SEMA- 2019
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is an annual Las Vegas automotive trade show that brings together aftermarket parts producers, retailers, auto-manufacturers, custom build shops, automotive celebrities, drivers, retail organizations, wholesalers, wrappers, gawkers, media and even international companies and everything in between. The fundamental purpose of SEMA is to serve as trade show and networking opportunity for those that make it a business to serve the automotive industry, as it is a trade-only event and not open to the public. It spans four days and is attended by over 160,000 people including 70,000 industry buyers checking out the latest products from over 2,400 exhibiting companies.
What makes SEMA more than a trade show are the automotive displays and demos making it not simply an aftermarket parts event, but also part auto show. SEMA is full of ah-ha and "what the heck is this" moments as one meets the producers of automotive parts and accessories that sometimes slips past the typical auto enthusiast. Want to find the company that makes needles for the sewing machines that do upholstery and floor mats? Check! Searching for custom lug nuts for classic American cars? Check! Want to purchase a new tire mounting machine for your shop? Check!
BroDozer- Is this over yet?
The quantity and types of lifted trucks (BroDozers) was unexpected and massive. Being in California leads one to forget the popularity of these road beast in the rest of the country. Typically, these trucks are projects of particular builders and parts suppliers to show-off their accessories, and what is possible with an unlimited budget and limited taste. It simply leaves one wishing this trend would fade away like whistle tips or spinners wheels.
Offroad:
There’s a fine line between BroDozer, that will never leave a paved surface even with its four feet of ground clearance, and an off-roader decked out like its entering the Dakar rally. The primary difference is utility. These particular examples demonstrate equipment and vehicles that people, especially outdoor enthusiasts, might actually use off-road.
It is clear that the aftermarket truck segment is a major economic driver of the automotive industry, not simply in retail sales of vehicles but in the multi-billion dollar aftermarket parts economy.
Toyo Tires
Of the many large corporate displays, the one by Toyo Tires was a great sampling of ridiculous custom builds and one-off creations.
Hot Wheels Legends
An exciting moment for the big kid that lives in each of us was the Hot Wheels Legends display. Over the course of 2019 the Legends Tour visited 18 cities across the United States a chose one winner from each city. Each winner was on display at SEMA with one car being inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends.
Takeaways:
Describing SEMA with various superlatives would be typical, but frankly insufficient to describe what it really is. After spending two full days at the venue I am convinced that I missed many things and that’s ok. SEMA is so massive, spread out with each vender display demonstrating so much detail that it is easy to get lost in it all. This was a reconnaissance trip to scope out the show and pick up some pointers for what will hopefully be future trips by TLP to , what we consider to be, the best of Las Vegas shows.—-Mark Farouk
Full Gallery:
BTW- If you made it this far here is a surprise. Everyone of these photos were captured with an Iphone 11 proving that modern phones are awesome and that any camera in the right hands is the right camera for the job.