MRC - MRC at the 2009 SEMA Show
The annual Manufacturers’ Rep Council (MRC) awards ceremony and general membership meeting was held at the Las Vegas Hilton prior to the opening of the 2009 SEMA Show.
Manufacturers
Speed and Google
In a move that is raising eyebrows in the online marketing world, Google is intimating that companies with websites that download faster than those of competitors could soon be given preference in Google search-engine returns.
Spy Shots
BMW 1-Series Five-Door Hatch, Ford’s High-Performance Raptor, 2011 Dodge Charger
Laws on a Global Scale
About this product:
Specialty-equipment companies have begun utilizing new tools made available to businesses to ensure that the sale and use of accessories and performance products currently marketed in Europe are allowed to be freely sold throughout the continent. Concerned that national governments were either banning products or adding local requirements in violation of the Mutual Recognition Treaty, the European Parliament implemented measures in May 2009 to promote a single market for automotive specialty equipment. The measures would restrict national decisions that prevent products lawfully manufactured in one member state from being sold within the borders of the others. The new regulations also created resources—including designated points of contact in each country—for businesses to use in case of problems.
Auto Accessories Manufacturers Prepare to Exhibit at 2010 SEMA Show
Exhibitor applications will soon be available for the 2010 SEMA Show,
taking place Tuesday – Friday, November 2-5, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Race Has Gone Green Conference
The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) and SEMA will once again convene a special industry conference, April 16, 2010, at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, focused on green performance developments in the world of motorsports.
SEMA Partners With Insignia in Support of ProPledge
ProPledge is a program targeted to overcome the traditional barriers associated with specialty aftermarket products sold during the new-vehicle sales process—namely warranty and customer satisfaction scores (CSI).
ProPledge: Knocking Down Barriers and Opening New Channels
About this product:
Opportunity. Diversity. Confidence. Profits. Those are a few of the keys that lock in the continuing partnership between the automakers, the vehicle dealers and SEMA-member companies. Giving consumers the right vehicles with their preferred options is what each arm of the distribution chain strives for.
One huge chunk of that process is accessory-friendly vehicles—cars and trucks that are designed from the get-go to encourage owner personalization. A driver’s experience with a car or truck skyrockets when he or she can equip it to suit personal wants and needs. When that owner can buy the vehicle and select from a vast array of specialty-equipment accessories and have them professionally installed with complete confidence, another sales channel opens.
SEMA Measuring Sessions and Technology Transfer
About this product:
Designing new specialty-equipment products is a laborious, time-consuming procedure, and time is not a friend, as manufacturers will attest. With SEMA market research revealing that most consumers purchase specialty-equipment parts within the first three months of buying new cars, manufacturers must often race to place their products on the shelves by the time new vehicles hit the dealerships. SEMA offers two manufacturer-friendly programs—Technology Transfer and Measuring Sessions—that help SEMA-member companies meet that goal.
Adapting to Change
About this product:
The automotive industry landscape is very rocky right now. A rapid sales rebound is not on the horizon, and many companies are going through radical restructuring. A research report commissioned by SEMA and conducted by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) sees opportunity for SEMA members in this environment.
Pages
