DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.09.25) – New research by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) sheds light on future and emerging trends impacting the automotive aftermarket, whose annual $337 billion economic impact is a key driver of the American economy.

The annual report delivers critical insights to SEMA’s 7,500 member businesses, which develop, manufacture, and market parts and accessories that improve safety, performance, and comfort for the nation’s automotive enthusiasts.

View the complete report here. Highlights and analysis of the report follow.

Industry and Economic Outlook

What’s Trending

• As we move further from the volatile pandemic era of sales growth spikes and downshifts, we should expect to see a more normal growth rate around 3%-4%, driven by:
  • Increased consumer spending on their vehicles.
  • A jump in sales and revenue expectations as interest rates improve and inflation cools.
  • Investments to diversify supply chains that pay dividends by preserving market stability.
• Challenges emerge from stagnant vehicle costs and interest rates, coupled with consumers fiscally stressed by cost increases for auto insurance and repairs.
  • Motor vehicle insurance jumped 14% for the 12 months preceding October 2024.
  • Costs of motor vehicle repair increase by 7.3% over the same period.
• Tariffs are an X factor and could dramatically increase costs and exert pressure on the automotive aftermarket industry.

SEMA Says
“A whole lot of our consumers took on vehicle projects and modifications during COVID, so you used up some of the demand that might have come a year or two later,” said Gavin Knapp, SEMA Director of Market Research. “Obviously, continuing inflation and high prices have also affected people, and there will be questions going forward about how long that will continue with possible tariffs and things like that. The expectation is we’ll stay at current growth levels in 2025 and then return to our industry’s usual 4%–5% growth rate next year and going forward.”

Vehicle Trends in the U.S.

What’s Trending

• Vehicle prices have stabilized, albeit at elevated levels, meaning continuously climbing inventory could drive down prices.
  • In October 2024, the average transaction price for a new vehicle was $48,117.
• Demand for electric vehicles will stall, with manufacturers adjusting accordingly.
• More cars will be equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and sensors, impacting how vehicle owners interact with their vehicles (including modifications and accessorizing).

SEMA Says
“As of last year, vehicle inventories had been climbing for a while, but there hasn’t been much demand,” noted Matt Byun, SEMA Market Research Manager. “If you keep getting cars on the lot, eventually you’re going to have to start selling them. But the surprise is OEMs aren’t lowering their costs. Instead, they’re scaling back their production a bit.”

Potential Tariff Impacts

What’s Trending

• Tariffs are a looming specter, with the potential to increase costs for OEMs, part manufacturers, and consumers.
• Most of the exposure is likely to small- and mid-sized parts manufacturers, who rely on international supply chains for some of their components and materials.
• Prices for parts affected by tariffs would be more extreme because of supply chains built around imports from Mexico and Canada, both of which are highly integrated into the U.S. auto industry.
• Between 2020-23, prices for parts imported to the U.S. increased 9%, due to higher prices for electrical and electronic equipment.
• Tariffs disproportionately impact businesses that pay upfront for goods and services, with small- and medium-sized companies potentially experiencing cash-flow issues, delayed payments, and reduced capacity and inventory.

SEMA Says
“It’s important to understand how President Donald Trump has historically used tariffs, which he sees as negotiating tools to create leverage against other nations on issues unrelated to trade, like immigration and defense spending,” said Karen Bailey-Chapman, SEMA Senior Vice President-Public & Government Affairs. “Tariffs with big numbers, like 25% or higher, are often introduced by President Trump at the negotiating table, or even publicly, but he also has shown a willingness to withdraw or suspend them when a deal is within reach. As a result, what you see in the headlines does not always materialize.”

Consumer Demographics

What’s Trending

• America is getting older but drivers are increasingly younger.
• There are more licensed drivers under the age of 25 today than there were two decades ago.
• Younger drivers are tapping into the used car market more frequently, due to rises in the cost of new vehicles.
• Young people drive the automotive accessories market and tend to live more enthusiast-oriented lifestyles.
• More than 60% of specialty-equipment sales in 2023 came from accessorizers under the age of 45.

SEMA Says
“If you look at the nation’s demographics, we are getting much, much older, and the 65-plus demographic is getting much larger,” Knapp said. “How that plays for our market is interesting. It keeps more cars on the road because there are more drivers over time. But that older demographic is also a lower-spending segment for our market. They have money but are less likely to wrench on their car.”

Alternative Powertrains and EVs

What’s Trending

• Automaker investments in electric vehicle (EV) powertrains persist, but consumer demands are spurring cuts in EV production.
• EVs continue to be viewed as luxury products, with the high upfront costs outweighing incentives in consumers’ minds.

SEMA Says
“The EV hype has been a bit overblown, and some of the electrification market’s growth has shifted into hybrids,” Knapp explained. “As Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda has said, for everything it takes to build one pure EV, you can make 10 hybrids, but it’s still an open question whether hybrids are an interim step or a long-term play.”

ADAS and Autonomous Vehicles

What’s Trending

• While fully self-driving vehicles remain a long way off, ADAS features are becoming increasingly prevalent in Americans’ vehicles.
  • While very few vehicles had automatic emergency braking capabilities in 2015, well over 90% of new vehicles from model year 2023 featured such system.
  • Automatic emergency braking, which was non-existent before 2015, can now be found in more than 67 million vehicles on the road.

View the complete report here. For more information, visit www.sema.org.

DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.07.25) – New research by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) sheds light on future and emerging trends impacting the automotive aftermarket, whose annual $337 billion economic impact is a key driver of the American economy.

The annual report delivers critical insights to SEMA’s 7,500 member businesses, which develop, manufacture, and market parts and accessories that improve safety, performance, and comfort for the nation’s automotive enthusiasts.

View the complete report here. Highlights and analysis of the report follow.

Industry and Economic Outlook

What’s Trending

• As we move further from the volatile pandemic era of sales growth spikes and downshifts, we should expect to see a more normal growth rate around 3%-4%, driven by:
  • Increased consumer spending on their vehicles.
  • A jump in sales and revenue expectations as interest rates improve and inflation cools.
  • Investments to diversify supply chains that pay dividends by preserving market stability.
• Challenges emerge from stagnant vehicle costs and interest rates, coupled with consumers fiscally stressed by cost increases for auto insurance and repairs.
  • Motor vehicle insurance jumped 14% for the 12 months preceding October 2024.
  • Costs of motor vehicle repair increase by 7.3% over the same period.
• Tariffs are an X factor and could dramatically increase costs and exert pressure on the automotive aftermarket industry.

SEMA Says
“A whole lot of our consumers took on vehicle projects and modifications during COVID, so you used up some of the demand that might have come a year or two later,” said Gavin Knapp, SEMA Director of Market Research. “Obviously, continuing inflation and high prices have also affected people, and there will be questions going forward about how long that will continue with possible tariffs and things like that. The expectation is we’ll stay at current growth levels in 2025 and then return to our industry’s usual 4%–5% growth rate next year and going forward.”

Vehicle Trends in the U.S.

What’s Trending

• Vehicle prices have stabilized, albeit at elevated levels, meaning continuously climbing inventory could drive down prices.
  • In October 2024, the average transaction price for a new vehicle was $48,117.
• Demand for electric vehicles will stall, with manufacturers adjusting accordingly.
• More cars will be equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and sensors, impacting how vehicle owners interact with their vehicles (including modifications and accessorizing).

SEMA Says
“As of last year, vehicle inventories had been climbing for a while, but there hasn’t been much demand,” noted Matt Byun, SEMA Market Research Manager. “If you keep getting cars on the lot, eventually you’re going to have to start selling them. But the surprise is OEMs aren’t lowering their costs. Instead, they’re scaling back their production a bit.”

Potential Tariff Impacts

What’s Trending

• Tariffs are a looming specter, with the potential to increase costs for OEMs, part manufacturers, and consumers.
• Most of the exposure is likely to small- and mid-sized parts manufacturers, who rely on international supply chains for some of their components and materials.
• Prices for parts affected by tariffs would be more extreme because of supply chains built around imports from Mexico and Canada, both of which are highly integrated into the U.S. auto industry.
• Between 2020-23, prices for parts imported to the U.S. increased 9%, due to higher prices for electrical and electronic equipment.
• Tariffs disproportionately impact businesses that pay upfront for goods and services, with small- and medium-sized companies potentially experiencing cash-flow issues, delayed payments, and reduced capacity and inventory.

SEMA Says
“It’s important to understand how President Donald Trump has historically used tariffs, which he sees as negotiating tools to create leverage against other nations on issues unrelated to trade, like immigration and defense spending,” said Karen Bailey-Chapman, SEMA Senior Vice President-Public & Government Affairs. “Tariffs with big numbers, like 25% or higher, are often introduced by President Trump at the negotiating table, or even publicly, but he also has shown a willingness to withdraw or suspend them when a deal is within reach. As a result, what you see in the headlines does not always materialize.”

Consumer Demographics

What’s Trending

• America is getting older but drivers are increasingly younger.
• There are more licensed drivers under the age of 25 today than there were two decades ago.
• Younger drivers are tapping into the used car market more frequently, due to rises in the cost of new vehicles.
• Young people drive the automotive accessories market and tend to live more enthusiast-oriented lifestyles.
• More than 60% of specialty-equipment sales in 2023 came from accessorizers under the age of 45.

SEMA Says
“If you look at the nation’s demographics, we are getting much, much older, and the 65-plus demographic is getting much larger,” Knapp said. “How that plays for our market is interesting. It keeps more cars on the road because there are more drivers over time. But that older demographic is also a lower-spending segment for our market. They have money but are less likely to wrench on their car.”

Alternative Powertrains and EVs

What’s Trending

• Automaker investments in electric vehicle (EV) powertrains persist, but consumer demands are spurring cuts in EV production.
• EVs continue to be viewed as luxury products, with the high upfront costs outweighing incentives in consumers’ minds.

SEMA Says
“The EV hype has been a bit overblown, and some of the electrification market’s growth has shifted into hybrids,” Knapp explained. “As Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda has said, for everything it takes to build one pure EV, you can make 10 hybrids, but it’s still an open question whether hybrids are an interim step or a long-term play.”

ADAS and Autonomous Vehicles

What’s Trending

• While fully self-driving vehicles remain a long way off, ADAS features are becoming increasingly prevalent in Americans’ vehicles.
  • While very few vehicles had automatic emergency braking capabilities in 2015, well over 90% of new vehicles from model year 2023 featured such system.
  • Automatic emergency braking, which was non-existent before 2015, can now be found in more than 67 million vehicles on the road.

View the complete report here. For more information, visit www.sema.org.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (02.07.25) – Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers set the bar with harder bass delivery that brings LOUD SOUND with deep lows. Designed for the audio enthusiast who demands nothing, but the best, ALL-NEW Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers combine unmatched power, precision, and durability, offering an immersive bass-hitting experience felt like never before. Get ready to hear more bass where you need it the most with shallow subwoofer performance innovated through POWER FROM THE GODS.

ABOUT THE HIFONICS HEW SHALLOW SUBWOOFER LINE

Bringing a BIGGER PUNCH in your bass game – HEW shallow subwoofers bring out more from your sound. The entire line of ALL-NEW HEW shallow subwoofers includes 12-inch (HEW12D4S), 10-inch (HEW10D4S), and 8-inch (HEW8D4S) Ohm DVC shallow subwoofer sizes. Featuring vented aluminum former and butyl surround — there’s only less than 3 inches of mounting depth into your car audio install/setup – making every Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofer installation easy and simple.

Stainless Push & Insert feature secure electrical connections with a high-end fit and finish as UV-treated, Butyl rubber surround resists sun-fading and remains flexible during high power applications and listening sessions. Polyester and cotton-blended spider resists softening and sagging over time so you can enjoy many years of harder- hitting HEW bass performance. A stamped steel frame/venting allows for additional strength during high-volume bass passages to avoid flex in the frame – extending the life of Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers.

Durability and performance are at the heart of these ALL-NEW Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofer designs. With a completely rugged construction that includes heavy-duty materials and advanced cooling systems, these subwoofers are built to withstand the rigors of high-volume play and bass impact without compromising performance. Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers are crafted with innovative precision, featuring a unique cone design and high-excursion capabilities that ensure accurate sound reproduction with more consistent bass details.

Brian Sherman, Vice President of Product and Marketing, said, “Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers are constructed to last and provide consistent and dependable bass gains that bring out more to every song. I am excited to see the flexibility that these shallow subwoofers bring into every Hifonics car audio installation and setup.”

Alden Stiefel, President of Maxxsonics, said, “We are excited to be offering this new line of Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers that feature incredible bass performance and reliability into every vehicle installation or setup. The HEW shallow subwoofer series will redefine your expectation for even the tightest subwoofer installations and will bring your audio gains to life with heavier bass impact.”

Hifonics HEW shallow subwoofers ARE HERE! Please make sure to contact your sales representative or customer service at 847-540-7700 immediately to secure your order.

Full line details are available on the Hifonics website at https://hifonics.com/.

CERRITOS, CA (02.06.25) – SoundSkins Global, a leading innovator in high-performance sound dampening and insulation solutions for the 12V and automotive industries, is proud to announce OPUS Marketing Group as its new sales representative firm for the Mid-Atlantic region. This strategic partnership will expand SoundSkins’ reach and strengthen its presence across key markets, including New Jersey, South East Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

OPUS Marketing Group brings decades of expertise in 12V, mobile electronics, and automotive aftermarket sales, providing top-tier representation for premium brands. Their extensive network and deep industry knowledge align perfectly with SoundSkins’ mission to deliver best-in-class soundproofing solutions to retailers, installers, and distributors throughout the region.

“We are excited to partner with OPUS Marketing Group to continue growing the SoundSkins brand in the Mid-Atlantic market,” said Dennis Garcia, COO at SoundSkins Global. “Their proven track record in the 12V industry and commitment to excellence make them the ideal partner to support our expansion efforts and enhance dealer relationships in this key territory.”

With this new collaboration, SoundSkins Global will leverage OPUS Marketing Group’s expertise to streamline dealer support, improve product accessibility, and drive brand awareness across the Mid-Atlantic region.

For more information about SoundSkins Global and its product lineup, visit www.soundskinsglobal.com.

NEW YORK, NY (03.06.25) – SiriusXM announced its extensive programming plans for Super Bowl LIX Week – February 3-9 – in New Orleans, Louisiana. SiriusXM listeners will have access to multiple broadcasts of the game, a dedicated Super Bowl pop-up channel and special exclusive sports and entertainment programming live from Media Row in The Big Easy.

On Super Bowl Sunday, February 9 (6:30 pm ET), SiriusXM will offer multiple live broadcasts of Super Bowl LIX from Caesars Superdome. Listeners can tune in to the team broadcasts from the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, the Westwood One national radio broadcast and a Spanish-language broadcast. Channels can be found at SiriusXM.com/NFLschedule.

Super Bowl game broadcasts – as well as SiriusXM programming airing throughout Super Bowl Week – are available to subscribers in SiriusXM-enabled vehicles and on the SiriusXM app.

During the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, SiriusXM will offer listeners the broadcast of the on-field musical performance by Kendrick Lamar. Listeners can hear it live on Hip-Hop Nation (SiriusXM 44) and Super Bowl LIX Radio (SiriusXM 106).

SiriusXM’s 24/7 NFL channel – SiriusXM NFL Radio (SiriusXM 88) – will broadcast live from Media Row at the New Orleans Convention Center each day of Super Bowl Week. SiriusXM NFL Radio hosts in New Orleans will include Rich Gannon, Alex Smith, Jim Miller, Pat Kirwan, Kirk Morrison, Solomon Wilcots, Patrick Peterson, Ed McCaffrey, Max Starks, Tim Brown, Amber Theoharis and Bruce Murray.

Listeners will also get live coverage of special Super Bowl Week events including Super Bowl LIX Opening Night tonight Feb. 3, the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Feb. 6, and live postgame coverage from the stadium after the Super Bowl. Also on Feb. 6, SiriusXM NFL Radio will have live interviews from the red carpet before the annual NFL Honors event that salutes the top performers of the 2024 season, including the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide, the AP Most Valuable Player and AP Coach of the Year.

Super Bowl LIX Radio launches as a special week-long pop-up channel on Monday, Feb. 3 on SiriusXM channel 106 and on the SiriusXM app. The channel will be hosted by former NFL running back and Louisiana native Jacob Hester. Hester, who is also a host for the SiriusXM College Sports Radio channel, will conduct interviews with players and personalities throughout the week, and highlight the many aspects of Super Bowl Week for listeners around the country, from the game to the Super Bowl city’s unique culture, food, music and more. The channel will also be a source for fans who want info on the NFL activities happening in New Orleans and game day specifics on transportation, stadium security and more. Super Bowl LIX Radio’s daily show, “Super Bowl Drive,” will also be available on the NFL One Pass app throughout Super Bowl Week for users in New Orleans.

SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio channel, headlined by Radio Hall of Famer Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo, will broadcast live from SiriusXM’s Media Row set at the New Orleans Convention Center throughout the week, featuring shows hosted by Russo, Damon Amendolara, Mike Babchik, Adam Schein, Michelle Beadle, Cody Decker and Steve Torre.

In addition to its sports channels, SiriusXM brings an exciting lineup of entertainment and talk programming to New Orleans for Super Bowl Week:

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models Camille Kostek, Christen Goff, Jena Sims, Katie Austin and Brooks Nader will host a special SiriusXM broadcast on Media Row on Friday at 10 am ET/9 am CT that will feature special guests. The show will air on Super Bowl LIX Radio that night at 7 pm ET/6 pm CT.
Nikki and Brie Garcia will host a Super Bowl Week episode of their SiriusXM podcast, “The Nikki & Brie Show,” on Media Row on Friday at 1 pm ET/noon CT.

“This Is Happening with Mark Zito and Ryan Sampson,” on SiriusXM Faction Talk (SiriusXM 103), will originate from Media Row throughout the week.

Jacob Hester will also host his college sports show, “Off Campus,” heard on SiriusXM College Sports Radio (SiriusXM 84), from Media Row weekdays at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT.

The SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio show “Fantasy Life,” hosted by Kendall Valenzuela and Adam Ronis, will air live from Media Row each weekday at 1 pm ET/noon CT (SiriusXM 87).

Adam Schein will host his VSiN show from the SiriusXM set on Media Row each weekday at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT (SiriusXM 158).

On SportsGrid Radio (SiriusXM 159), “Ferrall Coast to Coast,” hosted by Scott Ferrall, will air from SiriusXM’s Media Row set each weekday at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT.

Additionally, SiriusXM announced last month that 10-time GRAMMY award winning singer, songwriter and musician Chris Stapleton will perform an exclusive concert on February 6 at The Fillmore in New Orleans. The country superstar will perform songs from across his acclaimed catalogue, including his latest album, the Grammy-nominated Higher. The performance will air on SiriusXM’s Chris Stapleton Radio (SiriusXM 63), an exclusive channel curated and presented by Stapleton and his band. Pandora listeners can access the Chris Stapleton Radio station HERE.

Visit siriusxm.com for more.