Segment Shows Its Continued Strength at SEMA Show

For a third straight year, the American automotive industry has posted impressive sales gains, with the truck category leading the way. As of December 2012, Ford’s F-series truck again topped sales charts, with 645,316 units sold—up 10.3% over 2011. As in the previous year, Chevrolet’s Silverado came in second with 418,312 units sold. Meanwhile, Ram also made the Top 10 list, coming in fifth with sales of 293,363 units.

The Racing & Performance section of the SEMA Show is the largest on the floorplan, completely taking over the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center each year.

In 2012, a total of 507 exhibitors set up booths, entering a vast array of their latest offerings into the Ideas Alive, featuring the New Products Showcase. The following pages represent more than 500 of the new and featured products that exhibitors registered in the Showcase. Along with the products, journalist Steve Campbell interviewed industry executives to get their thoughts about the trends they perceive and some words of advice about what might lie ahead.

Wheel manufacturers continue to innovate with attention-grabbing designs, vibrant colors and exotic finishes. Striking a delicate balance between style, fitment and overall performance—nearly 200 exhibitors unveiled their latest creations at this year’s Show.

The following products spotlight innovations from Wheels & Accessories section exhibitors, as seen in the 2012 SEMA Show New Products Showcase.

Winners in 16 Categories From Among More Than 2,000 Entries

The New Products Showcase at the 2012 SEMA Show included more than 2,000 parts, tools, assemblies and packages. The displays encompassed must-see items for every segment of the industry, and each was examined by a panel of expert judges who ranked them for superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability. The judges then awarded “best in class” honors to products in 16 categories, along with two runners up in each division. We congratulate not only the winners, but also those who conceive and create all of the innovations that drive the industry.

70+ Products to Be Unveiled at the 2012 SEMA Show

The SEMA Show is all about innovation and creativity. For a taste of what’s coming at the 2012 event, check out the more than 70 new products previewed here. During the Show, head to the upper level of South Hall for a look at the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase at the Las Vegas Convention Center from October 30–November 2, 2012.

Powersports & Utility Vehicles Exhibitors Show Off

At the 2011 SEMA Show exhibitors in the Powersports & Utility Vehicles section unveiled more than 45 new products in the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Products Showcase display. For buyers hoping to establish a direct link to leading manufacturers in this exciting market, these products provided the touch point.

It is almost a given that anyone involved in the automotive specialty-equipment industry is a tool fanatic. Enthusiasts, technicians, retailers, executives—everybody has an appreciation for a tool or a piece of equipment that improves quality or makes a job easier or quicker.

From Model Ts to musclecars and beyond, the restoration of classic automobiles has been a thriving segment of the automotive specialty-equipment industry for decades. Dozens of new restoration products were introduced to warehouse distributors, jobbers and retailers at the 2011 SEMA Show, and the following pages contain a brief look at all of them, complete with contact information and, where applicable, part numbers.

From modifying a vehicle’s original-equipment appearance with products such as new grilles or complete body kits to buffing oxidized paint on a classic muscle machine, car-care and restyling products can dramatically change a car’s look or add features unavailable from the OEM. Hundreds of items aimed at doing just that were introduced in the New Products Showcase during the 2011 SEMA Show, and we’ve gathered them here to give you a quick look at the innovations and trends that are bringing sparkle to the marketplace.

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