By Kenny Wright

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary at the SEMA Show, the 2023 SEMA Battle of the Builders is proud to announce that Mothers Polish is returning as the competition's presenting sponsor!

The SEMA Battle of the Builders (BOTB) Presented by Mothers Polish has been the aftermarket industry's ultimate vehicle competition for 10 amazing years. Highlighting custom builders at the forefront of innovation, BOTB continues to champion the spirit of competition, the passion of the automotive aftermarket and the innovation of the builder community.

"For the last decade, SEMA's Battle of the Builders has provided vehicle builders a special platform to showcase their imagination, ingenuity and craftsmanship while also fueling the love for competition and pride of accomplishment," said RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing. "SEMA Show exhibitors are tremendously selective with the vehicles they choose to showcase their products, capture attention and drive traffic to their booths. BOTB not only offers an additional avenue for further exposure by featuring the top builders and brands that exhibit at the SEMA Show but also provides a chance for top builders from different genres to learn from each other building meaningful connections as they judge each other's builds in the final round."

The 2023 competition is revving up to be one of the most exciting competitions to date. Featuring more innovative builders that represent the best in the industry, it's an event not to be missed.

"Battle of the Builders embraces everything that makes the automotive aftermarket great--the passion, drive, determination and creativity that defines our industry. And at Mothers, we're truly grateful to be so closely connected with this distinguished competition," said Mothers Polish CEO Dennis Holloway. 

Think you've got what it takes to compete with some of the best builders in the world? If you want to get in on the action, it's not too late! Builders can still sign up to compete until Friday, October 13. Top builders will be recognized in four categories: Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; and Young Guns. An overall champion will be named on the final day of the SEMA Show from the four class winners.   

The competition will take place throughout the week of the Show, with the Top 40 announced on Tuesday, November 1, and the Top 12 celebrated on Wednesday, November 2. The decorated dozen will examine and critique each others' vehicles at the Show on Thursday, November 3, as they become the final judges. Four class winners will be decided on Thursday as judging concludes, and the 2023 SEMA Battle of Builders overall champion will be announced on Friday, November 4.   

Throughout the competition, camera crews will follow the action for a television special that will air on The History Network, while daily behind-the-scenes videos will be posted on SEMA Show's social profiles. For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers, visit semashow.com/botb.

By SEMA Editors

Sub-optimal decision-making can have a negative financial impact on wheel and tire aftermarket companies--particularly when it comes to data. Knowing what to order, how much to order, how to price items and where to store them in your network are all important for saving money and maximizing efficiency.      

SEMA members in the wheel and tire market are invited to the webinar "Data is the New Oil-How the Tire & Wheel Industry Can Benefit from Being More Data-Driven & Save Billions of Dollars" on Thursday, September 21, at 12:00 p.m. PDT.    

Attendees will hear from Mike Lusso, Sustaining Engineer Manager at Hennessey Industries, and Tim Eisenmann, Chief Analytics Officer and CEO of Torqata, and learn: 

• The true cost of having data inefficiencies in your company. 
• Solutions and approaches for data collection, cleansing and insights generation. 
• Real-world case studies on how empirical decision-making with more data has made a difference for retailers, distributors and manufacturers. 
• Starting points to discuss which key decisions could and should be supported by more data and how to acquire it. 

This webinar will include a Q&A and cover how employing data-based decision-making can help companies gain a significant competitive advantage as the specialty-equipment market becomes more complex (i.e., SKU proliferation) and external influences create more volatility (i.e., Ukraine war, inflation, Covid). Register now.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) is hosting an online General Membership Meeting on Thursday, September 14, at 10:00 a.m. PDT.

Open to aftermarket professionals aged 39 and under, the meeting is the ideal time to learn about FLN's current priorities for members, as well as upcoming events and member programs. Attendees will connect with the Select Committee, learn about volunteer opportunities and hear what the network has planned for the 2023 SEMA and PRI Shows.

All current and prospective FLN members are encouraged to attend, as it's a great way to stay updated on the many benefits available to help enhance one's career and business.

Register here.

By SEMA Editors

The first two sessions of the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) Male-Ally Webinar series provided members with examples and knowledge of a male ally in the automotive aftermarket.  

A panel of aftermarket leaders will now share actionable ideas for applying a male-ally program into an organization during the webinar series' final session, "Looking to the Future," on Tuesday, September 19, at 12:00 p.m. PDT/ 3:00 p.m. EDT.   

Featuring Rachel Speir of RS Marqueting as moderator and speakers Seth Metzger of Dana Incorporated, Matt Reasoner of Truck Hero and Dana Wilke of the Jessi Combs Foundation, the session will leave viewers inspired and equipped to start a male-ally program that empowers and supports women in their aftermarket roles.   

Attendees will learn:    

• Tips for starting a male-ally program in their workplace.   
• How to get upper management to see the value of a male-ally program.   
• Ways to measure success of these efforts within an organization.   
• How employees can facilitate being a male ally to women.   
• How can females support a male-ally program.   
• How to ensure male-ally efforts are sustained in the company culture.   

This session will give participants the tools to bridge the "why" of male allies' importance with the "how" of making them part of any work culture. Register today!  

By SEMA Editors

The '24 Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is gearing up for release in the second half of 2024, about a year after the launch of the facelifted small EV.

The most powerful ID.3 currently has a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 150kw/310Nm, getting it to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds.

To make a significant leap over the existing ID.3, the GTX will likely need to pick up an extra motor and become AWD, according to SEMA News sources. 

Other things to expect include a tauter chassis, bigger alloy wheels with wider tires, pumped exterior styling and adaptive dampers.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show has many resources to support our exhibitors as they prepare for the 2023 event, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas. But the comfort of having a phone number available "just in case" something happens can often make you feel as safe as snapping in your seatbelt. 

Below is some contact information you will want to program into your mobile phone as you get ready for the SEMA Show. 

SEMA Show Department, 909-396-0289 

• The Show Department team is prepared to address any question you might have regarding the 2023 SEMA Show or the ability to connect you with multiple SEMA Association departments from our Membership, Sales or Accounting Departments that can provide support and address your concerns. 

Freeman, 888-508-5054 

• The Freeman team is available to help SEMA Show exhibitors with all their service needs, including furniture, fixtures, electrical, water, and moving or accepting freight before the show. Ensure you know crucial deadline dates (https://www.semashow.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/deadlines.pdf) when submitting your Freeman services requests to receive great discounted rates. The Freeman team can answer your questions and provide the support you need! 

Compusystems (Registration), 866-229-3687 

• Registration is one of the first things you will need to do to have your team prepared and available to access the SEMA Show floor, so make sure to register your staff prior to the September 29th deadline dates in order to save on your registration fees. Additionally, the SEMA Show Registration Department will be a resource to assist with your registration questions; contact RegMgr@sema.org for more information.  

onPeak, Official Hotel and Housing Partner for the SEMA Show, 312-527-7300 

• For the guaranteed lowest hotel rates while in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show, make sure to reserve your hotel reservation through the SEMA Show housing block semashow.com/hotel. 

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show exhibitors can expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence through the exclusive Products for Project-Vehicle Builders program. Apply here.

The Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list features SEMA Show exhibitor product offers and contact information for builders looking to collaborate.

Qualified builders interested in obtaining a product should contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2023 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2023 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Builders are encouraged to frequently check the 2023 Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list, as it is updated when submissions come in.

Note: Submissions appear on a first-come, first-served basis. For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2023 SEMA Show.

By Juan Torres 

SEMA Show exhibitors continue to share their latest news as they prepare to showcase their products, feature vehicles, and services in person, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas.  

Don't miss any SEMA Show exhibitor news by regularly checking the Online Media Center. Below are some of the latest announcements: 

• AEM Performance Electronics Joins Fuel2electric With the Aim of Revolutionizing EV Conversions and Empowering Car And Truck Enthusiasts. 
• Battery Tender and Arkonik to Unveil Restored North American Specification (NAS) Defender 90 at SEMA 2023. 
• Trulers-Sponsored and Built “Bugjuiced” Picked for SEMA Electrified. 
• Newest, Coolest Truck Accessory to Turn Your Half Ton Into a Super Duty. 
• Beat the Heat With New Coolee by Cool Boss 3-In-1 Portable Air Cooler. 
• The Ultimate Solutions for Maximum Air Flow, GM 3.0l Duramax. 
• Duck Pro by Shurtape BR Code Scannable Solutions. 
• The IBEX From Küat Has Landed. Overlanded. 

Exhibitor Press releases can be found at semashow.com/press. Find all SEMA Show News at semashow.com/news and in the biweekly SEMA News eNewsletter.

Editor's note: all SEMA Show exhibitors are welcome to upload releases free of charge using this link.

By the SEMA D.C. office 

The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently published a proposed rule expanding the agency's efforts to improve the Section 232 steel and aluminum exclusion process on tariffs. The metal tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum were initially imposed on various countries in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on national security grounds. This proposed rule will build on the five existing interim final rules (IFRs) that the agency has issued since 2018 and will remain in effect with any final rules that will be issued. SEMA is currently reviewing the proposed rulemaking and engaging with other trade groups and organizations. 

BIS has been the agency charged with administering the Section 232 exclusion process since the imposition of duties on aluminum and steel imports in 2018 following investigations into national security impacts of imports to the United States. In 2022, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the Section 232 tariffs imposed in 2018 by the Trump administration did not qualify under the claim of U.S. national security. 

The published proposed rule will make four changes that are intended to create a more transparent and fair exclusion process: 

1. Proposes a more efficient General Approved Exclusions (GAE) process by changing the criteria generally used for determining GAEs by focusing on the substance of objections submitted rather than whether any objection has been submitted or not. 
2. Introducing a 'General Denied Exclusions' (GDE) process to limit further exclusions on products that have consistently been found to be manufactured in the United States. Similar to General Approved Exclusions, GDEs would be identified on the volume and substance of Objections submitted to such products in the 232 Exclusions Process. 
3. Modifying the existing certification language and introducing new certification requirements for exclusion requests, including by making changes to the Exclusion Request Form so that requestors can demonstrate that they made reasonable efforts to source their product from the United States or from countries which the United States has arrived at a satisfactory alternative means to address U.S. national security concerns. 
4. Proposing similar certification language on the objection form to further ensure objectors can supply comparable quality and quantity steel or aluminum and make it 'immediately available' to requestors in line with the standards described in the previous Section 232 IFRs. 

SEMA has opposed the Section 232 tariffs since they have hurt U.S. companies and consumers by failing to address the global overproduction of metals. Last year, SEMA submitted comments to the International Trade Commission (ITC) after Congress directed the agency to investigate the impact of 232 and 301 tariffs on the U.S. economy. Both tariffs have negatively impacted SEMA-member businesses by creating uncertainty in the economic marketplace and forcing companies in the specialty automotive aftermarket equipment industry to either absorb the additional tariff cost or pass it along to the consumer. 

The agency has opened a 45-day comment period, which will end on October 12, 2023. You can submit comments online through regulations.gov.  

For more information, contact Tiffany Cipoletti at tiffanyc@sema.org. 

By the SEMA D.C. office 

The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) recently published a proposed rule expanding the agency's efforts to improve the Section 232 steel and aluminum exclusion process on tariffs. The metal tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum were initially imposed on various countries in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on national security grounds. This proposed rule will build on the five existing interim final rules (IFRs) that the agency has issued since 2018 and will remain in effect with any final rules that will be issued. SEMA is currently reviewing the proposed rulemaking and engaging with other trade groups and organizations. 

BIS has been the agency charged with administering the Section 232 exclusion process since the imposition of duties on aluminum and steel imports in 2018 following investigations into national security impacts of imports to the United States. In 2022, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the Section 232 tariffs imposed in 2018 by the Trump administration did not qualify under the claim of U.S. national security. 

The published proposed rule will make four changes that are intended to create a more transparent and fair exclusion process: 

1. Proposes a more efficient General Approved Exclusions (GAE) process by changing the criteria generally used for determining GAEs by focusing on the substance of objections submitted rather than whether any objection has been submitted or not. 
2. Introducing a 'General Denied Exclusions' (GDE) process to limit further exclusions on products that have consistently been found to be manufactured in the United States. Similar to General Approved Exclusions, GDEs would be identified on the volume and substance of Objections submitted to such products in the 232 Exclusions Process. 
3. Modifying the existing certification language and introducing new certification requirements for exclusion requests, including by making changes to the Exclusion Request Form so that requestors can demonstrate that they made reasonable efforts to source their product from the United States or from countries which the United States has arrived at a satisfactory alternative means to address U.S. national security concerns. 
4. Proposing similar certification language on the objection form to further ensure objectors can supply comparable quality and quantity steel or aluminum and make it 'immediately available' to requestors in line with the standards described in the previous Section 232 IFRs. 

SEMA has opposed the Section 232 tariffs since they have hurt U.S. companies and consumers by failing to address the global overproduction of metals. Last year, SEMA submitted comments to the International Trade Commission (ITC) after Congress directed the agency to investigate the impact of 232 and 301 tariffs on the U.S. economy. Both tariffs have negatively impacted SEMA-member businesses by creating uncertainty in the economic marketplace and forcing companies in the specialty automotive aftermarket equipment industry to either absorb the additional tariff cost or pass it along to the consumer. 

The agency has opened a 45-day comment period, which will end on October 12, 2023. You can submit comments online through regulations.gov.  

For more information, contact Tiffany Cipoletti at tiffanyc@sema.org.