The SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference will provide members the opportunity to explore the market in the UAE and meet with buyers from throughout the region.

More than 160 pre-vetted buyers from nine countries met with 41 SEMA-member exhibitors at the 2013 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference. Ninety-five percent of the world’s customers are located beyond United States borders. By diversifying, SEMA members can better position themselves for future economic downturns.

“The Middle East has tremendous upside for the performance market,” said Rick Trudo, CEO of Florida-based SCT Performance. “We have seen eight-to-one growth over our two years working with SEMA at this event. It plays a big part in our international growth strategy, as do China and Brazil. It helps take the potential inconsistency out of the U.S. market and gives us a strong offshoot to sell into.”

Motorsports and vehicle personalization have a strong and growing base throughout the region, and a quick drive around Dubai or Abu Dhabi would surprise any gearhead with the wide variety of customized vehicles traveling the roads. Off-roading is also extremely popular throughout the region with SUVs and pickup owners heading into the desert.

“Automotive styling in the Middle East is a confluence of influences from around the globe,” said David Borla, sales and marketing manager for Borla Performance. “Whether it’s musclecars, high-end exotics, Jeeps, pickups, SUVs, luxury sedans or sport compacts, you will find a cross section of the world’s finest automotive offerings. But it doesn’t stop there. Personalization is just as important as the platforms themselves, and there is a pervasive culture of tailoring vehicles to meet individual specifications, needs or preferences.

“The conditions in the Middle East have created a ‘perfect storm’ that promotes the growth and prosperity of the automotive aftermarket. Beyond the affluence and brand consciousness you see on the surface, there is a growing infrastructure of distribution and service that makes it easy for enthusiasts to buy, install and maintain aftermarket parts. Combine that with great roads and what seems like infinite sand dunes, and you have a giant playground for people who love to play with cars."

U.S. Department of Commerce $1,000 grants are available to help qualified companies defray participation costs.

The exploratory and sales trip to the UAE will include a tour of local shops and an opportunity to meet with buyers from throughout the region. Last year's event included buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt.

For more information or to register, visit SEMA.org/MiddleEast. Read the SEMA News article covering the 2013 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference.

Don't wait, register today. Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

	The SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference will provide members the opportunity to explore the market in the UAE and meet with buyers from throughout the region.

More than 160 pre-vetted buyers from nine countries met with 41 SEMA-member exhibitors at the 2013 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference. Ninety-five percent of the world’s customers are located beyond United States borders. By diversifying, SEMA members can better position themselves for future economic downturns.

“The Middle East has tremendous upside for the performance market,” said Rick Trudo, CEO of Florida-based SCT Performance. “We have seen eight-to-one growth over our two years working with SEMA at this event. It plays a big part in our international growth strategy, as do China and Brazil. It helps take the potential inconsistency out of the U.S. market and gives us a strong offshoot to sell into.”

Motorsports and vehicle personalization have a strong and growing base throughout the region, and a quick drive around Dubai or Abu Dhabi would surprise any gearhead with the wide variety of customized vehicles traveling the roads. Off-roading is also extremely popular throughout the region with SUVs and pickup owners heading into the desert.

“Automotive styling in the Middle East is a confluence of influences from around the globe,” said David Borla, sales and marketing manager for Borla Performance. “Whether it’s musclecars, high-end exotics, Jeeps, pickups, SUVs, luxury sedans or sport compacts, you will find a cross section of the world’s finest automotive offerings. But it doesn’t stop there. Personalization is just as important as the platforms themselves, and there is a pervasive culture of tailoring vehicles to meet individual specifications, needs or preferences.

“The conditions in the Middle East have created a ‘perfect storm’ that promotes the growth and prosperity of the automotive aftermarket. Beyond the affluence and brand consciousness you see on the surface, there is a growing infrastructure of distribution and service that makes it easy for enthusiasts to buy, install and maintain aftermarket parts. Combine that with great roads and what seems like infinite sand dunes, and you have a giant playground for people who love to play with cars."

U.S. Department of Commerce $1,000 grants are available to help qualified companies defray participation costs.

The exploratory and sales trip to the UAE will include a tour of local shops and an opportunity to meet with buyers from throughout the region. Last year's event included buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt.

For more information or to register, visit SEMA.org/MiddleEast. Read the SEMA News article covering the 2013 SEMA Middle East Business Development Conference.

Don't wait, register today. Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

By Linda Spencer

Ambassador Bruno de Rísios Bath, Counsulate-General of Brazil in Los Angeles.

A day-long seminar on the "Ins and Outs of Exporting to Brazil" is being held February 19, in Coto de Caza, California. The event, sponsored by Escrow.com, FedEx, US Commercial Service and District Export Council of Southern California, features Ambassador Bruno de Rísios Bath, Counsulate-General of Brazil in Los Angeles. More information is available by contacting Lisa Kelley at 425-793-4385.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Under a bill being introduced in New Hampshire, eligibility to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

Legislation to expand the range of model-year vehicles eligible to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles was introduced in New Hampshire. Currently, only ’60 and earlier model-year antique vehicles are eligible to use these plates. Under the bill, eligibility would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

In New Hampshire, an antique motor vehicle or motorcycle is “any motor vehicle more than 25 years old that is maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Under a bill being introduced in New Hampshire, eligibility to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

Legislation to expand the range of model-year vehicles eligible to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles was introduced in New Hampshire. Currently, only ’60 and earlier model-year antique vehicles are eligible to use these plates. Under the bill, eligibility would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

In New Hampshire, an antique motor vehicle or motorcycle is “any motor vehicle more than 25 years old that is maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Under a bill being introduced in New Hampshire, eligibility to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

Legislation to expand the range of model-year vehicles eligible to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles was introduced in New Hampshire. Currently, only ’60 and earlier model-year antique vehicles are eligible to use these plates. Under the bill, eligibility would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

In New Hampshire, an antique motor vehicle or motorcycle is “any motor vehicle more than 25 years old that is maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Under a bill being introduced in New Hampshire, eligibility to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

Legislation to expand the range of model-year vehicles eligible to use original year-of-manufacture license plates on antique motor vehicles was introduced in New Hampshire. Currently, only ’60 and earlier model-year antique vehicles are eligible to use these plates. Under the bill, eligibility would be expanded to include all ’75 and earlier model years.

In New Hampshire, an antique motor vehicle or motorcycle is “any motor vehicle more than 25 years old that is maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation that would allow state antique vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in Virginia.

Legislation that would allow state antique vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in Virginia. Currently, all vehicles are required to have exhaust systems of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment. Further, exhaust systems must not emit noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment.

Under Virginia law, an antique motor vehicle is every motor vehicle that was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as a model in a calendar year not less than 25 years prior to January 1 of each calendar year and is owned solely as a collector's item.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation that would allow state antique vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in Virginia.

Legislation that would allow state antique vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in Virginia. Currently, all vehicles are required to have exhaust systems of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment. Further, exhaust systems must not emit noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment.

Under Virginia law, an antique motor vehicle is every motor vehicle that was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as a model in a calendar year not less than 25 years prior to January 1 of each calendar year and is owned solely as a collector's item.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation that would allow state antique vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in Virginia.

Legislation that would allow state antique vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in Virginia. Currently, all vehicles are required to have exhaust systems of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment. Further, exhaust systems must not emit noise in excess of that permitted by the standard factory equipment.

Under Virginia law, an antique motor vehicle is every motor vehicle that was actually manufactured or designated by the manufacturer as a model in a calendar year not less than 25 years prior to January 1 of each calendar year and is owned solely as a collector's item.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.