DIAMOND BAR, CA (04.08.2021) – Just about any vehicle on the road can be modified with aftermarket parts. However, with more than 281 million vehicles currently on the road in the United States, knowing where the greatest opportunities for customization are can be challenging. In the new “SEMA Vehicle Landscape Report,” the SEMA Market Research team looks at changes in the vehicle landscape, where the greatest opportunities are for the aftermarket industry and trends that may impact businesses.
What does the current vehicle landscape look like? What are the latest trends? Where is the opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry moving forward? The SEMA report answers these questions and more. Readers will find:
An overview of the current vehicles on the road in the United States today.
New light-vehicle sales and powertrain projections.
The hottest models for the specialty-equipment industry.
The latest vehicle trends, including electrification and advanced vehicle technology.
ARLINGTON, VA (04.08.2021) - The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) will convene top government officials, technology leaders, entrepreneurs and policy experts to explore the relationship between innovation and public policies, while addressing major issues impacting U.S. competitiveness during CTA’s Tech Week, a digital event on April 14 and 15.
At CTA’s Tech Week, which consists of Innovation Policy Summit and Lobby Day, top innovators and policymakers will tackle top tech issues, including digital health, broadband access, self-driving vehicles, online speech, cybersecurity, trade and more. New this year, CTA will host Clubhouse chats on topics including digital health, Section 230 and autonomous transportation. CTA will also announce this year’s Digital Patriots, recognizing elected officials who champion policies and practices vital to innovation in consumer technology.
“We are excited to bring innovators and government officials together to discuss the future of U.S. tech policy,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “CTA and its members work closely with lawmakers to ensure streamlined policies and regulations that foster innovation. Over the last year especially, we have seen America’s technology companies step up to provide solutions for remote work, online education, telemedicine and more. America’s economic competitiveness and status as a global tech leader depend on smart pro-innovation policies.”
CTA Tech Week events include:
What Does the Future Hold for Section 230 and Online Speech? with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Digital Health and Emerging Technologies with Jeffrey Shuren, director, Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration
How Can Policymakers Unlock the Transformative Power of Self-Driving Vehicles? with Robert Hampshire, acting assistant secretary for research and technology, U.S. Department of Transportation and Melissa Froelich, director of government relations, Aurora
New White House, New Congress…New Trade Policy? with Jeff Werner, vice president of corporate and government affairs, Panasonic USA
Securing our Digital Future with Marjorie Dickman, chief government affairs and public policy officer, Blackberry
Connectivity in America with Courtney Reinhard, vice president of federal government relations, Verizon and John Godfrey, senior vice president of public policy, Samsung Electronics America
LAWTON, OK (04.07.2021) – The USACi 2020 World Finals, delayed by COVID-19, took place March 26th-28th in Lawton OK March 26th-28th 2021at the Comanche County Fairgrounds. Many of the loudest cars on the planet were on the event floor for SPL and Demos by competitors.
Large competitor awards placed on tables in front of the stage during set up.
“We had well over 75 entries and 14 new world records were set in the lanes. There was a spectator attendance of 500 plus and all at the event enjoyed getting out to see and hear the vehicles shake the hall,” Jenissa Lillard stated.
David Milian and Chet Teel were the Head Judges and all ran very smoothly in the lanes. Connie Cambron ran the 3X event. Richie Crum judged the Demo competition for Demo King, Hairtrick King, Show King and Lows King.
Boomin’ Audio/USACI judges Andy Teuscher (L) and Jeffrey Fernandez traveled to be onsite at the Finals.
Top competitors took home custom rings sponsored by APEX Audio and JJS. Jones N SPL sponsored the Demo Belts and Awards.
Wayne and Celise Harris, dB Drag Racing, made the trip up from Austin to ensure all the meters were updated and operated smoothly.
The Champions will be wearing these major rings sponsored by APEX Audio and JSS.
David MacDonald and Chris Schneider made the trip up from Austin also to meet with the USACi Team to coordinate the USACi event at the upcoming Spring Break Jam in South Padre April 24th and 25th.
Mel Valadez, representing AAMP Global in the territory, is all smiles with his First Place Stock 3K award.
Andy Teuscher traveled from Salt Lake City to be on site at the USACi Finals. Boomin’ Audio has a number of events scheduled for 2021 in the Utah marketplace.
The 2021 USACi World Finals will return to Lawton and be held March 25th-27th 2022.
EDMONTON, AB (04.07.2021) – Eleven Engineering, Inc. has announced that its SKAA Wireless Audio technology has been integrated into the new Wet Sounds AL-SR-V2 A-Link Plus wireless sending/receiving kit. The AL-SR-V2 is now available at the SKAA Store with an MSRP of $199.99.
“With a sleek design and vastly improved connectivity and range utilizing SKAA Wireless Audio technology, our new AL-SR-V2 is a must have for sharing audio signals,” said Gabe Sandoval, Program Director of Wet Sounds Product Development. “The new cradle/dock makes for simple mounting, while maximizing wireless range.”
With SKAA and the AL-SR-V2 A-Link Plus, you can now connect up to four units per one sending unit across multiple audio systems.
“With improved range, clarity, and performance thanks to SKAA, you can now share your audio signal up to 500 meters between links,” added Lee Teeples, VP of Wet Sounds Product Development. “We have also integrated a new connection harness including micro USB for charging, with 3.5mm input and output connections.”
Founded in 2005 by a team of highly skilled audio veterans, Wet Sounds is an award-winning, Texas-based marine audio company. Bringing a level of performance, style, and durability unparalleled in the audio industry, Wet Sounds’ marine stereo systems and equipment provide crisp, high-quality audio that’s loud enough to be heard whether you’re fishing a local pond, water skiing on a lake, or tubing on the ocean. Enjoy unparalleled protection from water damage with Wet Sounds’ state-of-the-art equipment.
SKAA is the new wireless HiFi audio standard developed by Eleven Engineering, Inc. SKAA transmitters work with iOS & Android mobile devices, Mac & Windows computers, televisions, and just about any product with a line output or a headphone jack. SKAA is also available as a built-in technology not requiring an external transmitter in purpose-designed partner products, which are featured at SKAA.com. In environments laden with heavy Wi-Fi and Bluetooth traffic, SKAA navigates through these hostile environments with best-in-class reliability. SKAA also allows for uninterrupted audio signals which are delivered with the highest sound quality to all speakers without the latency that is inherent in other wireless solutions.
“SKAA is the ideal wireless technology for Wet Sounds’ new AL-SR-V2 A-Link Plus,” explained Rex Whitehead, Eleven Engineering executive vice president, sales & marketing. “This is probably the best overall SKAA-integrated product on the market today thanks in large part to the combination of Wet Sounds’ and Eleven Engineering’s technologies in one package. Battery operated with great range, we see this being used in applications outside of marine and powersports, such as mobile DJ. We are proud to be a part of such a great product and application.”
With every application covered in the consumer and prosumer world, no other wireless solution comes close to delivering such a high level of coverage as SKAA, especially not WiFi-based audio nor Bluetooth.
“Highly flexible with rock solid reliability, SKAA also has great range and CD-quality sound,” Whitehead continued. “SKAA is ridiculously easy to use… all compatible products are ready to play right out of the box with no pairing required.”
AVON LAKE, OH (04.07.2021) – Keep things cool and quiet in your classic VW Bug with a new thermal and sound control kit specifically designed for Volkswagen Beetles from Design Engineering, Inc.
The VW Bug Interior Insulation & Sound Damping Kit reduces road noise for a quiet ride usually found only in big cars. Featuring DEI’s premium D-Mat insulation paired with Boom Mat sound-damping material, the kits are CNC-cut for a great fit and ease of installation.
“Achieve a more comfortable ride in a small package with these new kits for VW Bugs,” stated Mike Buca of DEI. “Custom cut to fit your Beetle’s specifications, these kits are easy to install and provide the proven benefits of DEI’s sound deadening and heat insulation materials.”
The ultra-lightweight D-Mat layer covers firewalls, headliners and other areas with a superior heat barrier, while the peel-and-stick Boom Mat material eliminates unwanted engine and road noise and damps vibrations.
Offering a precise fitment, the kits provide total noise and thermal protection for standard Beetle (1950-’72) Super Beetle (1971-’72) models (# 5510015).
For more information about the VW Bug Interior Insulation & Sound Damping Kit and DEI’s complete line of performance heat and sound control products, visit www.DesignEngineering.com.
METAIRIE, LA (04.06.2021) – Oracle Lighting has launched the new Rear Bumper LED Reverse Lights for Jeep Gladiator JT (p/n 5878-504). Scheduled to release April 20, 2021, these new reverse lights have an MSRP of $149.95 per pair.
Unsatisfied with the visibility of your Jeep Gladiator reverse lighting when backing up at night? Then replace the factory bumper reflectors with high-output replacement auxiliary LED reverse lights from Oracle Lighting. This reverse light design seamlessly integrates into the bumper reflector area to provide more than 1,500 additional lumens when backing up in a Jeep Gladiator.
“We noticed a consensus of Gladiator owners who had the same problem…complaints of low visibility when backing up at night,” said Justin Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting director of development. “Many tried to supplement with auxiliary lights and light bars which just did not fit, had limited ground clearance, and just looked out-of-place. We immediately saw an opportunity to use our expertise to provide a functional integrated solution.”
Designed for function and durability, these lights feature an aluminum housing with PMMA lens while also maintaining the rear reflector function with a scaled-down version integrated into the housing.
These compact lights pack a big punch with a total of 30 high-powered LEDs to add additional lighting to improve your Jeep Gladiator reverse visibility. They come ready to install out of the box, ensuring that you will have rear visibility in your Jeep Gladiator when it matters. Installation uses factory mounting hardware, and these lights tie into the rear light wiring with the included T-taps or with the optional Plug-and-Play adapter (p/n 5881-504) for even easier installation.
Additional features and specifications include:
Connects to existing reverse light power source without error code
Integrated rear reflector for OE appearance and function
Total of 30 high-powered LEDs with 3,000 raw Lumen output
Aluminum housing with black powder coat finish
Optic-focused beam pattern for an extended field of view
Louisiana-based Oracle Lighting has been designing innovative lighting products and technologies for the automotive/12Volt, powersports, motorcycle, and marine markets since 1999. Oracle’s philosophy is this: in today’s world of fly-by-night vendors, we think it is important to partner with businesses that you can trust to be there for you today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
HOLLY HILL FL (04.06.2021) – Daytona Lights by Metra Electronics has introduced new LED lighting products in different styles and options, designed to provide affordable vehicle lighting that doesn’t compromise performance. For extra visibility at night, two new styles of cube lights and three additional LED driving lights have been designed for better illumination and lighting coverage using a low current draw that doesn’t drain the battery. Single-color LED rock lights are available in four different colors that can go inside or outside of a vehicle. Daytona Lights has also introduced four different RGB strip light kits that have been tailored in size, length, and quantity to fit the most commonly requested installations. These new products are in stock and shipping now.
Driving and Cube Lights:
LED Cube Lights
The DL-CL2 is a set of two 5D spot lights with an impressive output for its small size. Drivers can see farther with a highly controlled spot light beam pattern that projects light at a much greater distance than what a standalone lens or reflector design can do. The 5D spot light produces a powerful 2,520 lumens combined from both of the six LEDs on each cube.
To get the best of both worlds, the new 140-degree dual-zone cube light set, the DL-CL3, allows the driver to control the center spot light and side flood lights independently. The light output can be adjusted when and where it is needed for a highly versatile solution that can illuminate an off-road trail, wide-open area, or long dark road. This set of two cube lights produces 2,520 lumens from the 72-watts of combined lighting, with twelve LEDs per cube. The ability to control the spot and flood lights separately make this set ideal for a wide range of driving environments.
LED Driving Lights
The DL-DL1 is a set of traditionally styled driving lights with a crisp ten-degree spot beam pattern and twenty LEDs, designed to complement any primary lighting system. They mount with a lower bracket located in the center and the set of two lights produce a combined total of 2,880 lumens using 40 watts.
For off-roading, new four-inch lights are available in square (DL-DL4S) and round (DL-DL4R) options, sold as a set of two lights with nine LEDs each. These lights have been designed with a medium 60-degree flood beam pattern to illuminate the immediate area while still shining ample light down the trail. Each set produces a combined total of 3,510 lumens of light using 54 watts.
Single-Color Rock Lights
New rock lights are available in white (DL-ROCKW), green (DL-ROCKG), blue (DL-ROCKB), and red (DL-ROCKR), sold as a two-pack. The rock lights are rated IP67 with metal housing for a resilient lighting solution that can go inside or outside—withstanding the elements for use under the vehicle, inside wheel wells, engine bays, and more. It is easy to install with a two-wire connection and hardware is included with flat or curved mounting bases that work on a variety of surfaces. Each 3.6-watt rock light has three 2525 LEDs for an affordable but bright accent lighting solution that adds flair to any vehicle’s interior or exterior.
RGB LED Strip Light Kits:
RGB Strip Lighting Kits
Four new RGB strip lighting kits are designed for wheel wells, underbody, or interior lighting in the most common installation sizes. The music controller with a key fob and card remote is included and there is an optional feature for brake light integration, which turns the LED lights red when braking. Installers can combine multiple kits in the DL-RGBK series to work with one key fob or card remote. These plug-n-play solutions are designed for the easiest possible installation with cigarette adapter or hardwire power options and no specialty tools required.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (05.06.2021) – SEMA Virtual Education remains committed to empowering industry professionals by sharing innovative strategies, information and learning through new and engaging webinars.
Mark your calendar for the following upcoming webinars and stay tuned to SEMA eNews as additional sessions are announced throughout the year. For a comprehensive library of upcoming and on-demand sessions that members can access anytime, visit www.sema.org/virtual-education.
Thursday, April 8 – Vehicle Landscape: Which Cars and Trucks are Hot? Track: Trends & Research Series: SEMA Industry Insight Series
Learn about the current vehicle landscape and emerging trends and opportunities in the automotive aftermarket industry as the SEMA Market Research team provides an overview of what vehicles are currently on the road, shifts in new vehicle sales and trends, and the hottest car and truck models for customization in the industry—followed by a live Q&A with the webinar speakers.
Wednesday, April 14 – Facebook Live Chat featuring Chris Blair, presented by SEMA YEN Track: Industry Talks
Tune in to a Facebook Live Chat featuring Chris Blair, executive vice president and general manager of World Wide Technology Raceway. Since joining WWTR in 2012, Blair has overseen the growth and development of the once-shuttered St. Louis track from a 150-acre, racing-only complex to a multi-purpose entertainment venue in excess of 600 acres. As host of the Facebook Live, Blair will discuss steps racetracks have taken to overcome the state lockdowns and their plans moving forward.
Wednesday, April 21 – Tire Knowledge 301: Common Causes of Balancing Process Errors and How to Avoid Them Track: Industry Segments, Powered by SEMA Councils and Networks Series: Wheel and Tire Industry Insights, Powered by WTC
Understanding causes for vehicle vibration and the mechanics of balanced vs. unbalanced tires is critical for helping tire professionals ensure their customers have a smooth ride, even tire wear and proper tire weight distribution around their vehicle. Learn about the common causes of balancing process errors, how to avoid them, and best practices to minimize customer vibration complaints.
MIDDLETOWN, CT (04.05. 2021) – GoFast Solutions, the northeast’s premier automotive aftermarket distributor is holding Mobile Expo 2021 on Wednesday, April 7th. The Mobile Expo has been an annual event in the Northeast where automotive aftermarket specialists, technicians, salespeople, and business owners get the opportunity to meet face to face and learn about what’s new in our industry directly from key manufacturers
Last season, GoFast Solutions carried on the valued tradition of serving the automotive specialist community in the northeastern part of the U.S. with a spectacular Mobile Expo at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 11th, 2020.
That turned out to be one of the last “live” events of 2020.
“While the tide is turning on the COVID19 pandemic, we’re still not out of the woods, and for the safety of our partners, our team & our community this year’s Mobile Expo will be virtual,” said David Prinz CEO GoFast Solutions. “On the plus side, with this event being virtual it allows folks that wouldn’t be able to make the journey or dedicate the time to attend an in-person event to be able to tune in and get a sense of what GoFast Solutions is all about”
Dave continues, “In light of current health concerns, it would have been easy to skip the Mobile Expo and put up the wait til next year sign in our window… but, after an internal discussion with our sales team, we felt the Mobile Expo was an important service to our customers that sets GoFast apart from the competition.”
Here is what you can expect during the 2021 Virtual Mobile Expo:
Representatives from 30 key manufacturers in our industry
Tech & Product Training
Virtual Expo Experience
Face to Face Meetings
Networking
New Product Education
Show Specials
Prizes!
Rewards!
The Virtual Mobile Expo is being held on an all-in-one platform. That means attendees can view Manufacturer Training Seminars, Visit Exhibitor Booths, Tour Show Vehicles, & Connect Face-to-Face all without leaving the GoFst.Live platform
IRVINE, CA (04.05.2021) – Elettromedia-USA is very pleased to announce the addition of Chris McNulty to head the Technical Assistance division. Mr. McNulty has been an installation technician, product trainer as well as business owner. He has been nominated and has won many individual 12volt industry nominations and awards.
Chris started in the industry in 1994 as a salesperson in Chantilly Virginia. He began his install career in 1997 and continued as a shop manager until 2001 when he started with XM Radio as a troubleshooting manager. After 1 year he wanted to get back to the bay, so he took a position as a shop manager again.
Chris McNulty pictured at the Colosseum in Rome a few years ago on an ElettromediaUSA trip.
In 2012 Chris opened Driven Mobile Electronics where he was nominated and won many industry awards. Here is a list of the awards:
Chris will not only be heading up our technical assistance calls, but he will also be the head of our training division. Please reach out to your rep if you would like Chris to schedule a zoom training for your staff.
Chris will reside in Virginia with his wife and daughter. You can contact him at 877-567-3030 x 118 or his cell number is 949-620-7055. His email is chris@elettromedia-usa.com.
