The performance products market—comprised of engine and drivetrain, electrical and ignition, intake and exhaust, cooling, safety and race gear—is one of the largest in the automotive aftermarket, with an estimated $10.63 billion in sales last year, according to the “2019 SEMA Market Report.” That...

Industry news from SEMA-member companies, including Truck Hero, Lubrication Specialties, Yakima and more.

One of the more pressing issues confronting today’s small-business shops is finding and attracting young talent. The case for winning over Millennials is obvious. As more industry retailers and shops come to rely on advanced technologies and social-media marketing, the need for employees adept in...

Bill Simpson, 79, motorsports safety pioneer, died December 16, 2019, after suffering a stroke. A class of 1988 SEMA Hall of Fame member and a 2003 Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, Simpson drove dragsters and Indy cars, finishing 13th in the 1974 Indianapolis 500. After ending his career as a...

It’s February 1964 at the Grand National Roadster Show, and Petersen Publishing Company’s Bud Lang captures a rafters-eye view of crowds milling about some of the cars on display at the Oakland Exposition Building.

The need for this kind of information in our industry is considerable. The automotive specialty aftermarket has always required companies to adapt and innovate, and now at a more rapid pace than previously. Trends are emerging and receding; product offerings change more rapidly; and the ways...

Activating the next-generation talent pool is a hot topic. To help inspire future influencers and innovators, SEMA offers resources designed to engage students and provide a pathway to careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For up-and-coming, under-40 industry professionals, SEMA’s Young Executives Network (YEN) has long provided resources to help its members cultivate connections, sharpen skills and advance their careers through networking and education.

It’s no secret that the retail environment has changed significantly over the past decade. Automotive specialty-equipment retailers in particular are dealing with new pressure points on a number of fronts. But what are the emerging trends that have industry retailers most concerned? And, more...

Many exhibiting companies begin announcing their SEMA Show efforts months before the start of the Show in hopes of drumming up interest. The goal is to entice attendees—especially buyers—to stop by their booths to see what they have to offer and thereby create business relationships. One way...