Mexico’s expected economic growth rate in 2021 has just been revised upward as Latin America’s second-largest economy, along with the surrounding region, has begun to recover from the sharp downturn caused by COVID-19. While experts predict that the regional economies won’t fully recover until 2022, the quickening pace of the upturn is good news. As the region begins to reopen, U.S. suppliers looking to connect with Mexican and Latin American trade buyers can do so at two upcoming events: the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November, and the INA PAACE Automechanika Show in December.
International travel restrictions are beginning to ease, and trade buyers from all parts of the globe are finalizing their plans to attend the 2021 SEMA Show. These global buyers join U.S.-based resellers and SEMA Show exhibitors eagerly awaiting the opportunity to meet face to face once again and see up close all the latest products and trends the nearly 2,000 SEMA Show exhibitors will have on display in Las Vegas.
The Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India will be held again this year in July 2021 following a hiatus last year due to COVID-19. The Indian edition of the series, which began in 2014, is a grueling seven-day off-roading event for professional drivers.
The European drag-racing season is set to finally get underway, with May kick-off events scheduled for both the sportsman division—the Summit Racing EDRS Series—and the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
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.
As SEMA News continues its periodic series on promising global export markets for U.S. manufacturers, this month the focus is on Indonesia.
SEMA-member companies seeking to sell their products globally most often do so through the establishment of a network of distributors in overseas markets. While there are multiple additional methods to getting your products to international buyers—including selling online through e-commerce or do-it-for-me (indirect) methods to market, such as working with export management companies, manufacturers reps or U.S.-based warehouse distributors—this article focuses on the distributor route.
The German tuning association Verband der Automobil Tuner e. V. (VDAT) has won an important battle in its lengthy litigation against German sports car manufacturer Porsche. Germany’s second-highest court—the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart—has ruled that Porsche cannot deny access to its parts and vehicles to aftermarket vehicle customizers.
Jeep Wranglers are increasingly popular globally, and that translates into export opportunities for U.S. manufacturers of aftermarket products for the iconic 4x4s. This article (focused on the Jeep market in Japan) is the first in a series to look at the top export markets for popular U.S. models. Japan is an affluent island nation of 126 million and is the world’s third-largest passenger vehicle market. It is also the fourth-largest overseas Wrangler market for FCA.
SEMA News appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in shedding light on the key provisions of the new trilateral trade agreement. The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had been governing regional trade since 1994.