By Ashley Reyes
Bringing a product to market is a thrilling endeavor for businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators in the automotive industry. This opportunity to innovate often begins with identifying a gap in the market, the desire to solve a customer's problem, or the drive to create something new. However, without the right resources, the process can be daunting, as it involves rigorous research, precise development and meticulous testing.
To help SEMA business members through this process, the SEMA Garage offers two facilities fully equipped with state-of-the-art tools, technology and services that members can utilize to develop and launch their cutting-edge products and accessories. Among these services are the SEMA Garage vehicle measuring sessions, which provide exclusive hands-on access to new vehicles for designing and developing product prototypes.
With measuring sessions hosted in both SEMA Garage locations--Diamond Bar, California, and Plymouth, Michigan--members are able to test-fit prototypes, make 3D scans, take measurements and get direct experience with the vehicles. The sessions are scheduled to accommodate various companies at a time, yet providing members with the support and space needed to work efficiently and accurately. The SEMA Garage has specialty tools available, including spring measuring equipment, corner weight scales and a CMM Machine (the FaroArm must be operated by SEMA staff).
"SEMA Garage Measuring Sessions are a game changer when it comes to accelerating product development," said Luis Morales, SEMA director of vehicle technology and product development. "It's also an exciting experience when our member companies, SEMA Garage staff and the OEMs collaborate because we are all driven by innovation and a passion to fuel the industry."
In March 2024, the SEMA Garage hosted a vehicle measuring session for the '24 Toyota Land Cruiser. Watch the video below for highlights.
For Sean Brown of Race Winning Brands, who attended the '24 Ford Mustang measuring session at the SEMA Garage in Plymouth, the measuring sessions help reduce time to market for their products. "Being able to come up here and have access to a couple of the vehicles and just focus on getting all the data we need is really nice and convenient and much appreciated," said Brown.
The Race Winning Brands team attended the measuring session to collect data on the Mustang's exhaust and intake products.
The Mustang measuring session had a similar impact for Joe Valentich of Blacklake Research and Development: "It's been invaluable to be able to come to SEMA to use the resources, measure things in the Garage, have access to data, do fitment, just everything that's involved in developing, validating and producing products."
SEMA offers its 7,000-plus member companies a variety of business tools and resources to help its members succeed in the market, save money on essential business services, and network with key industry leaders. Throughout the past few years, the SEMA Garage has hosted numerous measuring sessions with vehicles including the '22 Toyota GR86, '23 Ford Truck SuperDuty Truck, '23/'24 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and more. Additional SEMA Garage services include rapid prototyping/3D printing, ADAS testing, installation and training centers, and emissions testing and certification. The SEMA Garages are the only known facilities of their kind in the U.S., supporting both domestic and global vehicle customization needs.
Learn more at semagarage.com.