Three-Row Jeep Grand Cherokee: Jeep is set to add a few three-row SUVs in the next few years. ’22 Jeep Compass Trailhawk: Power is still expected from the 2.4L naturally aspirated four-cylinder that’s mated to a nine-speed automatic. ’22 GMC Sierra Denali: Expected to launch for the ’22 model year, the refresh will update the various perceived shortcomings of the GMC Sierra that was introduced for the ’19 model year.

The European drag-racing season is set to finally get underway, with May kick-off events scheduled for both the sportsman division—the Summit Racing EDRS Series—and the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.

There’s something about a pickup that sets it apart. No, we’re not talking about the obvious—the bed in back that lets you carry lots of stuff, or the solid axle that lets you tow a trailer. We’re talking about intangibles.

In 2020, most companies were forced to drastically alter their person-to-person business approach due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry shows, including the SEMA Show, were cancelled and replaced by virtual events, such as SEMA360. Racing events were cancelled or postponed. More people were working from home than ever before. Business meetings were conducted via Zoom. Seminars made way for webinars.

Replica Cars: NHTSA completed a regulation allowing low-volume motor vehicle manufacturers to begin selling replica cars that resemble vehicles produced at least 25 years ago—from ’30s roadsters to ’60s musclecars and more. SEMA worked with Congress to enact the 2015 law, which permits each company to produce up to 325 replicas a year for the U.S. market. The law removed regulatory barriers that previously prevented construction. While enthusiasts will now have a chance to purchase a turnkey replica car, they will still have the option to build a car from a kit. The program does not take effect until the NHTSA rule has been officially published in the Federal Register, which was delayed due to the presidential transition but is expected to occur within weeks as of this writing.

As this issue was going to press, we learned that Bruce Meyers, inventor of the Meyers Manx that spawned the dune buggy craze and countless imitators, passed away at the age of 94. This article was originally written in late 2020, after Meyers and his wife Winnie announced the sale of his iconic dune buggy manufacturing company, Meyers Manx Inc., to an investment firm that would “maintain the old and introduce the new,” as Meyers described it. The CEO and chief creative officer of the new Meyers Manx LLC is Freeman Thomas, an automotive designer whose previous work on concept and production cars included the Volkswagen New Beetle and Audi TT, plus several Daimler Chrysler concept vehicles.

SEMA helps manufacturers in the automotive aftermarket industry promote their products through events such as the SEMA Show and SEMA360 as well as programs such as the New Products Showcase. Among those manufacturers are companies that make mobile electronics, which account for more than $3 billion of sales in the aftermarket industry, per the 2020 “SEMA Market Report” (www.sema.org/market-research). The following are some of the publications that cover the mobile-electronics market segment and report on new products and trends in the industry.

One of our top priorities for 2021 is to reinforce the automotive specialty aftermarket’s presence in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the country. We know regulatory activity will be on the rise, especially in light of recent federal elections. Success over the next few years will require dedicated effort along with support from the industry. With sustained effort, we can prevail.

The products featured below are from SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) member companies that have attained Gold- or Platinum-level data, which means that their product data is robust and complete—likely to drive customer purchase decisions. SDC members meeting data scorecard requirements are invited to submit product releases for consideration to enews@semadatacoop.org.