One of SEMA’s primary tools in achieving its mission statement—to help its member businesses succeed and prosper—is providing market research that draws on historical comparisons and illuminates current trends. As a major part of that effort, the association produces an overview of where the...

Breaking news from Flex-a-lite, Petersen Automotive Museum, Brute Industries, Royal Purple, Design Engineering and more.

Below is a roundup of proposed or recently enacted legislative and regulatory developments affecting the specialty-equipment industry in key overseas markets. For more information on overseas developments, SEMA members are invited to contact SEMA Director of International and Government Relations...

While Facebook’s new look has left many businesses in a scramble, migrating to the new, mandatory change need not be accompanied by gnashing of teeth. Armed with insights from web marketing experts, companies will be able to cruise through the upgrade—and perhaps dust a competitor or two—unfazed. In...

Attendee and media registration for the 2012 SEMA Show is now open at www.SEMAShow.com/register. The annual trade-only event takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 30–November 2, 2012, in Las Vegas. Buyers registering at www.SEMAShow.com/register before the early registration deadline pay just $25...

With a backdrop of state-of-the-art auto equipment, the 5th Annual Racing and Performance Expo in St. Charles, Illinois, was the perfect venue for a SEMA Town Hall meeting and the 130 SEMA members who attended. The evening’s special guest, Congressman Randy Hultgren (R-IL), provided insight on the...

There are basics to manufacturing that change little over time. To create marketable parts, manufacturers must mold, mill, drill, cut, weld and otherwise fabricate raw materials into something consumers find useful. The tools used to do these things are another matter altogether. It’s no secret that...

Eleven industry professionals are vying for positions on the 2012–2015 SEMA Board of Directors. The SEMA Board provides strategic direction to the association and plays a critical role in shaping the future of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. On May 8, election materials were mailed to...

Last year about this time, we noted that SEMA was ramping up resources dedicated to providing members with best-in-class research. We beefed up personnel, we increased the budget, and we looked for ways to take full advantage of outside resources.

Every year, more than 1,500 vehicles are displayed at the SEMA Show. Many of them are customized in the months leading up to the Show, and each represents a collaboration between manufacturers that provide parts and support and the owner/design team that brings the vehicle to the Show. The question...