According to recent research by SEMA, 49% of all late-model pickups are modified with specialty-equipment parts. The finding was detailed in the “2022 SEMA Pickup Accessorization Report,” which provides a comprehensive review of how the pickup accessorization landscape is evolving.

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) embarked on an all-female Ford Bronco build this year to highlight successful women in the automotive industry while also attracting and supporting more females to pursue careers in the field.

The SEMA Launch Pad program, the ultimate product-pitching competition for automotive entrepreneurs, returned for the 10th consecutive year to give innovators a chance to establish their product within the automotive industry. “SEMA Launch Pad helps bring these emerging inventors to the forefront, providing a platform for them to potentially take their new creations to the next level,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing.

The automotive specialty-equipment industry continues to experience strong growth and demand as the United States puts COVID-19 in the rearview mirror. According to the “State of the Industry–Spring 2022” report from SEMA Market Research, 75% of manufacturers, 68% of distributors and 53% of retailers/installers reported that sales were above where they were prior to the pandemic, and consumer demand continued to remain robust for most companies.

Part of the SEMA Show preparation process for many exhibiting companies includes identifying which products they will enter into the New Products Showcase. As the number-one destination at the SEMA Show, the New Products Showcase provides companies with an opportunity to highlight their latest offerings and generate foot traffic to their booths.

Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized a regulation to implement the SEMA-led Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, enabling replica-car businesses to produce and sell turnkey vehicles. SEMA worked with Congress to pass this federal policy change, which became law in 2015 as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act.

In February, SEMA introduced a new program that makes it possible for automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers to meet the legal requirement for emissions compliance under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tampering Policy. The program, called SEMA Certified-Emissions (SC-E), gives manufacturers the ability to verify that a product meets the EPA’s “reasonable basis” criteria and is therefore legal for sale in 49 states.

At the 2021 SEMA Show, exhibiting manufacturers voted on the best new vehicles for personalization and presented them with SEMA Awards, an annual recognition given to the top trending vehicle models in five categories. The 2021 SEMA Award Winners were the Ford Mustang (Car of the Year), Toyota Supra (Sport Compact of the Year), Ford Bronco (4x4/SUV of the Year), Ford F-Series (Fullsize Truck of the Year) and Toyota Tacoma (Midsize Truck of the Year).

Robert Matranga and his ’55 Chevy named “Brute Force” took the top prize in the eighth annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, edging out more than 240 vehicles that were entered into the internationally recognized contest. SEMA Battle of the Builders is widely known as one of the elite platforms for builders to showcase their work and compete for the coveted top honor during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.