Consumer trends and preferences may change over time, but in the automotive sphere, pickups never really fall out of fashion. They’re the ideal multipurpose vehicles that function equally as daily commuters, job-site workhorses or recreational trail toys. For sheer versatility, nothing compares to them, and that’s probably why the bestselling vehicle in the United States for more than 40 years in a row has been a pickup.
"The 60th anniversary of SEMA the organization is testimony to the strength and resiliency of our member companies," said Mike Spagnola, SEMA president and CEO.
After two long years of waiting, the SEMA Show has finally returned. SEMA concluded its annual industry trade show on Friday, November 5, 2021, marking the first large-scale automotive show to be held since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic began in the spring of 2020.
There’s no doubt that the automotive specialty-equipment industry has entered a transformative era. The internet and social media have revolutionized marketing communications and commerce. Manufacturing and supply chains stretch across the globe as never before. Electrification, automation and other emerging vehicle technologies are reshaping vehicle platforms and the way we modify them. CAD and additive manufacturing techniques have forever changed how we design, develop and speed products to market. And through it all, more and more Baby Boomers are retiring as the Millennial generation matures into management positions. How will the industry embrace these advances, and who will be its leaders?
The Specialty Equipment Market Association is governed by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time to provide leadership and guidance to the organization. Board members are nominated and elected by the association’s membership at large. Directors serve a three-year term, while the chairman serves for two years immediately after completing a two-year term as chairman-elect. The current Board was inaugurated at the SEMA Board Meeting held August 25, 2020.
To deliver a viable marketplace solution amid a challenging year, SEMA is launching SEMA360, a major e-marketplace event taking place this November 2–6. Helping to address a void created by the absence of a 2020 SEMA Show, the SEMA360 experience will focus on manufacturer/reseller relationships, new-product introductions, project-vehicle debuts and industry-leading education. The SEMA360 platform will also leverage the association’s exclusive buyer database and media partnerships to provide manufacturers with an extensive reach and return on investment as they build momentum toward 2021.
The emergence of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) has been a boon to automotive consumers. Among other benefits, ADAS is credited with a 1.2% drop in vehicle fatalities last year, along with significantly reduced injuries. What’s more, consumer comfort with these technologies is increasing as OEMs build ADAS into an expanding number of vehicle platforms. The result is a growing aftermarket customer base that expects specialty-equipment products and modifications to integrate seamlessly with their high-tech factory ADAS packages. But is the industry up to the task?
Since 2012, SEMA News has sought to identify the industry’s young rising stars. In spotlighting talented individuals age 35 and under, we hoped to show both younger and older generations alike that new people with new ideas and drive not only have a home in the industry but also are already achieving great things. In the following pages, we are again pleased to present 35 young trendsetters representing diverse industry segments. In order to make our “35 Under 35” list, honorees must first be nominated by one or more industry peers.
Rich Barsamian got word that he was indeed one of the 2020 SEMA Hall of Fame honorees, and he was still speechless one week later. “Yeah, I was trying to think—because I’m still sort of in shock,” he said. The SEMA Hall of Fame will do that to you. It will take your breath away and leave you speechless, even if you’re Rich Barsamian. And that is saying something, because it takes quite a bit to see him speechless.
In late January, all indicators pointed to another robust 2020 for the market. Then came the coronavirus. In response, major UTV manufacturers took decisive measures to safeguard employees and customers and weather the national shutdown initiated in April, and aftermarket manufacturers and retailers developed new ways of selling. More recently, as the summer powersports season moves into full swing, there is optimism that a significant rebound will be possible.