Light-vehicle sales in China rose 53% in the first five months of the year to nearly 7.2 million units, according to J.D. Power and Associates. It’s hard to ignore that kind of momentum. Some SEMA members aren’t. They are headed to Beijing in late September for the SEMA-CIAPE Business Development Conference. Many see it as a good opportunity to learn more about the China market.

SEMA members who produce accessories for Jeep-brand vehicles take notice: China is awash in Jeeps, and Jeep owners are some of China’s most enthusiastic off-roaders. They are looking for imported brands when it comes to modifying their off-road machines.

Wade Kawasaki, president of Exports International, longtime SEMA member and former member of the SEMA Board of Directors, will explore the correlation between selling in the Chinese market and intellectual property violations. Kawasaki will join IPR guru Merritt R. Blakeslee of the Blakeslee Law Firm on July 8, to help SEMA members learn about best practices in protecting their intellectual property assets.

Drivers in China are going farther and faster and that is creating opportunities for U.S. brake manufacturers.

“Roads in China are getting better each year, so cars go faster and more demands are placed on brake products,” said a Shandong, China-based performance parts importer, retailer and wholesaler located in the northeast part of the country. “Foreign brands have good word of mouth and good feedback, thus I think they have a good future.”

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has initiated an investigation into the effects of Chinese intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement on U.S. jobs and the economy, along with China's so-called “indigenous innovation policies.” The latter refers to a Chinese initiative, which encourages domestic companies to develop their own technology and brands instead of simply manufacturing foreign products.

Convincing your colleagues that the rewards of selling to overseas market are worth the risks can be tough. But it paid off for SEMA member SCT LLC. SCT aims to add a new international market to its list when it attends the SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September.

The market for performance dynamometers in China is modest at the moment, reflecting the newness of the country’s performance car culture. But China is a market to watch, said companies making the high-tech tuning machines. One thing that should boost demand for dynos in China is the fast growth in luxury car sales. Luxury car buyers want, and can afford, performance-boosting products for their car. Tuner shops will need dynos to guarantee top performance. Dyno manufacturers are betting on the market growing and are actively signing up distributors to supply these new potential customers.

SEMA members can sign up to meet with up to a dozen, pre-vetted Chinese distributors at the inaugural SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference taking place September 23–26 in Beijing, China. Register online by July 1 in order to receive priority space selection.

Nearly two-dozen distributors and buyers have contacted SEMA to introduce themselves and the products they hope to source at the SEMA China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE) business development conference, held in Beijing, China, September 23–26, 2010. Performance and off-road products figure prominently in the type of products Chinese wholesalers and retailers want to source from U.S. companies.

China doesn’t have old money. Indeed, some of the wealthiest people in China are entrepreneurs under 40 years old. They buy expensive cars, and want to personalize those cars. They are a prime market for products that enhance performance, comfort or appearance.