RINGWOOD, IL (05.10.23) – Race Sport Lighting released their New AKIT18 18-piece Ambient Vehicle Lighting Kit in Q1 and are now in full non-stop production in Q2. This unique and niche new interior ambient product is the perfect solution for a full lighting show on the interior of any vehicle. The 18pc retail kit comes with a momentary push button extension, multiple flexible acrylic light tubes for the doors and dash, door handle lights, door pocket lights and multiple Bluetooth door controllers for each door to keep in sync and reduce wiring. With Bluetooth controls, this amazing kit can do virtually hundreds of colors and chasing patterns on all 4 doors.
The kit has already been shipped out to hundreds of dealers recently and is in stock in dozens of distributors around the country. The product is attractively retail packaged and tells the story to the consumer for an easy retail sale. Dealers can make great money off not only the sale of the product, but the labor is great profit too! Professional installation is definitely recommended on this product and allow dealers to bill out several hours of labor to be estimated.
“The AKIT18 has been no surprise to have risen to the top of our nationwide seller rankings. It is an amazing ambient light kit that is priced right with good margins and tons of labor potential for thousands of our dealers nationwide. I have heard reports of dealers offering this kit to consumers at $1,000+ installed to get that European ambient light kit look flaunted on high end luxury cars. Now any vehicle can have this look with our AKIT18.” says Steven Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (05.10.23) – Three industry leaders are joining the prestigious SEMA Hall of Fame: Steve Ames of Ames Performance Engineering, John Iannotte of Kunzman & Associates, and Mitch Williams, who recently left StopTech Performance Brake Systems to join Rigid Industries.
Created in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame honors trailblazers who have significantly enhanced and contributed to the automotive industry. Its members are considered heroes, and each individual has a unique story to tell. The industry is invited to join in honoring the new SEMA Hall of Fame members during the 2023 SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in Anaheim, Calif., on July 21. More details on the inductees will be shared during the Gala.
Steve Ames: Having developed a fascination for cars at a young age, Steve Ames began drag racing after earning an engineering degree from Columbia University. He started in the parts business by traveling along the East Coast buying New Old Stock (NOS) parts. In 1976 he noticed that Pontiac parts were in particularly high demand and began focusing exclusively on such products. As business continued, Ames realized that demand for restoration parts outweighed that of NOS parts and launched Ames Performance Engineering. He expanded with other companies within the restoration industry, providing much-needed products for growing markets, and became an authoritative voice in the classic car industry. Ames is one of the original founders of SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO), was named ARMO’s Person of the Year in 2007, and is a recipient of the ARMO Lifetime Achievement Award. Ames passed away in December 2020.
John Iannotte: John Iannotte is among the industry’s most known and respected sales reps. As a teenager, he was the first-ever service rep for the Mr. Phone/Mr. Gasket organization. He continued his career playing a key role in the founding and growth of Bob Barker Marketing & Sales and for much of the success at the multi award-winning company Kunzman & Associates. An active member and supporter of the SEMA Manufacturers’ Rep Council (MRC), Iannotte advocated for and became one of the first certified professional manufacturers reps (CPMR) and pushed for standards throughout the industry. He served numerous terms on the SEMA Board of Directors, where he fought legislative issues involving manufacturing tax relief, pushed for industry data standards, supported philanthropic activities, and promoted ongoing education and training throughout the industry. Iannotte continues to serve as a sales rep for Kunzman & Associates, as well as volunteer his time and expertise to many industry initiatives.
Mitch Williams: Mitch Williams has nearly 40 years of industry experience, including six terms on the SEMA Board of Directors – one as SEMA Chairman of the Board. As such, he introduced lean concepts to SEMA and expanded SEMA’s global influence by founding the SEMA International Task Force to connect SEMA members with international business opportunities. He also served on the Joint Operating Committee, providing oversight to the SEMA Show and its partner show, AAPEX. He was a charter member of the SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) and personally lobbied members of Congress on important industry issues. Williams founded the SEMA Lighting Task Force at a time when NHTSA was targeting lighting companies. In addition to nearly 20 years with Hella, Williams held executive positions with Original One Auto Parts, Restoration Parts Unlimited, APR, Dinan Corp., Xstream Trucking, StopTech, and recently joined Rigid Industries as its president.
Ames, Iannotte, and Williams will be formally introduced during the 2023 SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in Anaheim, Calif., on July 21, at which time newly elected and outgoing SEMA Board members will also be honored. All SEMA members and industry professionals are invited to join the celebration by purchasing tickets at www.sema.org/gala.
CLEARWATER, FL (05.09.23) – AudioControl, the award-winning company with a 45+ year history of designing and building superb audio equipment from scratch, today announced it has officially entered the subwoofer and speaker categories. This allows car and music enthusiasts alike to overhaul their vehicles with a complete upgraded audio system.
AudioControl will now feature a full line of analog and digital signal processors for OEM and aftermarket audio systems with the newest additions; two lines of subwoofers and a line of speakers of various sizes.
Space Series, Big Bass in a Small Space
AudioControl’s Space series of subwoofers are built with a structurally rigid low-profile basket, providing the ultimate solution for deep, rich bass in a sleek, and slim design. Its fiber matrix injection molded polypropylene cone ensures durability for even the most rugged environments. They include a heavy-duty voice coil with thermal efficient cooling design to prevent overheating even when the music gets hot. The Space series provides the complete solution with removable metal subwoofer grille for protecting the precious sound cargo. Available in 10” and 12” sizes.
Spike Series, Bring Your Music to Life in Style
Beautifully crafted to provide clear, precise bass for an immersive listening experience. These subwoofers feature a heavy-duty rigid basket for reduced resonance and distortion to ensure the cleanest possible bass output. An internally designed radial cooled motor enhances the life of the speaker, and high-excursion, double-stitched surround combined with a fiber matrix, mica coated paper cone produces ultra-low frequency output. A dual dust cap system for enclosure compression control, provides stability for better sound. Each Spike subwoofer comes with a protective grille to keep it safe from damage, so you can enjoy your journey with peace of mind. Available in 8”, 10”, and 12” sizes.
Pacific Northwest Speaker Series, Unleash a New Auditory Adventure
The Pacific Northwest is a music and tech nirvana. A region known for cool sound and earth-shattering innovation. That’s why it’s no surprise PNW is home to AudioControl, and the name of our new speaker line. The PNW line features an edge-enhanced steel frame for ultimate structural strength and a linear double-roll surround for precise cone movement ensuring the purest sound.
“This launch is the result of extensive technical research, precise design, and pure enthusiast development,” said Herb Brown, President of North America, AAMP Global (parent company of AudioControl). “The speakers and woofers capture what we feel AudioControl customers have grown to expect from this industry-leading brand. Our design team of audio specialists and developers labored over every small detail, down to the nomenclature which is a direct tie to its Seattle heritage.”
The new line of speakers and subwoofers can be seen and heard at the upcoming KnowledgeFest in Orlando, on Friday 19 – 21, May, booth #611. There will be 5 different training sessions where dealers can learn more about the capabilities of these new lines. Additionally, the products will be debuted on the Five Star Car Stereo Live Show on Monday 8 May at 6:30pm ET on Facebook and YouTube. For more information, watch the launch video here or visit audiocontrol.com/spike-and-space. Contact your local AudioControl rep to place an order today!
AUBURN HILLS, MI (05.09.23) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) today launched “Alpine Park” on Roblox, a mass multiplayer platform with over 200 million active users each month. This virtual experience, designed in collaboration with Trigger XR and Stage3 Agency, expands the Alpine brand presence and reaches a younger audience of audio enthusiasts.
“The Alpine Park on Roblox represents the future of the Alpine brand and a new way to experience Alpine products and services,” said Mike Anderson, Executive Director at Alps Alpine North America. “Using this immersive gaming and social platform, we’re able to showcase iconic Alpine imagery and products that long-time Alpine fans will recognize, while at the same time, incorporating new and exciting experiences that will engage a younger fan.”
With Alpine’s entrance into this virtual world, the younger generation, who statistically would not experience the brand until an older age, can now experience Alpine in an exciting and approachable format that’s tailored to their interests. Users can play games, purchase in-game gear inspired by the current Alpine product line and interact with Alpine products in an immersive environment designed for music, outdoor, and adventure enthusiasts – in other words, “Alpine fans.”
Bridging the Gap through Gameplay
Roblox was identified as the target platform for this virtual Alpine Park experience for its gaming and interactive feature offerings in addition to its vast user base of Generation Alpha (ages 13+) and Generation Z (ages 16 – 25).
The park includes a gameplay experience where users can collect iconic chiclets and music gems to purchase in-game items from the Alpine store (located in various areas of the park). The in-game items, like an Alpine Subwoofer jetpack and a Green Chiclet Tee Shirt, are modeled after real Alpine products to bridge the gap between virtual and reality.
Outside of the gameplay, Alpine Park features a “playground” area staged with real products from the Alpine lineup scaled to larger-than-life sizes as a unique way for users to interact with and learn about Alpine product offerings. The park also features a “showroom” floor that’s modeled after an Alpine Experience Event, where users can experience virtual models of real Alpine demo vehicles, like “Hellbender,” the 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport with a tee shirt cannon, “Switchback,” the 2019 Jeep Gladiator with a mechanized truck bed with 40 oscillating Bluetooth speakers, and the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado with the Legendary Alpine R-Series sound system. Outside of the demo vehicle placement, Alpine plans to utilize the showroom floor to reveal upcoming products and services to its user base, connecting virtual users to actual Alpine products and initiatives outside of the game.
Future updates to the Alpine Park experience include AI (artificial intelligence) Personas modeled after Alpine Brand Specialists and Jeep Enthusiasts as NPC (non-playable characters). These characters are powered by Inworld AI, a developer platform for AI characters. The integration allows users to chat with the AI characters about Alpine’s technology and fandom, using custom knowledge bases and distinct personalities designed to align with the Alpine brand. This technology would position Alpine as the first commercialized brand to launch this feature on Roblox.
Roblox can be accessed online on a computer or PC, a smartphone via Google Play or the App Store, an Xbox gaming system, or a VR headset. Alpine Park can be found by searching “Alpine Park” on the Roblox platform or at https://www.roblox.com/games/12956278832/Alpine-Park.
SYMRNA, GA (05.09.23) – The PowerBass training at the Next Level Distribution in Smyrna GA, in their new studio, was a hit with many dealers in attendance and the with online webinar. This was the company’s first live-streamed presentation since completing their amazing in-house studio.
“We had an amazing time breaking in our new fully integrated training facility and control room while being able to train our PowerBass customers in person and remotely on the webinar on May 3rd! It was terrific to have Erik Harbour and Jeff Falk in the house to deliver the PowerBass message,” Mark Garijanian, Next Level Director of Marketing, stated.
Erik Harbour addresses the in-house attendees during his portion of the PowerBass presentation.
Jeff Falk covers the company’s SoundBar category during his presentation.
Harbour, PowerBass VP, traveled from the company’s Los Angeles area HQ while Falk, National Sales Manager, traveled from his Florida field office. Both spent time on the stage to deliver the latest across the PowerBass lineup. Area representative Richie Holtzman, Tech Marketing, also attended the PowerBass training presentation. “Next Level is doing a super job in their territories with PowerBass. Their ability to deliver the PowerBass message, utilizing the new studio, will increase their ability to connect with 12volt retailers,” Harbour stated.
The Next Level presentation look from the control station.
Massive monitors are mounted on the rear wall of the studio.
“We want to bring our training not just to a select group of local dealers but all of our 12volt dealer base! If you are a 12volt dealer and want a recording of this PowerBass training let your Next Level sales rep know. More exciting events to come so be on the look out,” Garijanian concluded.
This PowerBass webinar graphic was posted on digital platforms to let Next Level dealers to tune in for the latest from PowerBass.
SHREVEPORT, LA (05.08.23) – In today’s world, and the 12volt world, it’s hard to find positive news. The 12volt News, and the 12volt Central Studios staffs, work to deliver positive industry news each business day. Creating the 12voltSTP Tool was another example of making it easy for industry members to deliver their company’s brand and activities to members of the 12volt industry.
The 2023 Rock The House 7-City Tour packed the house in Detroit at the first stop on May 4th.
Michael Foundation stopped the Throttle Monkey rig in Colorado for fuel and snacks during the 1750 mile trip to SoCal for a motorcycle audio competition.
The images below are examples of the 12volt STP Tool at work in just the last 5 days. There will be much more to come as coverage of the events will be expanded.
The 12volt STP Tool makes it easier than ever for industry members and companies to showcase positive activities and products. Snap..Txt..Presto.. your company’s positive news and activities could be in the news. 318-465-0844 is the number. With the advent of social media, Facebook and Instagram platforms became key vehicles to deliver information and news. The fact remains people still need, and look forward to, receiving positive news. That is also true for the business realm that includes the 12volt Industry.
Jeremy Foss connected dealers on their Jensen Journey on Sunday at the SSR Dealer Show in Dallas.
Today, a vast percentage of people spend hours and hours on their mobile devices each day. Reports are the average person spends 7 hours a day on their smartphone.
To deliver fresh industry news to members of the mobile electronics industry the 12volt Central Studios makes multiple posts on Instagram and Facebook each business day. The 12volt STP Tool was created in 2020 for members of the 12volt industry to send their news to the 12volt Central Studios. Snap and Txt an image to 318-465-0844. Presto, your positive news could be delivered to members of the 12volt industry.
Jeff Falk, PowerBass National Sales Manager, showed off the PS200 motorcycle handlebar speakers at the SSR Show in Dallas May 7th.
Snap. Text. Presto!
Look forward to seeing your company’s brand and activities with a 12voltSTP Tool in the 12volt News.
ST. LOUIS, MO (05.08.23) – Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has just opened its first of three planned locations in the state of Missouri.
Tint World® St. Charles, owned by father and son team Andy and Drew Gladstein, offers drivers throughout the northwestern St. Louis area premium automotive style and performance services and a comprehensive selection of top aftermarket products from the most popular brands.
“We’re excited to have opened our first of three Tint World centers in St. Charles and the surrounding areas to enhance our customers’ automotive experience with the industry’s best selection of products and services provided by a team of trained expert technicians and installers,” Andy Gladstein said. “Our customers recognize that Tint World® is their one-stop provider of ultra-premium window tint, paint protection film, Nano ceramic coatings, audio and mobile electronics, performance upgrades, and safety and security technology. Tint World® is also a leading provider of residential and commercial window films and is looking forward to helping make homes and businesses in the area more comfortable and efficient while saving on their energy, heating, and cooling costs.”
Tint World® St. Charles, located at 2801 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles, Missouri 63303, serves Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Saint Peters, Hazelwood, Saint Ann, Florissant, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Lake St. Louis, and O’Fallon. To book an appointment, request a quote, or find out more about the store and its products and services, call (636) 329-4151 or visit https://www.tintworld.com/locations/mo/st-charles-124/.
“Andy’s dedication and passion are delivering unmatched value and driving successful relationships with Tint World® customers throughout the St. Charles area,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World®. “He’s proven to be an important addition to the Tint World® family by leveraging our proven, innovative franchise system and embracing our vision for franchisee success and overall growth.”
BEND, OR (05.08.23) – Industry Veteran Glenn McCarthy jumps back into the 12-Volt world in the cockpit of his new KIA EV6 GT.
When McCarthy formed CE Global Pro, a PNW Representative firm, he approached windshield time and on the road expense in a new way. “I am thrilled to be doing what I love, which is selling, and am excited to be able to do it in these picturesque states of Washington and Oregon,” McCarthy stated.
McCarthy hits the road in his KIA EV6 GT that is totally set up to be a remote office as he makes 40 minute stops at charging stations on the road in the picturesque PNW.
McCarthy hit the road behind the wheel of a new KIA EV6 GT. “I plan to be on the road a lot seeing dealers. The PNW is an environmentally friendly region of the US. With the move to Electric Vehicles, and the high price of fuel, it was a natural to investigate an EV.”
Continuing, “I made the decision to buy a new KIA EV6 GT as it saves a ton on fuel cost but requires time at charging stations on the road.To make that charging time productive I added gear in the cockpit were I can stay totally connected and productive for that 40 minutes or so of charging time. I even added a printer in the trunk. With the amazing landscape in the PNW each charging stop can offer a wonderfully refreshing view.”
Cicada Audio was the first 12volt company to appoint McCarthy in the PNW region to drive their brand through motorcycle, UTV and other applicable resellers.
“We are very excited to have Glenn representing Cicada Audio in the top west corner of the USA”, Cicada Audio’s Director of Sales Marty Deane, commented. “We are growing and always need top professionals like McCarthy in the field. We look forward to growing with Glenn’s venture,” Deane stated.
Look for much more coming from CE Global Pro in the PNW with Cicada Audio!
DETROIT, MI (05.05.23) – The Progressive Group powers the annual Rock The House Tour and the 2023 Tour got off to a fast start at the company’s Detroit facility. A very large tent provided ample space for a meeting area, area for tables for the Go Blue BBQ lunch plus a spot for “DJ Marlow The Entertainer” to entertain attendees with live performances…..protection too from the unpredictable Detroit weather.
As soon as the doors opened dealers were in the aisles checking out booths from nearly 3 dozen brands.
Dealers enjoy a delicious plate lunch from the Go Blue BBQ smoker in the background.
Smoked brisket is prepared for plate lunches by the Go Blue BBQ chef.
“DJ Marlow The Entertainment” set up his system under the tent and perform live for attendees.
Check out this great custom Go Blue BBQ Smoker
The broad ATG (Audio To Go) product lineup it’s showcased on warehouse shelving.
Kenwood products ready for all to check out.
Jason Dubie, Director of Business-Midwest, related “Dealers started to arrive early and the action was still going strong late in the afternoon. Throughout the day dealers moved around the event enjoying drinks, picking up gift bags, keeping an ear out for raffles and taking advantage of specials. Connecting with our vendor staffs, fellow dealers and our team happened all day. When they smelled the Go Blue BBQ it was certainly time for a fresh, delicious BBQ plate lunch off the Go Blue BBQ smoker just outside the tent.”
In addition special companies AAMP, Kenwood, Rockford Fosgate, VOXX and Wet Sounds were in the house throughout the event.
The next date on the 2023 Rock the House Tour will be May 11th with separate events in Salt Lake City and Denver.
LIBERTYVILLE, IL (05.05.23) – MB Quart Jeep Tuned Audio is about to receive a major upgrade in superior listening and playback. ALL-NEW for 2023 Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars bring more audio into every song with incredible listening details, richer clarity in every beat, and undistorted higher volumes of playback and sound. Perfect for unleashing MORE LOUD on every outdoor Jeep adventure that demands more concert thrills around every turn and corner – Jeep Tuned Audio Rear Overhead Soundbars add another dimension of audio quality to Jeep Wrangler (JL) and Jeep Gladiator (JT) vehicles. It’s time to embrace more from MB Quart Jeep Tuned Audio with a listening experience that encapsulates sound and transforms listening details into deeper layers of audio!
Brian Sherman, Vice President of Product and Marketing, said, “Although we’re not the first to enter the Jeep market with a replacement soundbar, we’re definitely the best. These are the most low-profile designs on the market and require no modifications to the vehicle to install. The factory match in-mold texture looks right at home in any JL Wrangler or JT Gladiator, and the sound is amazing! We’re very proud of the effort the entire team put forth on this project!”
Five Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbar models are available to choose from that best fits your Jeep vehicle (Wrangler JL/Gladiator JT) audio installation and setup. The MBQJ-48HRGB and MBQJ-48H feature 8-inch compression horn speakers with an enclosure, but the MBQJ-48HRGB also includes RGB LED lighting to bring the concert to life with moving colors to showcase an in-vehicle concert right in your Jeep vehicle. Designed to directly replace and upgrade the OEM rear speaker soundbar, both of these rear overhead soundbars bring to life every genre of audio with incredible details.
The MBQJ-48CRGB and MBQJ-48C MB Quart Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars feature 8-inch coaxial speakers with an enclosure (like the MBQJ-48HRGB), but the MBQJ-48CRGB also includes RGB LED lighting. The MBQJ-48C still features 8-inch coaxial speakers with the enclosure.
The MBQJ-48E includes no speakers but fits four 8-inch round speakers. This model is just the rear soundbar enclosure and fits where the OEM rear speaker soundbar is on Jeep (Wrangler JL/Gladiator JT) vehicles.
Chad Marra, R & D Manager, commented, “The sound on these Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars bring out more detail and clarity within music. Installation is a breeze and easy with Plug and Play installation with no cutting of the vehicle or factory panels. These are some of the best speakers that MB Quart has to offer, and I am blown away at the quality and performance of sound quality. Hats off to the entire team!”
Alden Stiefel, President of Maxxsonics, mentioned, “These all-new Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars create rich and deeper playback that truly takes the listener into every song. I am extremely happy for the team for all their hard work and dedication to making these Jeep Tuned Rear Overhead Soundbars the perfect addition to every MB Quart Jeep Tuned audio installation. I have these in my own Jeep Gladiator, and they sound incredible!”
Get ready for Jeep Tuned Audio to become infused with adventure adrenaline in every beat and HEAR MORE SOUND. With ALL-NEW Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars – audio will transform into deeper dimensions of higher quality playback, superior soundscapes of more detail, and incredible levels of listening immersion.
Audio was meant to be heard in crystal clarity within every beat. Hear more of your sound with a rear soundbar that transforms Jeep Tuned playback into an encompassing concert right in your Jeep JL/JT vehicle. A BIGGER SOUNDSTAGE STARTS NOW!
For a complete breakdown of the ALL-NEW MB Quart Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars, head to the MB Quart website at https://mbquart.com/.
MAKE SURE to contact your Maxxsonics Sales Representative NOW as orders for the ALL-NEW MB Quart Jeep Rear Overhead Soundbars are GOING FAST!
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