKV Supra from a brand-new production engine, which replaces the 2JZ, first introduced in 1990 and last produced in 2007. In the four-part YouTube series, Papadakis explores the limits of the Mark V Supra B58 engine. To deliver 1,000 hp, Papadakis must push the performance limits to more than triple its power. From first looks under the engine cover to the engine dyno reveal, a four-part episodic digital series lifts the veil on the often secretive world of the sport-compact scene and takes viewers into the process of building on the leading edge.

Brett Tennar

Lubrication Specialties Inc. Promotes Vice President of Operations Brett Tennar to President

Lubrication Specialties Inc. (LSI) has announced the immediate promotion of Brett Tennar, LSI’s former plant manager and vice president of operations, to president, effective immediately. The announcement was made recently by LSI’s founder and CEO Chris Gabrelcik. Hired in 2016 as LSI’s plant manager, Tennar was responsible for ordering raw materials, all production, shipping, receiving and participating in weekly manager meetings and staff meetings to advise on plant progress. Mid-year in 2018, Tennar was promoted to vice president of operations, where he was more directly involved in human resources, sales and distribution, marketing, accounting and planning.

Toyo Tires Treadpass and South Hall Entrance Exhibit Return to SEMA Show

Toyo Tires is returning to the 2019 SEMA Show with both in its display located at the South Hall entrance (booth #62122) and the Toyo Tires Treadpass located between the Central and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. See some of the show’s top vehicle builds, meet celebrities and Toyo Tires models and have a chance to collect limited-edition pins. Features will include special appearances by Ken Block (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.; and Thursday, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.) and TJ Hunt (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; and Thursday, 1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.). Toyo Tires will also debut several new vehicle builds in the Toyo Tires Treadpass, including the Baja 911, Ruffian Mustang, Button Built Ferrari “BB355TT,” ’20 Toyota GR Supra Widebody, DEFCONBRIX ’71 Ford Bronco and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 Widebody.

All tire industry members are welcome to attend the annual California Tire Dealers (CTDA)/1-800EveryRim New Year Luncheon.

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.

Russell Stephens

Russell Stephens Joins PerTronix Performance Brands

Russell Stephens, a 30-plus-year industry veteran, has joined the PerTronix Performance Brands family as vice president of sales and marketing. Stephens was previously president of a prominent Texas-based performance manufacturer, where he held various roles in the organization for more than 30 years. Stephens has also served the industry as a volunteer with more than 25 years of service with SEMA, including three terms on the SEMA Board of Directors. The role of vice president of sales and marketing for Pertronix was previously held by industry icon Jim Hairston, who will move into a new role within the organization where he will work with business development and acquisitions.

’18 Jeep Wrangler

’18 Ford Explorer

Chattanooga Police Looking for Two Vehicles Stolen From Austin Hatcher Foundation Last Weekend

Last weekend, two vehicles—an ’18 Ford Explorer and ’18 Jeep Wrangler—were stolen from the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s new Education Advancement Center, located at 1601 South Holtzclaw Ave., in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga police are working to recover the stolen vehicles. Anyone with information regarding the location of these vehicles should call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525. The vehicles were built and outfitted by pediatric cancer patients and their families as part of the foundation’s industrial arts therapy division. This program, offered at no cost to participants, gives children a chance to perform occupational therapy in a fun, educational environment. In addition to being used by childhood cancer patients and survivors as part of therapy and recovery, both vehicles were to be auctioned in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the Leake Auto Auction in January 2020.

“We are completely devastated by this horrible theft,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn. “These cars had a lot of hard work and love put into them by our patients, and we’re heartbroken to see the wreckage left behind by whoever stole these vehicles. They obviously damaged the vehicles and left a trail of destroyed parts behind. Even if the police find the vehicles, we probably won’t be able to use them as fundraisers as we’d planned. This is truly a huge loss.”

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 Kyle Cheng

Check out the “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” each month to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy.

While data continues to suggest slowing, the overall U.S. economy remains on relatively stable footing and recession fears have passed for now. Consumer sentiment, while off its highs, remains elevated. Workers are enjoying a very tight labor market that has pushed unemployment rates to historically low levels. At the same time, trade tensions continue to impact both near-term economic performance and the broader outlook.

Want more information on the trends affecting the specialty-equipment industry? Check out the “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” each month to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. In this report, published monthly, you’ll get a snapshot of the overall economy and our industry, including:

• Overall economic outlook.
• New vehicle sales and statistics on auto-parts production.
• Consumer sentiment and spending.
• Economic growth and unemployment.
• Other important industry insights.

To learn more, download the October “SEMA Industry Indicators Report,” now available for free at www.sema.org/research.

By Kyle Cheng

Check out the “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” each month to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy.

While data continues to suggest slowing, the overall U.S. economy remains on relatively stable footing and recession fears have passed for now. Consumer sentiment, while off its highs, remains elevated. Workers are enjoying a very tight labor market that has pushed unemployment rates to historically low levels. At the same time, trade tensions continue to impact both near-term economic performance and the broader outlook.

Want more information on the trends affecting the specialty-equipment industry? Check out the “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” each month to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. In this report, published monthly, you’ll get a snapshot of the overall economy and our industry, including:

• Overall economic outlook.
• New vehicle sales and statistics on auto-parts production.
• Consumer sentiment and spending.
• Economic growth and unemployment.
• Other important industry insights.

To learn more, download the October “SEMA Industry Indicators Report,” now available for free at www.sema.org/research.

By Chris Kersting

With just two 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. At the Show, you’ll find a special group of 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 look for booth designations that 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.

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!

By Chris Kersting

With just two 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. At the Show, you’ll find a special group of 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 look for booth designations that 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.

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!

By Lindsay Bianco

Aeromotive was named Manufacturer of the Year at the 2018 SEMA Industry Awards Banquet.

The finalists have been selected for three of SEMA’s prestigious industry awards—SEMA Rep Agency of the Year, SEMA WD of the Year and SEMA Manufacturer of the Year. The awards will be presented during the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday, November 7.

Get your tickets for the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet.

The banquet will also feature the presentation of the distinguished Person of the Year and Gen-III Innovator of the Year awards, and tribute will be paid to the 2019 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees—Bruce Crower, Crower Cams; Bob Chandler, Bigfoot 4x4; and Marla Moore, Legendary Companies—for their influence on and contributions to the industry.

Finalists for SEMA's Industry Awards:

SEMA Manufacturer of the Year

• Air Lift Co.
• Hunter Engineering Co.
• Hypertech Inc.

SEMA WD of the Year

• AllPro Distributing
• Keystone Automotive
• Turn 14 Distribution

SEMA Rep Agency of the Year

• Considine Sales & Marketing
• Kunzman & Associates
• PSKB Inc.

The SEMA Industry Awards Banquet takes place Thursday, November 7, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. More information on the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet is available online.

Visit www.SEMAShow.com for the latest Show information and to register for the 2019 SEMA Show.