By Chris Shelton 

The world is a complicated place. The automotive world, probably even more so--the technology that carmakers employ to meet safety, emission and fuel-economy standards simply boggles the mind. The seemingly infinite number of chassis, powertrain and trim variations within just a single year, make and model threaten to make the automotive landscape intractable by mere mortals.  

Yet artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing list of practitioners are showing us how to navigate this complexity. The technology that lets computers and machines simulate human traits is transforming whole industries by streamlining workflow, enhancing productivity and unlocking new levels of innovation.  

At the 2023 event in Las Vegas, for example, one vendor showed how it used Generative AI to create structural components that employed materials so efficiently that the products looked more like spiderwebs than car parts. These were organic-looking components designed to withstand intense loads without wasting any material in the manufacturing process.  

To read the complete article for free, sign up for a digital subscription to SEMA magazine on Zinio here.   

Once you download the Zinio mobile app or are logged into Zinio on a desktop browser, you will gain immediate access to more than a year's worth of content, including "AI Hits the Show Floor" here and more SEMA Show coverage in the January/February 2025 issue here. 

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

President Donald Trump kept a key campaign promise yesterday, using his executive powers on day one of his new administration to halt federal electric vehicle (EV) mandates.

SEMA, on behalf of its more than 7,000 members in the automotive aftermarket industry and the nation's millions of automotive enthusiasts, applauds and thanks President Trump for keeping this important promise.

The organization now calls on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet its obligation to the American people by sending the Clean Air Act waivers granted to California to Congress to begin the Congressional Review Act oversight process. These waivers are not narrowly focused, as some in the EPA claim; rather, these waivers have broad, national implications, and Congress should have the opportunity to review the final rules and overturn any waiver that grants California the power to set national policies on carbon emissions.

"On day one of his new administration, President Trump reclaimed the nation's freedom of vehicle choice, proclaiming the authority of the United States of America, rather than the so-called United States of California, to set national policies. SEMA thanks President Trump for his bold, decisive actions to deliver the will of the American people: a commitment to innovation, a belief in the freedom of vehicle choice and a strong faith in the power of American ingenuity," said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "SEMA now urges the EPA to submit the California waivers over to Congress so our lawmakers can utilize their Congressional Review Act authority to pull the plug on dangerous EV mandates."

SEMA champions a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. The association will continue efforts to preserve Americans' rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to design, manufacture and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, SEMA, through the Driving Force Action SuperPAC, educated voters about the damaging impact of EV mandates, and the profound importance of empowering the automotive aftermarket to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

President Donald Trump kept a key campaign promise yesterday, using his executive powers on day one of his new administration to halt federal electric vehicle (EV) mandates.

SEMA, on behalf of its more than 7,000 members in the automotive aftermarket industry and the nation's millions of automotive enthusiasts, applauds and thanks President Trump for keeping this important promise.

The organization now calls on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet its obligation to the American people by sending the Clean Air Act waivers granted to California to Congress to begin the Congressional Review Act oversight process. These waivers are not narrowly focused, as some in the EPA claim; rather, these waivers have broad, national implications, and Congress should have the opportunity to review the final rules and overturn any waiver that grants California the power to set national policies on carbon emissions.

"On day one of his new administration, President Trump reclaimed the nation's freedom of vehicle choice, proclaiming the authority of the United States of America, rather than the so-called United States of California, to set national policies. SEMA thanks President Trump for his bold, decisive actions to deliver the will of the American people: a commitment to innovation, a belief in the freedom of vehicle choice and a strong faith in the power of American ingenuity," said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. "SEMA now urges the EPA to submit the California waivers over to Congress so our lawmakers can utilize their Congressional Review Act authority to pull the plug on dangerous EV mandates."

SEMA champions a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. The association will continue efforts to preserve Americans' rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to design, manufacture and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, SEMA, through the Driving Force Action SuperPAC, educated voters about the damaging impact of EV mandates, and the profound importance of empowering the automotive aftermarket to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.

By SEMA News Editors

SEMA is now accepting nominations for induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame, the association's highest honor, at sema.org/hof. The SEMA Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding persons in the automotive aftermarket who have enhanced the stature of, or significantly contributed to, the industry and/or association's growth.

"SEMA's Hall of Fame is a tribute to the leaders and changemakers who have propelled the industry forward in extraordinary ways," said Jose Escobar, SEMA manager of recognition programs. "Each year, we seek to identify new individuals whose vision and accomplishments disrupted the status quo, set new benchmarks for excellence, and left an undeniable mark on the industry's success."

Established in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame is one of the association's longest-standing programs. To date, 180 individuals have been inducted--each exemplifying innovation, leadership and positive change within the industry. These trailblazers have played a pivotal role in advancing the aftermarket industry through their dedication and passion.

Nominee qualifications include:

• The candidate must have made contributions that extended beyond the local level and reached throughout the national and/or international level.
• The candidate is and/or has been involved in the automotive specialty industry and/or SEMA for a minimum of 10 years, although 15 years is preferred.
• The candidate must have made outstanding contributions toward enhancing technology, professionalism, dignity and/or general stature and growth of the automotive specialty industry.
• The candidate must have conducted himself/herself with a high degree of integrity both within and outside of the automotive specialty industry.
• The candidate must be at least 50 years of age prior to the SEMA Show during the year of induction or they may be at any age if deceased as long as the nomination is presented at least one year posthumous.

SEMA is also accepting nominees that have been employed by the association or have served as a contractor and/or vendor of SEMA. In addition to meeting the above qualifications, the nominee must have no less than one year of total separation from SEMA in any and all capacities, arrangements or relationships. 

The 2025 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in May and honored during the SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in July.   

Nominations are due by Friday, March 14, at sema.org/hof. Questions can be directed to Escobar at josee@sema.org. To view a list of SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees, visit this link.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA's Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named Kevin Tetz as the council's newest spotlight volunteer. Tetz is the president of Paintucation LLC, a company dedicated to providing educational content to people who want to grow their automotive skills.

Get to know Tetz in his interview with SEMA News below.  

SEMA: Did you ever consider another career or industry?

Kevin Tetz: My first career was as a professional working musician.

SEMA: How long have you been volunteering for ARMO?

KT: I'm a new member, but I've been aware of ARMO for many years and a SEMA member for more than 20 years.

SEMA: What's the best advice you have ever received?

KT:  I was told, "Everyone's story deserves to be told." This mantra has guided me through my journalism and television career and helps me see the world through the eyes of other people.

SEMA: If you could do one thing over from the course of your career, what would that be? 

KT: Go to a trade school.

SEMA: What keeps your passion going in this industry? 

KT: The more I learn, the more I realize that an automotive career path can lead you anywhere your ambition wants to take you.

SEMA: What is your dream vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend? 

KT: A '67 Shelby GT500 KR. You would find me cruising anywhere and everywhere!

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

KT:  Working on creating YouTube content or a new training curriculum for my formal courses.

SEMA: What do you see as the biggest challenges for the restoration industry today, and where do you see the industry in five years? 

KT: Our industry's main challenge is inspiring young technicians to enter into this trade. In five years, there will be more young people entering in, but the needs will be greater due to the aging out of current technicians and tradespeople. This will create an incredible income opportunity for new technicians due to the high demand for skilled labor.

Fill out an ARMO-member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates will be featured on ARMO's social media, SEMA News and future ARMO-member updates.  

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) has named Garrick Vanderwal, development engineer at Diode Dynamics, as the network's newest spotlight member.  

Get to know Vanderwal in his interview with SEMA News below.  

SEMA News: What is the best advice you have ever received?  

Garrick Vanderwal: Henry Ford once said, "Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs." I apply this to my life both professionally and personally. Whenever I am overwhelmed with a project or task and my anxiety is telling me that it's too much for me to handle and I can't possibly complete this, I find myself thinking of this quote. It helps me stop looking at the challenge as a mountain and focus on the hill directly in front of me. Eventually, enough hills conquered, and I'll find myself at the top of the mountain.

SN: What keeps you in the industry?  

GV: I think the standard answer would be my interest in cars/trucks but the more I think about it, the more I realize that is what got me started. What keeps me here is much more deep. The culture of this industry is not something you find very often. Most people don't wake up excited to go to work; I genuinely do. This has sewn in me an emotional investment. This passion for Diode Dynamics and its success is what drives me every day.

There was a time in my life when I would come home after working a dead-end job contemplating what TV show I was going to watch or what video game I was going to waste my evening on. Anything to disassociate myself from my reality because I dreaded going back the next day. Today, I don't ever feel like I need to be disassociated. When my co-workers became my best friends and my hard work is genuinely recognized/received, everything just changed.

My relationship with my wife is better, my attitude is better and my energy is higher. Just overall my quality of life is better. This feeling of self-worth has changed my outlook on life. That's what keeps me in the industry.

SN: Where can you be found on a Saturday?  

GV: Saturdays I am usually in "dad" mode taking my kids down to the local racetrack to spectate the dragsters or drift cars. On other days, we may be exploring the fire roads of rural Missouri, looking for creeks that we can cool off in during the hot summer days.

SN: How do you prepare for an important meeting?  

GV: If I am directing the meeting, I'll prepare by creating a presentation with visuals to aid in the message or discussion I am trying to convey. I prepare bullet points to keep the discussion on track and concise. If I am a participant in the discussion, I will prepare by having an organized digital notebook ready to record key points. Organization is key, so whether I'm managing the discussion or participating in the discussion, having a system in place to take notes with the ability to quickly reference and find those notes in the future is crucial.

SN: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be?  

GV: I would like to have lunch with Mike Sweers, CTO of Toyota North America. Having a first-hand glimpse into the research and development process at Toyota and an understanding of the path their development team uses to validate new products would be invaluable to my own career path.

Fill out an FLN member spotlight form to be eligible to be featured on FLN's social media, SEMA News and FLN member updates.  

By SEMA News Editors

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings nationwide. Below are some of the latest postings.

SEMA

Marketing Operations and Resource Manager in Diamond Bar, California

SEMA is searching for a seasoned and process-focused marketing operations and resource manager to lead production planning, workflow management, marketing execution and project management for SEMA's internal marketing team and business unit clients.

Full-Stack Developer in Diamond Bar, California

This position will design, develop and implement applications and web-based forms within a .NET/MS SQL Server development environment and maintain software applications and databases.

Senior Manager State Government Affairs in Washington, D.C.

SEMA is seeking a senior manager of state government affairs to advocate for SEMA and PRI in states east of the Mississippi River. This role includes monitoring and influencing state legislative and regulatory actions, building relationships with key policymakers and coordinating grassroots advocacy efforts. The senior manager of state government affairs will ensure that the organization's voice is heard in state capitols and that legislative and regulatory outcomes align with the organization's goals and priorities.

By SEMA News Editors

RANDYS Worldwide Announces the Acquisition of Van Compass

RANDYS Worldwide--the Everett, Washington-based national supplier of automotive aftermarket parts design, manufacturing, and distribution--has announced its strategic acquisition of Van Compass, a manufacturer of high-end suspension components tailored to the performance van camping and overlanding market.

Van Compass designs suspension components that enhance the on- and off-road capabilities of Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster vehicles. The acquisition aligns strategically with RANDYS' focus on offering highly engineered under-car products and premium brands.

"This is an exciting step for the RANDYS family of brands to partner with such expertise in the adventure van market," says Kevin Kaestner, president and CEO of RANDYS Worldwide.

"Our company grew through innovation as the van life craze emerged. With our passion for the outdoors and our dedication to specialized suspension, we are now able to take this to the next level," says Rob Peterson, lead engineer at Van Compass. "This new relationship with RANDYS affords us the opportunity to grow our company, reward our employees, and bring Van Compass to new markets."

For more information, visit randysworldwide.com.

BendPak Supercharges Its Sales, Marketing and Product Development Teams  

Agoura Hills, California-based BendPak has announced enhancements to its leadership team. Sean Price has moved to a newly created position as director of quality control, product development, and management for the Special Products Division. David Reunert joins BendPak to take over for Price as director of sales operations. Tyler Rex rejoined the company in a new position as senior director of marketing.

"Over the last 60 years, BendPak has built a reputation for listening to our customers and developing innovative products they can count on to keep them safe, comfortable, and efficient at work and at play," said Jeff Kritzer, BendPak president and CEO. "Strengthening our leadership team in key areas helps us continue to meet our diverse customer needs around the globe."

For more information, visit bendpak.com.

Martin & Company Founder Zan Martin Retires, Closing Agency

Zan Martin, the president and founder of Martin & Company Advertising, is retiring after a five-decade career in the automotive aftermarket and closing the agency.

Martin is a former SEMA board member and also served as the chair of the SEMA Businesswomen's Network from 2001 to 2003.

Martin founded the agency with late husband Randal Martin, who served as its creative director and CFO, and worked with a number of iconic industry brands during its 32 years of operation, including MAHLE Motorsport, Bridgestone, Hot Shot's Secret, Aeromotive and more.

The company will cease operations on March 6.

For more information on Martin's career, visit martincoadvertising.com.

RIGID Industries Names Andy Kroll President

RIGID Industries, the off-road lighting company based in Gilbert, Arizona, has named Andy Kroll as its new president.

In his new position, Kroll will work closely with RIGID's executive team to set long-term objectives, pursue innovation in lighting technologies and foster strong partnerships with dealers, distributors and OEMs, the company said in a statement announcing the appointment.

Prior to joining RIGID, Kroll worked at Polaris for 12 years, leading sales and marketing efforts for Polaris Snowmobiles and Off-Road Accessories, as well as running Polaris' aftermarket businesses. He also brings eight years of branding and business strategy experience from his time as a senior brand manager at General Mills.

For more information, visit rigidindustries.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Last year, three out of four manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the specialty-equipment industry reported stable or growing sales. Additionally, nine out of 10 companies expected their sales to grow over the next year.

How is the industry doing this year? Help us find out by answering our five-question SEMA Quick Poll (linked below).

This short survey will help us get a pulse check on our market, and we will report the findings back here in a couple weeks. The quick poll will only take a few minutes, and it will help us understand your insights on key topics.

Click here to take the SEMA Quick Poll.

Also, watch out for our next industry report, "SEMA Future Trends 2025," to be released on Tuesday, February 4. You can access all SEMA market research reports at sema.org/research.

Your answers to a SEMA Quick Poll are anonymous and will only be reported as combined totals with all other responses. We appreciate your support for our efforts to better understand the market.

By SEMA News Editors

Last year, three out of four manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the specialty-equipment industry reported stable or growing sales. Additionally, nine out of 10 companies expected their sales to grow over the next year.

How is the industry doing this year? Help us find out by answering our five-question SEMA Quick Poll (linked below).

This short survey will help us get a pulse check on our market, and we will report the findings back here in a couple weeks. The quick poll will only take a few minutes, and it will help us understand your insights on key topics.

Click here to take the SEMA Quick Poll.

Also, watch out for our next industry report, "SEMA Future Trends 2025," to be released on Tuesday, February 4. You can access all SEMA market research reports at sema.org/research.

Your answers to a SEMA Quick Poll are anonymous and will only be reported as combined totals with all other responses.  We appreciate your support for our efforts to better understand the market.