The February version of SEMA’s Consumer Demand Index is now available at www.sema.org/research/padi. The index this month rose to 35, up four points from January 2010. Overall, 9% of respondents indicated that they have plans to purchase specialty-equipment products sometime in the next three months.

Legislators around the country have kept busy authoring bills that could impact the specialty-equipment industry. Here's how to stay updated and ensure that representatives hear your voice.

The industry's future depends on collective input, and nominations for 2010 SEMA Council and Committee elections are open to any member company representative.

David Brabham among the motorsports pros on green racing panel at the MIA-SEMA "The Race Has Gone Green" Conference during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Organizers plan to give the Paint, Body & Equipment section more prominence at 2010 SEMA Show.

Exhibitor applications for the 2010 SEMA Show will be available in mid-March on www.SEMAShow.com. Forms must be returned by May 7 in order to participate in the priority space selection process.

SEMA again helped turn back legislation in the Washington Legislature that would have implemented a vehicle scrappage program for passenger vehicles more than 15-years old.