HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (01.18.24) – The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies will sponsor two Northwood University students during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), providing hands-on experience and an immersive deep-dive into the aftermarket, as part of a program that began in 2015.

“HDAW provides a near 360-degree perspective on the scale and scope of the aftermarket – including the many diverse and fulfilling career opportunities within it,” said Jeff Paul, VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies’ vice president of marketing. “The program is very successful with introducing exceptionally talented students to the companies and people that make this such a great industry. We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with Northwood University and contributing to help foster future generations of aftermarket leadership.”

The Northwood University students being sponsored by the company this year are:

• Jack Foster of Commerce, Mich., a junior majoring in Aftermarket Automotive Marketing & Management and co-founder of Limitless Productions, a content development company.
• Alexander Mazon of New York, a senior majoring in Automotive Marketing and Management, currently serving as the general chair for the Northwood University International Auto Show.

During HDAW (Jan. 22-25, in Grapevine, Texas), Foster and Mazon will assist with helping visitors at the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies’ booth (#1146) during the Product Expo, attend meeting and networking functions with distributors and supplier partners, and experience the show floor and many educational sessions.

In addition to sponsoring Foster and Mazon, the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies will sponsor the Leaders of Tomorrow program on Jan. 22. This networking event helps attendees create new and strengthen existing business relationships, as well as learn ways to advance their heavy duty careers. The company will also sponsor HDAW’s new HDAWomen reception on Jan. 23, recognizing women in the heavy duty aftermarket.

For more information on VIPAR Heavy Duty, visit www.vipar.com or email: info@vipar.com. For more information on Power Heavy Duty, visit www.powerheavyduty.net or email: info@powerheavyduty.net.

STILLWATER, OK (01.17.24) – KICKER introduces extremely compact KPX Amplifiers, suited for Powersports applications but usable for any vehicle with minimal space for audio installation, including hot rods. KPX Compact Amplifiers will be available for purchase at Authorized KICKER Dealers in-store and online. Soon to be introduced to the world on the KICKER UnMASKED! Live™ streamed show, KPX Compact Amps will retail starting at $319.99 and will also be available for purchase online at www.kicker.com.

Engineered to deliver superior sound in a tiny footprint and during all kinds of weather, KPX Compact Amplifiers are ideal for space-challenged installations like custom cars, motorcycles and UTVs. This powerful, full-system solution is easily installed behind a motorcycle’s fairing or in a saddlebag, under a UTV’s seat or tucked away behind a hot rod’s kick panel, seats or dash.

The KPX500.1 Compact Subwoofer Amp is stable down to one Ohm and features standard KICKER features such as 24dB crossover, 24dB subsonic filter and selectable 6dB bass boost, while providing 500-plus watts to your favorite subwoofer. Music listeners can use the optional KICKER CXARC (sold separately) remote to conveniently control bass levels from the driver’s seat. 

Delivering up to 75 watts per channel, the KPX300.4 4-channel compact model features a 12dB crossover with defeatable fader and dual independent gain controls for utmost control. Both amplifiers can accept signals as low as 125 millivolts and as high as 40 volts, allowing these amps to easily integrate to most any factory source units without line-out converters.

Visit kicker.com for more.

BOCA RATON, FL (01.17.24) — Tint World Automotive Styling Centers was recognized for the 11th consecutive year as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best, and most comprehensive franchise ranking. For 45 years, the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® has been a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees. The 2024 Franchise 500® ranks Tint World® as #249 and number one in category for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“Every brand on the Franchise 500 has its own unique story, but they all collectively make the same statement: Franchising is strong and resilient, is full of innovation and opportunity, and provides a powerful entrepreneurial path for many people,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “Our 45th annual ranking is full of companies with fresh ideas, exciting business models, cultural sway, and the kind of business sophistication that will define the next 45 years and beyond.”

In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is then given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranked order.

“For the 11th consecutive year, we proudly share a place on this prestigious list with so many incredible brands; a true testament to our team’s commitment to excellence,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World®. “Achieving this ranking year after year reflects the collective dedication and work ethic of our franchisees and the entire Tint World® family. This recognition underscores our forward-thinking, nimble approach, and close alignment with our customers’ needs.”

Over its 45 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Tint World’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

To view Tint World® in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500 or pick up a copy of the January/February 2024 issue of Entrepreneur on newsstands now. Visit tintworld.com for more.

GADSDEN, AL (01.16.24) – “We are excited to be shipping our newest models for 2024…the all new Mini Center Console boxes for specific vehicles. This model fits under the dash and features (2) 6.5” and (2) 3.5 tweeter cutouts. We started with the Chevy/GMC model and have had a very positive reaction” Jaysam Odeh stated.

King Boxes exhibited at the 2023 SEMA Show for the first time and showcased the company’s growing selection of enclosures.

“We plan to have the full lineup of vehicle-specific mini center console enclosures by the end of February. After the great success with our regular center consoles we realized there was a need for the mini center consoles which are just like the regular center channels without the 12” subwoofer enclosure on the back side” Odeh related.

For more see king-boxes.com.

BOCA RATON, FL (01.15.24) – Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ has been named a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review for the 10^th consecutive year, earning the fast-growing auto accessory and window tinting franchise a coveted spot in the Franchise Hall of Fame.

The 2024 Top Franchise ranking recognizes the 200 best franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners. The list is available at https://franchisebusinessreview.com/lists/top-200-franchises/.

“At Tint World, we understand that our franchisees are the foundation of our success, so this recognition is special to us,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World. “We’ve always been committed to providing franchisees with all the resources they need to thrive and succeed. It’s a strategy that works — being named to the Franchise Hall of Fame after 10 years as a Top Franchise demonstrates that Tint World franchisees are empowered and see the value we offer.”

Tint World Automotive Styling Centers offer sales and installation of auto accessories, mobile electronics, audio video equipment, security systems, custom wheels and tire packages, window tinting, vehicle wraps, paint protection films, detailing services, nano ceramic coatings, maintenance and repair services, and more.

Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises.

Tint World® was among more than 375 franchise brands, representing over 35,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research. Tint World® franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity. 

“Franchisee satisfaction continues to be the leading indicator of franchise performance and system health, and we are pleased to report that our latest research shows satisfaction has remained at some of the highest levels in the past 19 years,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “In fact, our survey results show that three out of four franchise owners would recommend their brand to others. As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to helping prospective franchisees get an objective view of the best franchise opportunities available based on actual feedback from the people who own them.” 

Tint World is the leading provider of residential, commercial and marine computerized window tinting and security film services with locations throughout the U.S. and abroad, with franchise opportunities available worldwide.

Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full description of the 2024 Top Franchises

AUBURN HILLS, MI (01.15.24) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) will attend the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) KnowledgeFest hosted in the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada from Friday, February 2 to Sunday, February 4.

This year, Alpine brings its largest brand presence to date with a 1400-square-foot booth showcasing four new Alpine demo vehicles and products from the 2024 product line. Alpine will be located in booth 909 on the Mobile Electronics Exhibit Floor in the Paris Ballroom.

“Alpine is excited to expand the brand footprint at the 2024 Las Vegas Knowledgefest show,” said Gregg Thomas, Director of National Sales for the Alpine Brand Division at Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “This year’s product line was deserving of a larger-than-life booth presence to showcase our new line of vehicle-specific products for some of the country’s best-selling vehicles.

New Solutions for Tesla
Alpine is excited to showcase the industry’s first complete sound system upgrade for Tesla in a new 2023 Tesla Model 3 demo vehicle. The vehicle will feature one of the six new direct replacement systems for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, which boasts an impressive 1200W RMS sound upgrade that’s designed to replace the Tesla factory speakers without any modifications.

The system includes 10 High-Resolution speakers with a 10” sealed subwoofer enclosure, a 12-channel digital sound processor with a built-in 12-channel amplifier, and an ultra-efficient amplifier designed to use less than one mile of range per hour at full volume. Additional applications will be available for the Tesla premium systems for the Model 3 and include 13 speakers.

New Solutions for Ford
Alpine is no stranger to the vehicle-specific upgrade kits for Ford, and this year offers complete sound system upgrade kits for the 2015-up Ford F-Series. Featured in a Ford F-150 will be the new PSS-23FORD-F150, an eight-speaker system with six High-Resolution S-Series Speakers and a dual 8” Truck Subwoofer Enclosure designed to fit under the rear seat of the truck, all powered by the Alpine OPTIM8 8-channel Hi-Res Sound Processor and Amplifier.

Also in the booth will be a 2023 Ford Bronco showcasing Alpine’s new SBP-24BRNC Weather-Resistant Powered Tailgate Subwoofer Enclosure for the 2021-up Ford Bronco. The enclosure comes pre-loaded with Alpine’s 12” R-Series High-Performance Shallow Subwoofer and 500W RMS amplifier.

New Solutions for Side-by-Side
In 2024, Alpine will take the road less traveled with new solutions designed for Side-by-Side and UTV. In the booth will be a 2021 Polaris RZR Turbo S to showcase the new PSS-UNIV-SXS Weather Resistant Universal Fit Bluetooth Sound System. This system includes two 6.5” speaker pods with integrated RGB LED lighting, a 10” high-powered subwoofer, and a built-in amplifier. Built-in Bluetooth® gives the driver the ability to stream music directly from a smartphone. The system also dons the iconic Alpine six-chiclet configuration for easy access to select sound controls.

Training Sessions
Alpine will host three training sessions led by members of the Alpine Brand Specialist team:

Friday, February 2 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Versailles 4
Alpine 2024 Product Line Introduction and Training

Friday, February 2 from 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. in Versailles 4
Alpine 2024 Product Line Introduction and Training

Saturday, February 3 from 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. in Versailles 4
Alpine Training Session: OPTIM8

All KnowledgeFest attendees are welcome to visit the Alpine booth, join the training sessions, and meet with Alpine staff from the sales, marketing, and product planning teams. Attendees are encouraged to visit www.knowledgefest.org and use the “Education Workshops & Vendor Training” link to register for the Alpine training sessions.

Visit alpine-usa.com for more.

AUBURN HILLS, MI (01.12.24) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) introduces a new “Lighting Link” control feature for the new PrismaLink™ S-Series Preloaded Subwoofer Wedge Enclosure line available on Alpine’s iLX-W670 7” Shallow-Chassis Digital Multimedia Receiver, which shipped in October 2023.

“This unique feature, which is exclusively available on the iLX-W670, gives the user the ability to customize their lighting experience on their subwoofer enclosure from the convenience of their dashboard,” said Gregg Thomas, Director of National Sales for the Alpine Brand Division at Alps Alpine North America, Inc. “We believe this feature offers a strong sales opportunity for our retailers when offering system builds to their customers.”

New Spectrum of Sound

PrismaLink™ is a sealed wedge enclosure line that comes preloaded with a 12” (S2-SB12), 10” (S2-SB10), or 8” (S2-SB8) subwoofer from Alpine’s Next-Generation S-Series line and features RGBW multi-color trim bar lighting controlled by an included IR remote or the iLX-W670 (sold separately) via Lighting Link feature.

The Lighting Link feature is accessible from the “Sound Boost” menu on the iLX-W670 home screen where users can select from 12 changeable static colors and four “Dynamic Modes,” which offer different light experiences like rainbow, flashing, and cascading colors.

The enclosures have a multi-link design that’s able to connect dual, triple, and even quad-enclosures with an optional linking kit for the 12” (KTX-LK12), 10” (KTX-LK10), and 8” (KTX-LK8) versions. When used as a multi-linked enclosure application, the lighting feature is able to connect across the subwoofers for an uninterrupted visual experience. 

The PrismaLink™ enclosures also come with pre-set inserts to allow for Alpine’s new KTZ -BKT Universal Subwoofer Enclosure Mounting Brackets to be easily installed in a vehicle.

The iLX-W670 7” Shallow-Chassis Digital Multimedia Receiver with “Lighting Link” control is available now for $299.95 and can be purchased at Alpine Authorized retailers and Preferred Online Stores. Please check the store locator on www.alpine-usa.com for details.

The PrismaLink™ S-Series Preloaded Subwoofer Wedge Enclosure line will be available in Spring 2024 in a 12” (S2-SB12) option for $399.95, a 10” (S2-SB10) option for $379.95 and an 8” (S2-SB8) option for $329.95. The PrismaLink™ Linking Kits will be available in a 12” (KTX-LK12) option for $69.95, 10” (KTX-LK10) option for $59.95, and 8” (KTX-LK8) option for $49.95.

NEW YORK, NY (01.12.24) – SiriusXM Connected Vehicle Services Inc. (SiriusXM Connect), a subsidiary of SiriusXM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) and leading provider of connected products and services to vehicle manufacturers, today announced its next-generation ACN+ technology powered by RapidSOS, an intelligent safety company, will now be included as part of its emergency service platform for all vehicles with compatible embedded telematics equipment.

ACN+ provides industry-leading emergency response by sharing critical data with 911 call centers digitally, minimizing the amount of information that must be verbally communicated to first responders. Automakers who rely on SiriusXM Connect can now offer this advanced safety feature to all their customers with available connected data. This enables automakers to expand their safety and security service offering, ensuring drivers receive timely emergency care that could save lives.

“We are committed to continuously improving emergency response for drivers across the country, and by expanding our relationship with RapidSOS we are enabling vehicles on our platform to have access to technology that can help to save lives,” said Steve Coker, Senior Vice President at SiriusXM Connect. “In working with RapidSOS over the last three years, we’ve seen ACN+ reduce 911 dispatch times by an average of 45 seconds compared to voice-only calls; when lives are at stake, every second counts.”

ACN+ powered by RapidSOS digitally provides automated, enhanced safety information and offers the opportunity to collaborate with automakers to expand data fields as they become available, allowing crash, and other critical data, including when authorized by customers, medical profile information, to be delivered to 911 in the workflows they use every day.

“Together, SiriusXM Connect and RapidSOS now provide more than 16,000 public safety agencies that cover 99% of the U.S. population with life-saving contextual data like location, speed, and impact,” said Michael Martin, CEO of RapidSOS. “Additionally, we have the capabilities to provide this vital data to Canada and Mexico, helping more than 1 million field responders across North America.”

”The expanded relationship between SiriusXM Connect and RapidSOS is a significant development for the industry. This action enables emergency responders’ access to ACN+ data directly covering more vehicles on the road. This will empower responders to make faster decisions on the necessary resources required at the scene,” said Brian Fontes, CEO NENA: The 9-1-1 Association. When we have access to more information and in a timely manner, we can better determine the needs of people in distress sooner, thus increasing our chances of saving their lives.”

SiriusXM Connect will offer ACN+ standard on all compatible equipped vehicles covered by an active connected vehicle subscription for this enhanced safety feature by March 2024.

Visit siriusxm.com and rapidsos.com for more.

CERRITOS, CA (01.11.24) – Dalton Duckett is excited to introduce himself as the new Marketing and Design Specialist at SoundSkins Global. Below, in his words, he relayed his plan moving forward.

I come to SoundSkins Global with a strong background in creative marketing and innovative design. My passion lies in crafting captivating narratives and visually appealing content that resonates with audiences worldwide.

I am deeply committed to building upon the solid foundation that my predecessor established. My objective is to bring fresh perspectives to our marketing strategies and design initiatives, ensuring that Sound Skins Global continues to shine in our dynamic industry.

I’m looking forward to diving into collaborations with all of you and exploring ways to soar to even greater heights. Whether you have marketing or design needs or simply want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. I’m here to champion our brand and help it thrive with style and innovation.

Thank you all for welcoming me into the Sound Skins Global family. I’m excited about the journey ahead and can’t wait to make a positive impact as I lead our marketing department.

Visit soundskinsglobal.com for more.

Contact Dalton Duckett, Marketing and Design Specialist
M (562) 390-0263
P (877) 211-5597
E dalton@soundskinsglobal.com