Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki
Register
Advertisement
SEMA-logo

SEMA logo

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) of the automobile aftermarket was formed in 1963 by Roy Richter, Ed Iskenderian, Willie Garner, Bob Hedman, John Bartlett, Phil Weiand, Jr., Al Segal, Dean Moon, and Vic Edelbrock, Jr. and now consists of 6,764 companies worldwide, bringing together aftermarket manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, media, car dealers, specialty equipment distributors, installers, retailers and restoration specialists.

Products in this $27.8 billion-a-year industry include performance and racing components, cosmetic and functional accessories, wheels and tires, mobile electronics, safety products, restoration parts, handling equipment, drivetrain parts and more. The industry covers muscle cars, classics, luxury vehicles, sport compacts, street rods, light trucks (off-road and sport trucks) SUVs and recreational vehicles.

SEMA provides services for employees of its member companies that include education and professional development, market research, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry publications, international business development and business to business events.

The largest of the SEMA events held annually during the first week of November is the SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. As part of this event, SEMA and other automotive aftermarket trade groups make-up one of the single largest events on the Las Vegas calendar. This is a title formerly held by the now defunct COMDEX show.[citation needed] This auto show is not open to the public. Registration as media, manufacturer, buyer or exhibitor is required.

History[]

SEMA 2008 Las Vegas

The 2008 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Originally, the SEMA acronym stood for Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association. In 1970, government regulations became an issue and the name was changed to Specialty to improve the overall image of the association.

Founding members of SEMA

Company Founder
Ansen Automotive Engineering Louie Senter
B&M Automotive Products Bob Spar
Cragar Industries Inc. Roy Richter
Eelco Manufacturing & Supply Els Lohn
Grant Industries John Bartlett
Ed Iskenderian Racing Cams Ed Iskenderian
Milodon Engineering Don Alderson
Moon Equipment Company Dean Moon
Schiefer Manufacturing Paul Schiefer
Trans Dapt Willie Garner
Weber Speed Equipment Harry Weber
Weiand Power & Racing Phil Weiand
Dempsey Wilson Racing Cams Dempsey Wilson

Charter members of SEMA

Company Founder
American Racing Equipment Jim Ellison
CAE Racing Products Jim Culbertson
Chuchua's 4-Wheel Drive Brian Chuchua
Crankshaft Company Huey Holik
Edelbrock Equipment Company Vic Edelbrock
Enginetics Ruth Wilson
Halibrand Engineering Ted Halibrand
Hedman Manufacturing Company Bob Hedman
Hurst-Campbell, Inc. George Hurst
Inglewood Tire Company Bill Krech
J.E. Engineering Bill Pendleton
Offenhauser Sales Fred Offenhauser
Potvin Equipment Chuck Potvin
Scott Engineering
Segal Automotive Al Segal
Shelby American Carroll Shelby
Spalding Products Tom Spalding
Speed-A-Motive Harold Osborne
Thomas Automotive Products Bill Thomas
Traction Master Company Maury Leventhal
W&H Engineering Bob Wyman

Former Chairmen

Chairman Company Period
(years))
Jim Cozzie Certus Strategic Partners [when?]
Mitch Williams Pilot Automotive Inc. ?
Corky Coker Coker Tire Company ?
Nate Shelton B&M Automotive ?
Charlie Van Cleve Hedman Manufacturing Inc. ?
Brian Appelgate B&M Automotive ?
Ronald Coleman Competition Cams, Inc. ?

SEMA show[]

SEMA 2009 Kia Motors

The exhibit hall of the 2009 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world[citation needed]. It draws the industry’s newest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 visitors from over 100 countries in the automotive, truck and SUV, and RV markets.[citation needed] SEMA Show 2010 drew over 50,000 domestic and international buyers through two million square feet of exhibits.[citation needed] The displays are segmented into 12 sections, and a New Products Showcase featured nearly 2,000 newly introduced parts, tools and components. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more. The next Show takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, from Tuesday, November 1 to Friday November 4, 2011.

SEMA awards[]

Since 2003, the GT awards have been presented at the SEMA Auto Convention, and these include categories such as Best in Show, Best Hot Rod and Best European Import.[1][2][3]

SEMA Action Network[]

Since 1997, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) has been a grassroots network for the automotive hobby. The SEMA Action Network is a partnership between enthusiasts, vehicle clubs and members of the specialty automotive parts industry in the United States and Canada who have joined forces to promote automotive hobby-friendly legislation and oppose, what they consider, unfair laws.

In the past, the SAN has successfully:[citation needed]

  • Enacted street rod and custom vehicle (including kit cars and replicas) registration and titling laws in over 20 states
  • Protected classic vehicles waiting to be restored on private property from confiscation
  • Safeguarded legal off-road nitrous oxide use with SAN model legislation
  • Defended enthusiast’s right to use aftermarket exhaust systems
  • Junked state level “Cash for Clunkers” legislation
  • Enacted legislation to lower taxes and fees for hobbyist vehicles
  • Advocated to ensure public lands remain open to responsible off-road recreation

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

Advertisement