Since its inception in 2014, the SEMA Show’s annual Battle of the Builders (BOTB) has become one of the most anticipated events of SEMA Show week. While the cancellation of the 2020 Show in Las Vegas seemed to put the event on hold for a year, there was still plenty of industry interest in holding a BOTB-type event, even if done remotely.

Commemorating Route 66: The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved a SEMA-supported bill to create a commission to recommend ways to commemorate Route 66’s 100th anniversary. The first all-paved U.S. highway was completed in 1926. The 15-person commission will include representatives from the states through which the highway ran: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history. The bill was signed into law on December 23, 2020.

Annual business planning is a proven growth driver. Unfortunately, many small-business people may be tempted to skip that task for 2021, since traditional strategic planning often ties up time and resources. Plus, with COVID-19, who can predict the marketplace?

How many members of Congress grew up around racing, have three degrees from Harvard and spend their free time providing medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic? If you guessed one, you’re correct. His name is U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and SEMA is fortunate to call him a friend.

’22 BMW X7: As a big, luxurious, three-row SUV, the BMW X7 is doing quite well, and work has already begun on a mid-life refresh. ’22 Kia Sportage: A thinly disguised prototype was snapped testing on the Nürburgring ahead of its likely reveal later this spring. ’22 Toyota Tundra: After almost two years, we officially have our first look at the next-gen Tundra.

The Mint 400 has earned a longstanding reputation as being one of the roughest off-road races in the country, as this photo from 1969 attests. John Thawley, reporting on the race for the June 1969 issue of Hot Rod, said 206 entries started the two-day event, but just 21 finished the required eight laps of the course—“46 miles of dust, rock, and talcum powder along Nevada desert roads laced with holes, ditches, hills, and a wide and ugly assortment of equipment-breaking surprises.”

In a year that delivered a lot of obstacles, it’s been a challenge for enterprises of all types to stay focused and deliver on long-term goals and objectives. Here at SEMA, our team has been intent on making adjustments but also working with the industry to keep valuable, long-term programs and benefits on track. An example is the annual Battle of the Builders program, a show-car competition involving SEMA and the industry’s talented builders that helps energize people everywhere to engage and enjoy the automotive lifestyle.

The performance products market—including products for engine and drivetrain, performance ignition, intake and exhaust, cooling, safety and race gear—is one of the largest and most robust in the automotive aftermarket. While many specialty-equipment market segments saw declines in sales in the wake of the COVID-19 disruption last spring, sales of performance products held steady in 2020, generating an estimated $10.6 billion in revenues, according to the 2020 “SEMA Market Report.”

Industry news from SEMA-member companies, including Peterson Manufacturing, Oracle Lighting, Wilwood and more.

The U.S. economy continues to recover but, as noted last month, growth is moderating, according to the latest “SEMA Industry Indicators” report. In Europe, where fiscal stimulus was smaller than in the United States, rising COVID-19 cases drove a fresh series of national lockdowns in late 2020. The economy there was likely to see another contraction in the fourth quarter, indicating the start of a double-dip recession. The probability of a double-dip recession in the United States has inched higher and was probably around 25% as of press time.