Toyota HiLux Measuring Opportunity Extended for Another Year

By SEMA Editors

Two years ago, SEMA’s International Vehicle Measuring Program purchased and made available to members two vehicles that are popular overseas, but not available in the United States or Canada. The program, made possible in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, is designed to allow SEMA-member manufacturers to measure and test-fit parts for those vehicles and participate in export markets. The two vehicles, the Ford Ranger T6 and Toyota HiLux pickups, are sold in the millions abroad.

To date, more than 200 SEMA members have measured and/or requested CAD data for both the Ford Ranger T6 and Toyota HiLux, and more companies have applied for access. As a result, the SEMA International department has worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to gain approval for another year-long waiver for the Toyota HiLux. Temporary imports are allowed into the United States for one year with two possible one-year extensions and, thus, the truck can remain in the United States until June 21, 2015. At that point the vehicle must be re-exported or destroyed.

The Association will also apply for a similar waiver for the South African-built Ford Ranger T6 in December. There is a steady stream—even a wait list—for member manufacturers to measure the two trucks and another year for each would provide access for many more members to measure the vehicles or to conduct fitment tests.

The vehicles are available for a day, a week or even longer as the schedule allows. Contact Rachael Salazar at 909-978-6744 or rachaels@sema.org to sign up for access to either vehicle.

The next vehicle to be purchased and imported with SEMA’s grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will be a Mitsubishi L200 pickup. The L200 is scheduled to arrive at the SEMA Garage – Industry Innovations Center in Diamond Bar, California, this fall. As with all of the vehicles in this program, SEMA will import the Mistubishi L200, which is popularly accessorized around the world but not sold in the United States, to allow members further access to hard-to-obtain vehicles in order to develop export-ready products. To date, Mitsubishi is reporting global sales for the L200 (known as the Triton in certain markets) as exceeding 1.1 million units sold. The truck, available since 2006, is sold in 158 countries; however, it is not sold in the United States or Canada.

Among the SEMA-member companies that have measured the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger T6:

Recently, Bushwacker’s Vice President of Export Markets Kenneth Merritt took advantage of the International Vehicle Measuring Program, visiting the SEMA Garage and performing a test fitment of several new products custom designed for the Ford Ranger T6. The new products were designed based on measurements taken earlier this year. His thoughts appear in the video above.

For information on the International Vehicle Measuring Program, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org. For information about the SEMA Garage, contact Mike Spagnola at mikes@sema.org. To measure the Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger, contact Rachael Salazar at rachaels@sema.org.