DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.14.25) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) looks forward to supporting Jonathan Morrison’s nomination to serve as the next administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Mr. Morrison was a proven leader as the agency’s general counsel. He is highly qualified and an excellent choice to serve as NHTSA administrator. We look forward to working with Jonathan and will share with him the important perspective of the automotive aftermarket industry and that of the nation’s community of automotive enthusiasts.

We are at a critical juncture for vehicle technology; the emergence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) presents a transformative opportunity for our industry and vehicle safety. As Mr. Morrison looks to take the reins at NHTSA, we ask that he regard the automotive aftermarket as a resource for understanding how these systems interact with modified vehicles and ways to preserve automotive enthusiasts’ ability to engage in legal racing and off-road use. The aftermarket, after all, gave birth to many of the safety features that are ubiquitous in today’s vehicles; our unparalleled ability to innovate and meet the needs of our customers will offer highly valuable insights to Mr. Morrison and his team for the coming conversations about safety and technology.

Visit www.sema.org for more.

LAS VEGAS, NV (02.13.25) – Chris Jack, national technical chairman, was in the KICKER booth to raise awareness and funding for the 2025 National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) and SkillsUSA Competition, which takes place in Atlanta June 23-27. Vendors and retailers learned about how they can support the continued success of this program.

Aaron Malin, KICKER Global Tech Force Training Manager said, “KICKER got involved about four years ago, and we are heavily involved at the state and national level. The students I’ve met and mentored through the years are literally the future of the American work force. This is an exciting way to encourage and guide them into the real world.”

“We had a great response from the companies that that I spoke with, and most wanted to help,” said Jack. Several made commitments to provide donations for the upcoming event.

SkillsUSA (formerly VICA/Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) empowers high school and secondary school students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible industry contributors. The students that achieve the opportunity to compete at the National Level have shown their ability and desire to work within the mobile electronics industry. They represent the next generation of integrators, fabricators, salespeople, engineers, and business owners.

Vendors, retailers, and individuals that would like to donate to the 2025 NLSC are encouraged to reach out to Chris Jack at 310-866-2454, cjackskillsusa@yahoo.com or Bryan Gary at 806-922-1822 bwgary@msn.com. Chris and Bryan will also be in the KICKER booth at the Mastertech Expo in Mesa, AZ March 20-23.

METAIRIE, LA (02.13.25) – Continuing its tradition of innovation, ORACLE Lighting is excited to debut its new Flush Style (Lensless) LED Tail Lights for the 2014-2023 Toyota 4Runner. Designed for a sleek, modern look and enhanced functionality, these tail lights bring a bold new aesthetic and improved illumination to one of the most popular SUVs on the market. 

Unlike traditional factory tail lights, the new ORACLE Flush Style Tail Lights feature a low-profile design that significantly reduces protrusion, providing a streamlined appearance while minimizing the risk of damage. This innovative, patent-pending lensless design incorporates high-powered reverse lights, a striking signature perimeter lighting band, and a dynamic sequential turn signal function, offering both style and superior visibility. 

“The ORACLE Flush Style Tail Lights are a game-changer for 4Runner owners looking for a sleek, customized look while maintaining top-tier functionality,” said Justin Hartenstein, Founder and Director of Product Development at ORACLE Lighting. “We engineered these tail lights with modular components to allow for custom painting, providing a seamless integration with the vehicle’s body color. Plus, the ultra-bright LED reverse lights deliver over 1,400 lumens of illumination, significantly enhancing nighttime visibility.” 

Designed to fit all 5th-generation Toyota 4Runner models, including SR5, Trail Special Edition, TRD Sport, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, and TRD Pro, these tail lights offer a true plug-and-play installation with no additional wiring required. 

Key Features of the ORACLE Lighting Flush Style LED Tail Lights: 

• Unique Signature-Style LED Lighting Elements for a modern and aggressive look. 
• Easy DIY Plug & Play Installation with no additional wiring needed. 
• Sequential Motion Turn Signal Effect for enhanced visibility and style. 
• Sleek, Flush-Mount Design that reduces protrusion and risk of damage. 
• High-Powered LED Reverse Lights delivering over 1,400 lumens for superior illumination. 

Designed and developed by ORACLE Lighting’s expert team, these new flush-style tail lights exemplify the company’s commitment to innovation, quality, and forward-thinking design. These new flush-style tail lights exemplify the company’s commitment to innovation, quality, and forward-thinking design. 

The ORACLE Lighting Flush Style LED Tail Lights for the Toyota 4Runner are available now. For more information or to place an order, visit oraclelights.com. 

SUMTER, SC (02.12.25) – Car Stereo Plus in Sumter SC hosted the company’s version of Cars and Coffie on Saturday, February 8th. The event was a relaxed, no-frills, fun-filled morning where enthusiasts could showcase their rides. The company staff was on hand to meet and greet enthusiast and enjoy coffee and Murray’s donuts with all.

James and Dedi Rembert are the owners of Car Stereo plus which is a very active 12volt retailer for many years. Sumter has a population of 43,000 and is located about 45 miles to the west from Columbia the State Capital.

“We had about 40 enthusiast attend the event that started at 8 in the morning and lasted until 11. They were parked on all sides of our store. The weather was ideal so those on site raised the hoods and opened doors so all could check out their work. We are excited about the enthusiastic turnout and are planning a second event on Saturday March 8th” Debi Rembert stated.

Continuing “At this event, we had a raffle for people to enter once they purchased one of our new Custom Stereo Plus caps or bought a raffle ticket. Entries will be eligible to win one of three valuable prizes from the Tint To Tune Give-A-Way of 3 prizes valued at $2500. The raffle drawing will take place at our Cars and Coffee on March 8th.”

The 3 prizes are a $2500 Sundown Audio Bass Package, Clemson certified Blaupunkt E-Bike and full vehicle Ceramic window tint package.

Concluding “Our Cars and Coffee coincided with the Best of Sumter 2025 community event. James and I feel these events will really help drive our store traffic and business in 2025. Window tint is a growing portion of our business and this will drive awareness when the heat of summer arrives.”

Visit cspofSumter.com for more.

METAIRIE, LA (02.12.25) – ORACLE Lighting, a leader in high-performance automotive lighting solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its latest innovation: the Oculus™ Bi-LED Projector Headlights with Heated Lens for the 2021+ Ford Bronco. This new product is the first and only heated lens option for the Ford Bronco and is designed to address a critical safety concern for Bronco owners driving in cold and snowy conditions. 

LED headlights are highly efficient but do not generate enough heat to melt snow or ice buildup, which can reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents. ORACLE Lighting’s new heated lens technology solves this problem by automatically activating a heating function when temperatures drop near freezing. This prevents ice and snow accumulation, ensuring clear and unobstructed light output for safer driving.

“The Oculus Bi-LED Headlamp system has been one of our best-selling products, and we are thrilled to introduce this new heated lens feature to better serve Bronco owners in colder climates,” said Justin Hartenstein, Founder and Director of Product Development at ORACLE Lighting. “Our goal is always to enhance both safety and performance, and this innovative solution ensures that drivers maintain full visibility even in harsh winter conditions.” 

The heated lens element is designed to seamlessly integrate with the headlight’s aesthetics while maintaining optimal light output. Unlike other heated lights on the market, the heating element does not obstruct illumination. The design complements the inner bezel features for a clean, factory-style appearance. 

 Key Features: 

• Automatic Heating Function: Activates when ambient temperatures approach freezing and turns off when optimal heating is reached. 
• Amber Status Indicator: Lights up when the heating function is active. 
• Advanced LED Projection: Provides 5,200 lumens of high-quality illumination for superior driver visibility in all weather conditions. 
• Energy Efficient: Offers increased light output while consuming less power than factory-installed lamps. 
• External Temperature Sensor: Mounted near the grille for accurate temperature readings and optimal performance. 
• DOT and SAE Compliant – 3rd Party Laboratory Tested for FMVSS and NHTSA Certification 
• Unique Modular Design allows smaller packaging size for lower shipping costs for the end user 

Designed for seamless installation, the Oculus™ Bi-LED Heated Projector Headlights offer unmatched performance and reliability. ORACLE Lighting continues to push the boundaries of innovation, delivering cutting-edge solutions for automotive enthusiasts worldwide. 

For more information, visit oraclelights.com. 

DIAMOND BAR, CA (02.11.25) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is accepting nominations for induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame, the Association’s highest honor, at http://www.sema.org/hof. The SEMA Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding persons in the automotive aftermarket who have enhanced the stature of, or significantly contributed to, the industry and/or Association’s growth.

“SEMA’s Hall of Fame is a tribute to the leaders and changemakers who have propelled the industry forward in extraordinary ways,” said Jose Escobar, SEMA Manager of Recognition Programs. “Each year, we seek to identify new individuals whose vision and accomplishments disrupted the status quo, set new benchmarks for excellence, and left an undeniable mark on the industry’s success.”

Established in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame is one of the Association’s longest-standing programs. To date, 180 individuals have been inducted, each exemplifying innovation, leadership, and positive change within the industry. These trailblazers have played a pivotal role in advancing the aftermarket industry through their dedication and passion.

Nominee qualifications include:

• The candidate must have made contributions that extended beyond the local level and reached throughout the national and/or international level.
• The candidate is and/or has been involved in the automotive specialty industry and/or SEMA for a minimum of 10 years, although 15 years is preferred.
• The candidate must have made outstanding contributions toward enhancing technology, professionalism, dignity, and/or general stature and growth of the automotive specialty industry.
• The candidate must have conducted himself/herself with a high degree of integrity both within and outside of the automotive specialty industry.
• The candidate must be at least 50 years of age prior to the SEMA Show during the year of induction or they may be at any age if deceased as long as the nomination is presented at least one year posthumous.

SEMA is also accepting nominees that have been employed by the Association or have served as a contractor and/or vendor of SEMA. In addition to meeting the above qualifications, the nominee must have no less than one year of total separation from SEMA in any and all capacities, arrangements, or relationships.

The 2025 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in May and honored during the SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in July.

Nominations are due by Friday, March 14, at www.sema.org/hof. Questions can be directed to Escobar at josee@sema.org. To view a list of SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees, visit this link.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (02.11.25) – Turn up the LOUD on every song with CS Series speakers. Delivering speaker gains that bring out more details hidden away in any genre of music – the CS Series of speakers turn up the volume on quality sound and overall loudness.

The CS line of speakers is designed to handle any vocalist, guitar riff, or bass drop powered through them with sharper details and more defined layers of superior audio playback. Featuring Neo-Mylar soft dome tweeters, CS Series speakers deliver clear and LOUD audio balanced through a passive crossover, smooth midrange tones, and midbass frequencies.

Impact-resistant tweeter elements add new details of sound to every song.
Moisture-resistant rubber surrounds create higher bass impact gains so your audio will come alive when it matters the most. Silver Alpha-Cellulose poly cones produce midrange and bass tones while staying lightweight.

Cone/surround utilizes a high-temperature adhesive that assures the cone and surround do not separate in high-power listening sessions. Textured ABS gaskets ensure a ridged linear seal to the mounting surface while braided tinsel leads remain flexible during high-power applications.

An epoxy-infused natural fiber spider allows flexibility throughout rhythms and beats in every song and gives strength during the manufacturing process. A pure copper voice coil / former assembly is innovated with a very thin extrusion as the Kapton is lightweight and efficiently dissipates heat gains.

Ferrite magnet motor creates a strong magnetic field while remaining small enough to fit in nearly every application. The connectors are spade for the best style connection. Take in more of your sound with durability for years!

It’s your sound system – upgrade it with speakers that deliver crisp and sharp playback upon every beat. Take your audio game to the next level of speaker expectations with the CS Series of speakers! LOUDER. CS. SOUND.

Learn more HERE to see the entire line of Crunch CS Series speakers.