With just a few days left before the start of the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the October Consumer Demand Index Report has been released with some great news. Recovering from a recent 12-point decline experienced in August, the index jumped 26 points to 57 for October. This is the highest level the index has seen since July 2009, when the index also reached 57. The following chart shows the overall index, in blue, as well as the three-month moving averages, in red.

If you scan no farther than these next few words, know this: You should
read The Business of Speed: The Hot Rod Industry in America, 1915–1990
by David Lucsko. Since you're browsing through SEMA News, you must be
favored with some interest in the automotive specialty-equipment
industry, and Lucsko's book offers a primer about where it began, how
it evolved and, if not precisely where it's heading, at least an
optimistic appraisal of why it will live on. [Read more]

The August 2010 issue of SEMA News is available to view online.
This month's issue provides an in-depth look at the accomplishments of
2010 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Richard "Dick" McMullen, Chuck
Schwartz and Van Woodell. Learn more about their careers and how their
contributions and service have left an indelible mark on the automotive
specialty-equipment industry.

SEMA News also goes inside the restoration market to see how
modern technology, enthusiasts' tastes and the popularity of resto-mods
have helped reshape the market. While a significant portion of the
market continues to desire traditional recreations of the original
vehicle, others want a combination of modern conveniences and
factory-spec. These changes in the market have created new
opportunities for product lines that incorporate the traditional style
with modern accessories.

The restoration market is not the only area where traditional
approaches are being altered. Automaker Local Motors methods to auto
manufacturing is based on open source and open design, and its
customers help design and develop the cars that the company creates.
With the feedback and direction from a community of artists,
enthusiasts and designers, Local Motors uses the traditional
tier-supplier network and the specialty-equipment aftermarket to
construct its vehicles.

Get started with the August 2010 issue of SEMA News.

Barry Meguiar’s family has been in the car-care business for 109 years,
and he’s personally headed up the company that carries the family name
for more than four decades. As the president of Meguiar’s Inc., he’s
seen the economic roller coaster trundle up and down many times before,
but he’s never seen anything like the past couple of years. Despite the
fact that his company not only weathered the storm but actually
prospered, posting a double-digit gain in 2009 alone, he said that the
recession has battered the car-care industry like none other in his
lifetime. [Read more]