Compiled by SEMA Editors

Lloyd Hunt	Jeff Jacques

Power Automedia Names Lloyd Hunt National Sales Manager, Jeff Jacques Business Development Director

Power Automedia has named Lloyd Hunt national sales manager and Jeff Jacques business development director. Hunt’s career at Power Automedia began in 2007 when he was hired as publisher. Now, in a new role as national sales manager, Hunt will help lead all business relationships at Power Automedia. Jacques also brings a wealth of sales and account management knowledge with him.

Frank LaViola Joins AirPro Diagnostics

AirPro Diagnostics has announced the hiring of Frank LaViola as senior sales and marketing consultant. LaViola brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the collision-repair industry, working nationally with quality repairers, OEMs and other vendors in relationship development, performance reporting and development of industry KPIs.

AudioControl Signs TPA for Independent Sales Representation

AudioControl, makers of innovative high-performance audio solutions for the residential, commercial and automotive markets, has appointed Trent Partners & Associates as the company's independent sales representation for mobile audio products in the New York and New England regions, effective immediately. TPA covers the New York/New England region with a team of seven sales reps on the road. TPA represents an array of significant 12-volt manufacturers throughout the region and has established relationships with car audio sales and installation specialists that bring great sound to consumers.

Mike McTeer

Dayco Appoints McTeer as Director of Business Strategy

Dayco has appointed Mike McTeer as director of business strategy, U.S. aftermarket. McTeer will be responsible for developing target market strategies and sales associate development. McTeer brings more than 25 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, having worked at O’Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone, Factory Motor Parts and Federal-Mogul Motorparts.

“I am delighted with my new role at Dayco and to work for a company that is renowned for its customer commitment.  My new role affords a great opportunity to contribute to an already talented Dayco team that is keenly focused on creating additional value for our aftermarket customers,” said McTeer, director of business strategy.

MAHLE Acquires Transmission Specialist

MAHLE is taking over the transmission specialist ZG-Zahnräder und Getriebe GmbH, based in Eching, near Munich, Germany. With this step, the technology group MAHLE is further developing its competence in the entire powertrain. It has been mutually agreed that the details of the agreement and the purchase price will not be disclosed. Through the acquisition, MAHLE is expanding its expertise in the powertrain as a whole to include the transmission—a key component. This is significant because the trend in electric vehicles is toward integrated drive systems. This strategic move allows MAHLE to tap into additional development competence in this field, thus putting it in a position to offer its customers integrated systems solutions for the powertrain from a single source, including transmission design.

Richard Dauch

Richard Dauch Appointed CEO Of Delphi Technologies

Delphi Technologies PLC has appointed Richard “Rick” Dauch as the company’s new CEO. Dauch also will join the company’s board of directors. He succeeds Hari Nair, who has been serving as interim CEO since October 5, 2018. Dauch is a proven executive in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries with extensive operational, commercial and P&L experience. Since February 2011, he has been serving as the president and CEO of Accuride Corp., a supplier of wheel end systems to the global commercial vehicle industry.

Previously, he was president and CEO of Acument Global Technologies, a global fastening solutions provider to the aerospace, automotive, heavy-duty truck, industrial and non-automotive transportation markets. He joined Acument following a 13-year career with American Axle and Manufacturing, where he last served as executive vice president of worldwide manufacturing for the global automotive supplier of driveline, drivetrain and chassis systems. Dauch began his career with United Technologies. He previously served as an officer in the U.S. Army for seven years after earning a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The Hot Shot’s Secret promotion rewarded funds to Amalee Mueller’s Save the Racks charity for each successful pass made in either of Mueller’s two Save the Racks-themed trucks driven throughout the 2018 race season by Mueller or Firepunk Diesel team member Larson Miller.

Hot Shot’s Secret and Amalee Mueller’s “Save the Racks” Promotion Raises $5,950 for Breast Cancer Research

In support of breast cancer research, Lubrication Specialties Inc., manufacturer of Hot Shot’s Secret performance fuel and oil additives and ADRENALINE race oil, have announced a contribution of $5,950 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The funds were raised throughout the NHRDA race season through a special promotion sponsored by Hot Shot’s Secret. The promotion rewarded funds to Amalee Mueller’s Save the Racks charity for each successful pass made in either of Mueller’s two Save the Racks-themed trucks driven throughout the 2018 race season by Mueller or Firepunk Diesel team member Larson Miller. Hot Shot’s Secret donated $50 for each pass, in addition to giving a $250 bonus for each runner-up finish and a $500 bonus for a class victory at each NHRDA event. This, in addition to Save the Racks promotional tee shirt sales, accounted for the close to $6,000 in funds raised for breast cancer research.

K&N to Be Official Filtration Partner for “Horsepower Wars” Season 2

“Horsepower Wars” and K&N have joined forces, with K&N being named the official filtration partner of the automotive show series. In addition, K&N will become the title sponsor of the “Horsepower Wars” Truck/Junkyard Challenge Competition. Season 2 kicks off in March.

Mark Joseph

Sparta Evolution Hires Mark Joseph as COO

Sparta Evolution has announced the hiring of Mark Joseph as chief operations officer. He has been in the performance automotive aftermarket industry for 26 years, all of which were spent with the company that his father, the late Oscar Joseph, founded in the ’70s: DBA (Disc Brakes Australia). In his new position with Sparta Evolution, he will concentrate on all aspects of running the business, which will include the oversight of accounting, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, operations, purchasing, quality and research and development. Joseph began his career in the performance automotive aftermarket industry with DBA in 1992. There, he focused on engineering, manufacturing, operations and quality. He led his quality management team to earn certification of ISO9000, QS9000, TS16949 and TUV. He was also instrumental in securing design patents for DBA’s vane design. He moved to the U.S. in 2005 to grow the business in the Americas by establishing warehouse logistics and national distribution. Joseph will report directly to the founder and CEO of Sparta Evolution Jun Chun.

XPEL Named Official Window Tint and Paint Protection Films of the BMW Car Club of America

The BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) has announced an agreement that will make XPEL the official window tint and paint protection films of the BMW CCA for 2019. The agreement provides XPEL exclusive status, a large presence at national club events and significant exposure via the club’s communication channels. XPEL will be present at key national events in 2019, including Legends of the Autobahn, Festorics and the 50th Annual BMW CCA Oktoberfest, providing members with more information about their advanced paint protection film and window tint product line. XPEL has been a club sponsor since 2013, and has continued to increase its support.

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 SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Outside Sales Representative – Meyer Distributing is hiring an outside sales representative to coordinate all activities with the new business development manager, including sales, service and special events; ensure that customers are updated with the latest promotions, trade shows and manufacturer literature; maintain and promote trade contacts and ensure that company sales standards and sales promotions are properly executed; and develop and execute sales plans and goals designed to increase sales and profits and to minimize expenses. One to two years’ minimum previous experience in sales or a related field is required. Prior automotive parts knowledge or aftermarket sales experience with territory management is preferred.

Order Fulfillment/Customer Service Specialist – ECUMaster USA is hiring an order fulfillment and customer service specialist responsible for order processing, inventory management, product assembly, answering inbound phone calls and emails and basic tech support. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. Candidates should have a passion for motorsports. Travel to trade shows and events is optional.

Mechanical Draftsman – Fabtech Motorsports is hiring a mechanical draftsman responsible for creating new drawings, revising existing drawings and making adjustments/design changes as necessary. This position will also provide technical support to R&D, ensure maximum profitability and quality, and contribute to cost-reduction efforts by actively seeking and reporting opportunities for reduced costs. Candidates must have two to four years’ experience in an R&D/manufacturing environment, an associate’s degree or equivalent drafting experience and be proficient in SolidWorks.

Mechanical Design Engineer – Cognito Motorsports is hiring a mechanical engineer or design engineer to lead and assist in the development of new aftermarket suspension-related products for passenger trucks, SUVs and UTVs. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills in addition to a comprehensive knowledge of engineering topics, including strength of materials, fatigue behavior, stresses, fits and interference and weld joint design. A B.S. in mechanical engineering or equivalent and a minimum four years’ related design experience in a manufacturing environment are required.

Product Safety and Compliance Manager – Transamerican Auto Parts (TAP) is hiring a product safety and compliance manager to review the design and manufacture of TAP-branded product against applicable safety criteria and regulatory requirements; assess third-party product sold by TAP’s retail and wholesale channel for safety and/or compliance risks; work with applicable regulatory agencies as needed; manage customer service campaigns or recalls; and work with TAP engineering on product design to ensure safety and compliance. A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and five years’ related job experience are required.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.

• S&B Filters
• Scorpion Racing Products
• SCT Performance
• Seymour of Sycamore Inc.
• Sherwood Innovations Inc.
• Sinister Diesel
• Smittybilt
• Snowsport
• Sparta Evolution
• Spectre

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

By SEMA Editors

The custom-built ’18 Chevrolet Camaro SS came to life over a nine-month period and will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida, January 12, 2019.

Petty’s Garage, Wastegate Technologies and OKI Data unveiled a custom 2018 Chevrolet Camaro at the 2018 SEMA Show. Now, the Camaro, donated by Petty's Garage, will be auctioned through Mecum Auctions with proceeds benefiting Victory Junction, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children with serious medical conditions.

The custom-built ’18 Chevrolet Camaro SS came to life over a nine-month period and will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida, January 12, 2019.

With only 54 miles on the odometer, the ’18 Chevrolet Camaro SS looks just as remarkable now as it did when it left Richard Petty’s Garage. Sporting Petty’s Garage window etchings, badges and a race-inspired spoiler, this Camaro debuted as a display car at the Wastegate Technologies booth at the 2018 SEMA Show. The exterior, clad in blue/black accenting with Petty markings, boldly defines the Camaro brand’s racing legacy. A JLT true cold-air intake and a MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust system work together to enable the LT1 V8 to turn out as much horsepower as it can. Riding on Continental Extreme Contact sport tires, this Camaro is ready to hit the open road or track.

For the interior, Avery Dennison vinyl was professionally installed by APE wraps. The vinyl also incorporates designs printed by OKI’s Color Painter M-64, a precision high-quality graphics-design printer. A custom Roadwire interior with blue/black leather further increases the racing-inspired looks of this car. The only thing this beautiful Bradley Sisson-designed ’18 Camaro SS needs is a new owner and a christening on the open road.

Full details on the Camaro are available through Mecum Auctions.

By SEMA Editors

The custom-built ’18 Chevrolet Camaro SS came to life over a nine-month period and will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida, January 12, 2019.

Petty’s Garage, Wastegate Technologies and OKI Data unveiled a custom 2018 Chevrolet Camaro at the 2018 SEMA Show. Now, the Camaro, donated by Petty's Garage, will be auctioned through Mecum Auctions with proceeds benefiting Victory Junction, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children with serious medical conditions.

The custom-built ’18 Chevrolet Camaro SS came to life over a nine-month period and will be auctioned off at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida, January 12, 2019.

With only 54 miles on the odometer, the ’18 Chevrolet Camaro SS looks just as remarkable now as it did when it left Richard Petty’s Garage. Sporting Petty’s Garage window etchings, badges and a race-inspired spoiler, this Camaro debuted as a display car at the Wastegate Technologies booth at the 2018 SEMA Show. The exterior, clad in blue/black accenting with Petty markings, boldly defines the Camaro brand’s racing legacy. A JLT true cold-air intake and a MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust system work together to enable the LT1 V8 to turn out as much horsepower as it can. Riding on Continental Extreme Contact sport tires, this Camaro is ready to hit the open road or track.

For the interior, Avery Dennison vinyl was professionally installed by APE wraps. The vinyl also incorporates designs printed by OKI’s Color Painter M-64, a precision high-quality graphics-design printer. A custom Roadwire interior with blue/black leather further increases the racing-inspired looks of this car. The only thing this beautiful Bradley Sisson-designed ’18 Camaro SS needs is a new owner and a christening on the open road.

Full details on the Camaro are available through Mecum Auctions.

Preview the 2019 MPMC Media Trade Conference

Manufacturers meet with editors from all around the world for a three-day information-sharing and networking event in Southern California.

Preview the 2019 MPMC Media Trade Conference

Manufacturers meet with editors from all around the world for a three-day information-sharing and networking event in Southern California.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will exclude certain items from the 25% tariffs imposed last July 6 on $34 billion worth of products from China. The products cover 818 Harmonized Tariff Code listings, including miscellaneous metal and rubber parts for auto equipment, machinery, tools, measurement and medical devices.  

The USTR granted 984 individual exclusion requests involving 21 separate HTS codes. The exclusions apply to any products in the follow HTC code listings:

• 8412.21.0075, covering certain hydraulic power engines.
• 8418.69.0120, covering certain drinking-water coolers.
• 8480.71.8045, covering certain injection molds.
• 8482.10.5044, covering certain single-row, radial ball bearings having an outside diameter of 9 mm but not over 30 mm.
• 8482.10.5048, covering certain single-row, radial ball bearings having an outside diameter over 30 mm but not over 52 mm.
• 8482.10.5052, covering certain ball bearings having an outside diameter over 52 mm but not over 100 mm.
• 8525.60.1010, covering certain CB radio transceivers.

The USTR also granted exclusions to 24 separate product descriptions ranging from plastic salad spinners to stainless steel rollers. All of the exclusions are retroactive to July 6, 2018, and last until December 28, 2019.  

To be eligible for an exclusion, companies had to demonstrate that the product is available only from China, that the duties will cause severe economic harm, and that the good is strategically important. The exclusions cover all imports under the HTC listing number, not just the request filed by an individual importer. The USTR will now consider exclusion requests for 25% tariffs imposed August 23 for products from China valued at $16 billion. The products covered 279 Harmonized Tariff Code listings, including many types of plastics.  

On September 24, the Trump Administration also imposed 10% tariffs on $200 billion worth of products from China. No exclusion requests are permitted for these products. The deadline for filing exclusion requests for the first two lists covering $34 billion and $16 billion worth of products has expired.  

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