Automotive News

Influencing the Wheel and Tire Industry

The Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) Select Committee is a group of elected volunteers who serve as advocates for their industry niche. In this role, they commit their time, experience and unique perspective in order to help guide association resources for the betterment of the industry. With this in mind, and as the result of the recent elections, WTC is positioned strongly to influence meaningful change and help promote the wheel and tire segments of the specialty-equipment market. WTC is proud to announce the new members of the committee.

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Emerging Trend in China

Pickups Are the Latest Craze on the Chinese Off-Road Scene

SEMA News recently traveled to Beijing, China, the center of the Chinese off-road market, to talk to some key players about evolving trends. All of the sources we consulted widely credited the Jeep Wrangler as one of the most exciting and important developments in recent years in growing the off-road market, but they said that pickups are the fastest-growing segment.

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Going 90

When we titled this piece “Going 90,” we weren’t talking miles per hour. Alex Xydias and his radically chopped SO-CAL Speed Shop Double Threat Coupe were good for far more than that: a class record of 172.749 mph at Bonneville in 1953; a little more than 170 mph (with an ailing engine) in 1954 when this photo was taken of Xydias in the coupe; and a record 132.79 mph at the Pomona drags later in 1954, when he had the engine sorted out and tipped the nitro can just a bit.

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The SEMA Data Cooperative

About this product:

An Industry Solution for Data Independence

As the SEMA Data Cooperative (SDC) gets up and running, its officers are getting a lot of questions and comments from participants, curious observers and skeptics. They range from those who are currently active in managing their data to folks who are just realizing that product data management is fast becoming a requirement to do business in today’s marketplace.

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Now Underway: SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women

For this year’s SEMA Show, Ford Motor Co. and SEMA have teamed up on a unique project: the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women. Under the direction of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) and built entirely by SBN members, the project is designed to shine the light on women working in the automotive aftermarket and encourage more women to pursue careers in the industry.

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Small-Company Marketing

Part 1: Attending Consumer Events

Whether yours is a young manufacturing company, retail store or repair shop, you know that a good marketing plan is vital to the growth of your business. In this series of articles, we will address the ins and outs of marketing, beginning this time with the importance of attending consumer events.

Consumer events put you in front of potentially thousands of new customers where you can hear firsthand what people think of your products or services. Feedback can help you improve existing products or give you ideas for new ones, and walking an event can open your eyes to developing trends.

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Sorting Out Health Care Options

Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act; Employers Face Important Decisions

After months of speculation and uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was constitutional, including the mandate that requires individuals to obtain minimum coverage by 2012 or face a penalty tax. The Court’s decision now sets in motion full implementation of the law. This article focuses on upcoming decisions to be considered by SEMA-member companies.

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Trade Publications Connect Dealers to SEMA Industry

Businesses are constantly looking for new markets and ways to expand. While the SEMA Show is best known for the thousands of new products that debut there, savvy industry professionals also use the Show to discover new trends and new markets.

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PRO Welcomes Five New Select Committee Members

The Professional Restyler’s Organization (PRO) Select Committee is a group of elected volunteers who serve as advocates for their industry niche. In that role, they commit their time, experience and unique perspective in order to help guide association resources for the betterment of the industry. The ability to effectively represent PRO’s membership necessitates that the individuals who serve approach council business with a broad understanding of the issues that impact member companies on both a short- and long-term basis. With this is mind, and as the result of the recent elections, PRO is positioned to strongly influence meaningful change and help promote the restyling and accessory segments of the specialty-equipment market. PRO proudly welcomes the new Select Committee members.