The automotive aftermarket has no boundaries, as evidenced by the thousands of articles that are produced every year by journalists throughout the world. These reporters are constantly on the hunt for the latest automotive trends to report to their readers and often rely on SEMA to learn about new parts and technology in the marketplace. By attending the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas or following one of SEMA’s programs that help member companies expand into international markets, journalists are able to stay abreast of the latest happenings in the industry. The following are some international publications that keep an eye on SEMA’s efforts.

This past December, the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Road Tour wrapped up its ambitious nationwide schedule of visits to racing and performance businesses from Indianapolis to California. With the metrics and reviews now in, it appears that the tour will pay dividends to businesses in the racing category for a long time to come.

They don’t make ‘em like they used to. Classic cars and trucks represent a vital aftermarket segment, but understanding marketing opportunities in that space poses unique challenges. To help specialty-equipment businesses get a handle on the category, SEMA Market Research has released a new report focusing on vintage vehicle customers and their customization goals. Entitled “Classic Cars, Modern Markets,” the report contains the latest data on market sizing, consumer demographics, purchasing habits, vehicle usage, and even the shifting definitions of the cars considered to be classics.

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.

Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark are collectively known as the Nordic region, and its population of approximately 27 million citizens is passionate about all forms of wheeled competition, including rally racing, drag racing, drifting and circuit racing.

Since its inception in 2014, the SEMA Show’s annual Battle of the Builders (BOTB) has become one of the most anticipated events of SEMA Show week. While the cancellation of the 2020 Show in Las Vegas seemed to put the event on hold for a year, there was still plenty of industry interest in holding a BOTB-type event, even if done remotely.

Commemorating Route 66: The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved a SEMA-supported bill to create a commission to recommend ways to commemorate Route 66’s 100th anniversary. The first all-paved U.S. highway was completed in 1926. The 15-person commission will include representatives from the states through which the highway ran: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history. The bill was signed into law on December 23, 2020.

Annual business planning is a proven growth driver. Unfortunately, many small-business people may be tempted to skip that task for 2021, since traditional strategic planning often ties up time and resources. Plus, with COVID-19, who can predict the marketplace?

How many members of Congress grew up around racing, have three degrees from Harvard and spend their free time providing medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic? If you guessed one, you’re correct. His name is U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and SEMA is fortunate to call him a friend.