40 years of SEMA

Forty years ago, the industry gathered at the first SEMA Show to promote cutting-edge racing products. At that time, the eyes of motorsports professionals were drawn to SEMA.
Forty-years later many of those same innovators continue to draw attention at the SEMA Show and they are joined by thousands more colleagues from leading companies around the world.
Attracting more than 2,000 manufacturers in 11 market categories ranging from Racing and Performance to Mobile Electronics and Trucks, SUVs and Off-Road, the annual SEMA Show is the industry barometer for consumer tastes.
The industry’s enthusiasm for innovation is best represented by the show’s New Products Showcase. Featuring more than 1,400 new products ranging in function from style, to performance, to convenience, the showcase is the central focal point around which the rest of the show revolves.
Organized in industry-specific categories, it is a comprehensive introduction of what’s hot and new in the industry as well as the premier opportunity for manufacturers to get their product in front of more than 100,000 international and domestic buyers and media.
Over the years, more than 30,000 new products have made their debut at the SEMA Show.
The specialty equipment market is developing more new products than at any other time in the show’s 40-year history.
Emerging product categories such as diesel performance continue to fuel the industry’s reputation for innovation and trend-setting.
Over two dozen new diesel performance products are registered for the 2006 Show already, nearly the total number of diesel products exhibited last year.
Other notable trends include entries in the Performance & Racing categories, up three percent from last year’s total, and on track to comprise almost 25 percent of all products on the show floor. These products comprise performance parts across the domestic, import and off-road industries, and demonstrate that the state of performance enthusiasm is hot and healthy.
“The notion of personalization and customization has started to take hold among mainstream automotive consumers,” said Christopher Kersting, SEMA president and CEO.
“The $34 billion industry is driven by enthusiast-based businesses that utilize the show to attract attention to their new products. Year after year we have seen the most significant items hit the market here in Las Vegas,” said Kersting.
The SEMA Show, the annual showcase of technology, trends and products for the automotive accessories industry, will be held October 31-November 3, 2006 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.