The recent pandemic upended so many aspects of people’s daily lives, it’s nearly impossible to list them all. Among the most glaring is the transformation of the American workplace. In many ways, the COVID-19 disruptions accelerated several employment trends already taking shape. But they also forced companies to make unexpected adjustments that may be with us for years to come.

The products featured below are from SEMA Data 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. SEMA Data members meeting data scorecard requirements are invited to submit product releases for consideration to enews@semadatacoop.org.

The advent of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) on original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles has posed numerous challenges to the automotive industry—none more so than the automotive aftermarket, where customization and accessorization are the name of the game. On the other hand, ADAS also presents numerous opportunities for the manufacturer or shop owner who understands how these systems can work in tandem with aftermarket parts and accessories.

Powersports sales have been on fire, dramatically increasing across the board since 2020, but resulting in part of the supply-chain woes we’re constantly reading about in the news. The culprit: enthusiasts and even ordinary people desperately seeking adventure to distract themselves or reemerge from the COVID-19 doldrums.

From the earliest days, the automobile and its surrounding lifestyle have been about freedom. However, recent years have seen a growing assault on many of the freedoms consumers, hobbyists and recreational enthusiasts have come to enjoy.

In February, SEMA announced an industry first: a new program making it possible for specialty automotive parts manufacturers to meet the legal requirement for emissions compliance under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tampering Policy. The program, called SEMA Certified-Emissions (SC-E), enables manufacturers to verify that a product meets the EPA’s “reasonable basis” criteria and is therefore legal for sale in 49 states.

The products featured below are from SEMA Data 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. SEMA Data members meeting data scorecard requirements are invited to submit product releases for consideration to enews@semadatacoop.org.

Consumer trends and preferences have changed many times over the years, but in the automotive sphere, pickups never really fall out of fashion. They’re the ideal multipurpose vehicles that are equally functional as daily commuters, jobsite workhorses or recreational trail toys. For sheer versatility, nothing compares to them on the road and off, and that’s probably why the bestselling vehicle in the United States for more than 40 years in a row has been a pickup.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 and the ensuing quarantines and lockdowns it occasioned highlighted the need for companies to build and maintain a robust online infrastructure to optimize consumer outreach and leverage sales when conventional retailing methods aren’t an option. Online sales of specialty-equipment products represented more than half of all parts sales in calendar year 2020, and while that number has declined as retail stores have reopened for business, online sales still account for 40%–45% of all sales in the industry. That fact presents challenges and opportunities for specialty-equipment companies looking to expand their digital footprint to drive brand awareness and sales.

The SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, was conceived as a comprehensive product development center to address the needs of manufacturer members. It was equipped with state-of-the-art tools and equipment and staffed with expert personnel. Since it opened almost nine years ago, hundreds of members have taken advantages of the facility’s many services. These include access to OEM CAD data, 3-D printing and scanning, emissions testing, and measuring sessions. Even while running two shifts, the facility currently has a backlog in the emissions lab as more manufacturers conduct emissions certification procedures.