SEMA research indicates that the U.S. aftermarket for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle technologies (CVT) can be expected to grow into a $1.5 billion industry within the next five years, even though the emerging segment is still in its infancy. The impact of these new systems can’t be overstated. Hard as it may be to imagine, they will eventually affect virtually everything from wheel and tire modifications and vehicle electronics tweaks to the addition of custom bumpers, running boards, grilles and other hard parts.
It’s no secret that off-roading—especially Jeeping—drives one of the specialty-equipment industry’s largest segments. With roots to the post-World-War-II era when returning servicemen began discovering American backroads with their trusted surplus Jeeps, the off-road category remains a wildly diverse playground for specialty-equipment parts, accessories and lifestyle products. What’s more, Jeeping and recreational off-roading have spread to emerging international markets in the last decade, notably China and the Middle East. The mainstreaming of off-road motorsports is in part responsible for this vigorous segment’s growth, but the real race nowadays is among OEMs to win the attention of consumers who have never blazed a trail but would like to.
Aaron Gable and James Herring began their careers in the automotive industry like so many pioneers: with genuine passion. Bitten by the off-roading bug early, their enthusiasm for the hobby dates back to their childhoods. Growing up just a few miles apart in rural Georgia, the duo spent years with wrenches in their hands, learning every nook and cranny of what’s under the hood. Ultimately, their fun weekend activities created the foundation for Gable and Herring to become co-owners and operators of Jack’d Off-Road.
With 2018 well under way, if your business hasn’t yet tapped into the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) aftermarket, doing so now could have you leading a new trend. Available from a range of infotainment and consumer-electronics manufacturers, current aftermarket safety-enhancement offerings run the gamut from do-it-yourself to professionally installed products encompassing head-up displays, forward-crash avoidance, blind-spot detection, night vision, lane-departure warning, adaptive front lighting, and surround-view camera systems, along with backup cameras and sensors. What’s more, their market potential is huge.
In today’s world of big-box online retail giants such as Amazon, individual stories of family-owned, niche retail shops are few and far between. The story of Forbidden Diesel and its manager Shane Marler, however, stands in stark contrast to this trend.
With the SEMA Show wrapped up and a new year on its way, SEMA-member companies are busy absorbing the latest aftermarket trends and adjusting their marketing and sales strategies for 2018. The task can seem overwhelming, especially after experiencing the dizzying array of new products and innovations that flooded the recent Show.
Project Underdog, a highly customized ’72 Ford Maverick originally conceived by actor Sung Kang, is finished, fine-tuned, revved and ready for auction. Sponsored by Shell and featuring Pennzoil, and supported by Ford Motor Co., Samsung, Nitto, GReddy, Rocket Bunny and Facebook, the unique vehicle build was completed at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, with specialized tuning provided by Cobb Tuning, headquartered in Austin, Texas.
The term restyling covers a broad range of automotive upgrades. While the biggest portion of the segment is made up of accessory and appearance products for both interiors and exteriors, it can also include certain performance parts, wheels, tires and suspension systems that don’t fit neatly into another category. Since the Great Recession, the restyling market has seen steady growth, according to the “2016 SEMA Market Report,” and annual retail sales in the segment are now more than $5.22 billion.
Still riding the wave of a recent marketplace shift, the utility task vehicle, better known as the UTV or side-by-side, is at a major crossroads. Intensive growth in product development and surging sales have helped the side-by-side to become a new staple in the off-road community.
Often thrown about in today’s trendy business and marketing circles, “rich data” can be a confusing buzz term. Nevertheless, it’s become an essential component in the aftermarket supply chain for everyone from manufacturers to warehouse-distributors to retailers. Consequently, manufacturers can obtain a real advantage in mainstream markets if they grasp and follow the latest rich-data best practices.