SEMA Show management and Freeman—the company that handles the event design, décor and movement of exhibit materials in and out of the Las Vegas Convention Center—are offering free material handling for qualified exhibitors of the 2010 SEMA Show.

In its daily efforts to promote and protect the auto hobby, SEMA continues to partner with lawmakers across the country through the State Automotive Leadership Caucus. Celebrating its five-year anniversary, the caucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles. Supported by SEMA's Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C., the caucus serves to raise the motor-vehicle hobby's profile in the state legislatures and in the public's eyes. [Read more] 

The SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report is used by companies to benchmark key sales performance indicators against industry averages. There are actually three reports, representing manufacturers, WDs and retailers. The most recent editions available to the industry are the January and February 2010 reports.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide an exemption to automotive hobbyists from the restrictions on salvage yards was signed into law by Vermont  Governor Jim Douglas. The new law increases the regulation of salvage yards and automobile graveyards in the state, but includes a provision stipulating that hobbyists are not to be confused with the owners of automobile graveyards.

Working with the SEMA Action Network (SAN), SEMA convinced Kansas legislators to delete provisions from a revenue bill that increased the fees on antiques, street rods and special-interest vehicles. The language sought to raise the registration fees on these vehicles, including a $10 increase on January 1, 2013, and another $10 increase on January 1, 2014.

Your website is the face of your company for millions of Internet users, so design and functionality can make or break your web enterprise. A knowledgeable web designer can help lead customers to your site and make it easy for them to find your products. Learn how to choose the ideal team by tuning in to SEMA’s exclusive new webinar: “How to Select and Prepare for a Web Designer.”

News and updates from SEMA's councils and committees.

The United States Senate recently passed Senate Resolution 513 at the request of SEMA and ARMO, designating Friday, July 9, 2010 as Collector Car Appreciation Day. The day is meant to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. To help collector car enthusiasts celebrate, ARMO is compiling a list of events happening around the country on July 9, 2010.

Automotive specialty-equipment industry leaders and digital technology experts will convene for a day-long conference composed of panel discussions and keynote speakers, covering topics focused on the newest trends and strategies for conducting business in the digital age at the SEMA Business Technology Symposium, July 23, 2010, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California, from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Following devastating floods in Nashville, the focus of the Goodguys’ 5th Bridgestone Nationals changed to not only celebrate rods and customs, but also rally relief efforts for flood victims.