In a closely watched case, a German court has for the second time in two years sided with a consumer who sued for the right to install aftermarket carbon-fiber wheels on his motorcycle. The Southern German state of Baden-Württemberg denied the consumer an operating license due to the addition of Dymag aftermarket wheels—a product that was already popular throughout Europe, having been used without problems in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for a number of years.

The courts cited newly enhanced European Union (EU) mutual-recognition regulations that limit the ability of the 27 EU countries from banning products already legally sold in one or more other EU countries. The only exception is in cases where local officials can prove a safety concern—a prerequisite for the denial of products cross-border. The court noted that the local government did not have a justification in denying an operating license to the consumer, noting, “The long-lasting, unproblematic and accident-free use in Great Britain and the Netherlands in public road traffic and at international motorcycle racing makes such proof unlikely.”

The European Tuning Organization (ETO)—a pan-European coalition of specialty-equipment associations of which SEMA is a member—has been a strong proponent of the enhanced European regulations.

“This court case is important; the wheels were clearly safe having been used in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for many years,” said ETO President Renato Gallo. “Additional testing or the outright denial of specialty products will do nothing to improve safety but will deny German consumers access to safe, popular products enjoyed worldwide. The free flow of goods throughout Europe might indeed become a reality once local governments understand that they don’t have the right to impose technical barriers without a proven need for such limitations.”

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

In a closely watched case, a German court has for the second time in two years sided with a consumer who sued for the right to install aftermarket carbon-fiber wheels on his motorcycle. The Southern German state of Baden-Württemberg denied the consumer an operating license due to the addition of Dymag aftermarket wheels—a product that was already popular throughout Europe, having been used without problems in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for a number of years.

The courts cited newly enhanced European Union (EU) mutual-recognition regulations that limit the ability of the 27 EU countries from banning products already legally sold in one or more other EU countries. The only exception is in cases where local officials can prove a safety concern—a prerequisite for the denial of products cross-border. The court noted that the local government did not have a justification in denying an operating license to the consumer, noting, “The long-lasting, unproblematic and accident-free use in Great Britain and the Netherlands in public road traffic and at international motorcycle racing makes such proof unlikely.”

The European Tuning Organization (ETO)—a pan-European coalition of specialty-equipment associations of which SEMA is a member—has been a strong proponent of the enhanced European regulations.

“This court case is important; the wheels were clearly safe having been used in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for many years,” said ETO President Renato Gallo. “Additional testing or the outright denial of specialty products will do nothing to improve safety but will deny German consumers access to safe, popular products enjoyed worldwide. The free flow of goods throughout Europe might indeed become a reality once local governments understand that they don’t have the right to impose technical barriers without a proven need for such limitations.”

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

2011 SEMA Show buyer registration is up across all 12 Show sections. Don't miss this opportunity to meet with thousands of automotive specialty-equipment suppliers all in one place!

With still four months to go until Show time, buyer registration for the 2011 SEMA Show is up 54% over last year at this same time, virtually guaranteeing that exhibitor booths will draw constant foot traffic. In fact, buyer attendance is up in each of the 12 Show sections, which include: Business Services; Collision Repair & Refinish; Hot Rod Alley; Mobile Electronics & Technology; Powersports & Utility Vehicles; Racing & Performance; Restoration Marketplace; Restyling & Car Care Accessories; Tools & Equipment; Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road; Wheels & Accessories; and Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA.

Attracting more than 50,000 buyers, thousands of new products, countless networking opportunities, dozens of educational sessions led by industry experts, a plethora of celebrity attendees and hundreds of feature vehicles displaying the latest automotive trends, the 2011 SEMA Show, which takes over the entire Las Vegas Convention Center November 1–4, is a can’t-miss opportunity for both automotive specialty-equipment buyers and exhibitors alike. So far, net square footage is up 9% over last year at 879,075 sq. ft. Also, the number of exhibitors this year is exceeding the number from last year at this time by 11%, with the Hot Rod Alley, Restoration Marketplace and Business Services sections nearly sold out.

“Enthusiasm seems to be on an upward trend, with interest in the SEMA Show among the highest we’ve seen in recent years,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Buyers, in particular, are committing to the 2011 Show like never before. The early registration numbers indicate that buyers are eager to meet with exhibitors and see what’s new in the industry. They’ll be showing up at the SEMA Show in November prepared and ready to do business.”

If you are a buyer, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet with thousands of automotive specialty-parts suppliers all in one location. Visit www.SEMAShow.com and register today!

Click here to view a complete exhibitor list and floor plan.

2011 SEMA Show buyer registration is up across all 12 Show sections. Don't miss this opportunity to meet with thousands of automotive specialty-equipment suppliers all in one place!

With still four months to go until Show time, buyer registration for the 2011 SEMA Show is up 54% over last year at this same time, virtually guaranteeing that exhibitor booths will draw constant foot traffic. In fact, buyer attendance is up in each of the 12 Show sections, which include: Business Services; Collision Repair & Refinish; Hot Rod Alley; Mobile Electronics & Technology; Powersports & Utility Vehicles; Racing & Performance; Restoration Marketplace; Restyling & Car Care Accessories; Tools & Equipment; Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road; Wheels & Accessories; and Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA.

Attracting more than 50,000 buyers, thousands of new products, countless networking opportunities, dozens of educational sessions led by industry experts, a plethora of celebrity attendees and hundreds of feature vehicles displaying the latest automotive trends, the 2011 SEMA Show, which takes over the entire Las Vegas Convention Center November 1–4, is a can’t-miss opportunity for both automotive specialty-equipment buyers and exhibitors alike. So far, net square footage is up 9% over last year at 879,075 sq. ft. Also, the number of exhibitors this year is exceeding the number from last year at this time by 11%, with the Hot Rod Alley, Restoration Marketplace and Business Services sections nearly sold out.

“Enthusiasm seems to be on an upward trend, with interest in the SEMA Show among the highest we’ve seen in recent years,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Buyers, in particular, are committing to the 2011 Show like never before. The early registration numbers indicate that buyers are eager to meet with exhibitors and see what’s new in the industry. They’ll be showing up at the SEMA Show in November prepared and ready to do business.”

If you are a buyer, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet with thousands of automotive specialty-parts suppliers all in one location. Visit www.SEMAShow.com and register today!

Click here to view a complete exhibitor list and floor plan.

The new SEI course, “Increase Your Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Mastering the Conversion Trinity,” will teach you processes to increase your return and provide tips and tricks that will make your PPC investments worthwhile.

More than $10 billion was spent on pay-per-click (PPC) advertising last year. If your company made part of that investment, did you get the return on investment (ROI) you expected? The latest session from the SEMA Education Institute (SEI), part of the easier-to-use SEI library, can teach you how to be sure—and triple your return!

Google's Chief Economist, Hal Varian, estimates that the average AdWords advertiser sees about $2 in revenue for every $1 spent, yet only about 2% of AdWords advertisers receive an ROI that makes continuing worthwhile. The new SEI course, “Increase Your Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Mastering the Conversion Trinity,” will teach you processes to increase your return and provide tips and tricks that will make your PPC investments worthwhile. Triple your ROI by mastering the following:

• The seven most common PPC mistakes to avoid.
• Four hot metrics to monitor and include in monthly reports.
• A powerful three-step process to increase click-through rates.
• Perfecting the relevancy of your ads and landing pages.
• Simple techniques that will make you stand out from your competitors.

Bryan Eisenberg of BryanEisenberg.com will lead the course. He is the co-author of the bestselling books, Call to Action, Waiting For Your Cat to Bark? and Always Be Testing. A professional marketing and keynote speaker, Eisenberg has delivered presentations at numerous top-flight corporate events and is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Web Analytics Association. He is a pioneer and recognized authority in online marketing, improving online conversion rates, persuasion architecture and persona marketing. He is a featured expert in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and has been quoted in most of the leading business journals. But his proudest professional accomplishments are helping the thousands of companies, students and clients who have consistently enjoyed dramatic improvements in sales.

PPC management can be costly and overwhelming. Visit www.SEMA.org/eLearning today and use this intensive session to ensure that your investment provides the maximum return.

The new SEI course, “Increase Your Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Mastering the Conversion Trinity,” will teach you processes to increase your return and provide tips and tricks that will make your PPC investments worthwhile.

More than $10 billion was spent on pay-per-click (PPC) advertising last year. If your company made part of that investment, did you get the return on investment (ROI) you expected? The latest session from the SEMA Education Institute (SEI), part of the easier-to-use SEI library, can teach you how to be sure—and triple your return!

Google's Chief Economist, Hal Varian, estimates that the average AdWords advertiser sees about $2 in revenue for every $1 spent, yet only about 2% of AdWords advertisers receive an ROI that makes continuing worthwhile. The new SEI course, “Increase Your Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Mastering the Conversion Trinity,” will teach you processes to increase your return and provide tips and tricks that will make your PPC investments worthwhile. Triple your ROI by mastering the following:

• The seven most common PPC mistakes to avoid.
• Four hot metrics to monitor and include in monthly reports.
• A powerful three-step process to increase click-through rates.
• Perfecting the relevancy of your ads and landing pages.
• Simple techniques that will make you stand out from your competitors.

Bryan Eisenberg of BryanEisenberg.com will lead the course. He is the co-author of the bestselling books, Call to Action, Waiting For Your Cat to Bark? and Always Be Testing. A professional marketing and keynote speaker, Eisenberg has delivered presentations at numerous top-flight corporate events and is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Web Analytics Association. He is a pioneer and recognized authority in online marketing, improving online conversion rates, persuasion architecture and persona marketing. He is a featured expert in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and has been quoted in most of the leading business journals. But his proudest professional accomplishments are helping the thousands of companies, students and clients who have consistently enjoyed dramatic improvements in sales.

PPC management can be costly and overwhelming. Visit www.SEMA.org/eLearning today and use this intensive session to ensure that your investment provides the maximum return.

The new SEI course, “Increase Your Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Mastering the Conversion Trinity,” will teach you processes to increase your return and provide tips and tricks that will make your PPC investments worthwhile.

More than $10 billion was spent on pay-per-click (PPC) advertising last year. If your company made part of that investment, did you get the return on investment (ROI) you expected? The latest session from the SEMA Education Institute (SEI), part of the easier-to-use SEI library, can teach you how to be sure—and triple your return!

Google's Chief Economist, Hal Varian, estimates that the average AdWords advertiser sees about $2 in revenue for every $1 spent, yet only about 2% of AdWords advertisers receive an ROI that makes continuing worthwhile. The new SEI course, “Increase Your Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Mastering the Conversion Trinity,” will teach you processes to increase your return and provide tips and tricks that will make your PPC investments worthwhile. Triple your ROI by mastering the following:

• The seven most common PPC mistakes to avoid.
• Four hot metrics to monitor and include in monthly reports.
• A powerful three-step process to increase click-through rates.
• Perfecting the relevancy of your ads and landing pages.
• Simple techniques that will make you stand out from your competitors.

Bryan Eisenberg of BryanEisenberg.com will lead the course. He is the co-author of the bestselling books, Call to Action, Waiting For Your Cat to Bark? and Always Be Testing. A professional marketing and keynote speaker, Eisenberg has delivered presentations at numerous top-flight corporate events and is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Web Analytics Association. He is a pioneer and recognized authority in online marketing, improving online conversion rates, persuasion architecture and persona marketing. He is a featured expert in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and has been quoted in most of the leading business journals. But his proudest professional accomplishments are helping the thousands of companies, students and clients who have consistently enjoyed dramatic improvements in sales.

PPC management can be costly and overwhelming. Visit www.SEMA.org/eLearning today and use this intensive session to ensure that your investment provides the maximum return.

With the latest shots from Brenda Priddy & Co., the spy shooters tell us that Hyundai's new-product assault continues, and with these fresh shots of the ’13 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, it appears that the Korean automaker has the Honda Civic Si squarely in its sights.

Judging by the front, the team says that the turbo model will get a new front fascia, with a new grille, round fog lights and chin spoilers on either corner of the bumper, under the fog lights.

This sportier Veloster also gets more aggressive side skirts and a pair of large, center-mount, round exhaust tips. Given the camouflage at the rear, Priddy is sure some other design changes await for the back.

According to the team, underhood should be Hyundai's Gamma, 1.6L, direct inject four-cylinder with the addition of a turbo-charger. Most sources indicate it should be good for around 210 hp, and that Hyundai hopes to get very close, or retain completely, the 40-mpg fuel-economy rating of the regular Veloster.

Priddy says to look for the Veloster turbo to debut at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show or the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Photo: Brenda Priddy & Company

With the latest shots from Brenda Priddy & Co., the spy shooters tell us that Hyundai's new-product assault continues, and with these fresh shots of the ’13 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, it appears that the Korean automaker has the Honda Civic Si squarely in its sights.

Judging by the front, the team says that the turbo model will get a new front fascia, with a new grille, round fog lights and chin spoilers on either corner of the bumper, under the fog lights.

This sportier Veloster also gets more aggressive side skirts and a pair of large, center-mount, round exhaust tips. Given the camouflage at the rear, Priddy is sure some other design changes await for the back.

According to the team, underhood should be Hyundai's Gamma, 1.6L, direct inject four-cylinder with the addition of a turbo-charger. Most sources indicate it should be good for around 210 hp, and that Hyundai hopes to get very close, or retain completely, the 40-mpg fuel-economy rating of the regular Veloster.

Priddy says to look for the Veloster turbo to debut at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show or the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Photo: Brenda Priddy & Company

The SEMA Show vehicle photo gallery on enjoyethdrive.com features more than 2,000 vehicles on display at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. SEMA eNews highlights various vehicle makes and models, and each week there is a new collection to view and download.

Here is a collection of all of the Ford F-150s that made the trip to Vegas for the Show in 2010. These trucks are ready to cruise the streets in style, prove their strength on the trails or get work done on the job site thanks to the products and components outfitted by the specialty-equipment industry.   

To see all of the vehicle on display in 2010, click here.