ENGLEWOOD, CO (03.15.23) – VAIS Technology has released new satellite radio integrated solutions specifically designed for 2022-23 VW Atlas, Atlas Sport, Tiguan, Taos, Jetta, and Golf vehicles. This solution allows owners of these models to add SiriusXM satellite radio to their existing factory stereo, without compromising factory functionality.
“Since 2003, VAIS Technology have been developing satellite radio adapters for vehicles that aren’t equipped from the factory with SiriusXM tuners,” stated Dennis Hopper, EVP. “While satellite radio is more popular than ever, many new OEM vehicles still don’t come equipped from the factory with satellite tuners. For 2023 several more OEM’s have removed satellite tuners from their platforms. Over the last few years Ford, Honda, Kia, Jeep, Mazda, Mercedes, and other have removed satellite tuners from their base model vehicles. VAIS Technology develops simple, easy to install integrated solutions that add satellite radio, but preserve factory functions.”
The new kits provide coverage for new VW models. Also, all these models are compatible with the GSR-UV01 (universal unit) which can be flashed using online software. This allows dealers to only stock one unit to do almost all applications. This adapter connects directly to the original factory radio and allows the vehicle owner to listen to satellite radio through the existing factory system. The VAIS integrated solution also allows for full control of satellite radio functions – changing stations, setting presets, steering wheel functions, etc.
GSR-VW02 and GSR-UV01 is available for order now. Retail price is $349.99 with SXV300 tuner included.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.14.23) – The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN), a subset network of the Specialty Equipment Market Association that supports and raises awareness of women in the automotive industry, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023.
The network, which encourages and supports women pursuing careers in the automotive field, represents over 700 female and male members spanning across various occupations and markets in the aftermarket industry.
Since 1993, the SBN has developed and managed industry-focused programs for women, including networking and recognition opportunities. Most recently, it completed its second all-female vehicle build, hosted its second annual Women’s Leadership Forum, and continues to spotlight the stories and careers of women in the automotive industry though its #SheIsSEMA campaign.
“SBN’s history is one of ambition and progress, and we couldn’t be more excited for the community that we have created,” said SBN Director Nicole Bradle. “It’s a network where all women are recognized and supported for their contributions to this thriving industry.”
To celebrate the milestone, the SBN launched a campaign to highlight the stories and members of the network throughout SEMA and SBN communication channels. The campaign will run throughout 2023 and culminate at the SBN 30th Anniversary Reception and Party at the SEMA Show in November.
“There is no better time than now to reflect on what the SBN has achieved,” added Bradle. “Looking to the future, we aspire to further foster growth, support, and community for women.”
To learn more about the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network, visit www.sema.org/sbn.
NEW YORK, NY (03.14.23) – SiriusXM will offer listeners nationwide extensive coverage of NCAA® March Madness® – a favorite time of year for sports fans – carrying play-by-play of the entire 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, as well as play-by-play coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. In addition to tournament game broadcasts, listeners will also get the most in-depth expert analysis leading up to and throughout the tournament on SiriusXM’s exclusive 24/7 college sports talk channels.
From the First Four on March 14-15 in Dayton, Ohio through the Men’s Final Four® and National Championship game on April 1 and 3 in Houston, SiriusXM will air every game – from the tip to the final buzzer – of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
SiriusXM will air NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship games, including live play-by-play of every game from the Sweet 16 through the Women’s Final Four and National Championship game on March 31 and April 2 in Dallas, plus select early round matchups.
All of the Men’s NCAA Tournament game broadcasts, and the Women’s NCAA Tournament game broadcasts from the Sweet 16 through the National Championship, are provided to SiriusXM by Westwood One, the official network radio partner of the NCAA.
Tournament matchups and SiriusXM channel assignments will be available at siriusxm.com/sports starting Monday, March 13.
On Selection Sunday®, March 12, SiriusXM listeners will get up-to-the-moment coverage as tournament teams and first round matchups are announced:
On Mad Dog Sports Radio (SiriusXM channel 82), Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Steve Torre will host special Selection Sunday coverage live from 5 – 9 pm ET.
SiriusXM College Sports Radio (SiriusXM channel 84) will air Selection Sunday specials from 5 – 11 pm ET. At 5 pm ET, Kris Budden and Sean Farnham will host coverage of the men’s bracket reveal, then Chris Plank and Nicole Auerbach will take over as the women’s bracket is announced at 8 pm ET.
The official NCAA Tournament Selection Show produced by Westwood One will air on CBS Sports Radio (SiriusXM channel 158) from 6 – 9 pm ET. Hosts Jason Horowitz, PJ Carlesimo and Debbie Antonelli will cover the reveal of both the men’s and women’s tournament brackets.
These shows will feature interviews with special guests, including team coaches as well as NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee Chair Chris Reynolds and NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Lisa Peterson.
Hall of Famer and five-time national champion former head coach of the Duke Blue Devils Mike Krzyzewski will expand his presence on SiriusXM throughout the tournament. Basketball and Beyond with Coach K, which Krzyzewski has hosted weekly on SiriusXM since 2005, will air twice weekly on SiriusXM College Sports Radio for the next three weeks of tournament play. Fans will hear Coach K preview games and react to performances by players and teams, as well as Coach’s compelling one-on-one interviews with guests that listeners enjoy every week.
SiriusXM’s exclusive, dedicated college sports channels – SiriusXM College Sports Radio, SiriusXM ACC Radio, SiriusXM Big 12 Radio, SiriusXM Big Ten Radio, SiriusXM Pac-12 Radio and SiriusXM SEC Radio – will offer daily expert analysis throughout the tournament from former players, coaches and other college sports insiders. These channels will be a place for fans to call in and discuss the performances of their favorite teams and conferences.
Men’s and Women’s Tournament games, as well as SiriusXM’s exclusive 24/7 college sports talk channels, are available to subscribers nationwide in their cars and on the SXM App.
DANIA BEACH, FL (03.13.23) – HKI USA, the US importer for SounDigital Amplifiers, Ground Zero Car Audio, Four Connect Wiring Products, and Tury Vehicle Enhancement products, announced a new Representative for New England and New York.
As brands grow, building a team that can support the passion and love for the products and this industry is important. Who better to grow a brand than MEA’s 2022 Rep Firm of the Year, The 12Volt Specialist.
The addition of Lord Phil Chartier brings some new excitement to the territory, with a deep rooted member of this industry. “I look forward to helping the existing HKI dealers with any of their needs, and have a positive outlook that new dealers will be successful and profitable with the HKI brands in both New England and NY” says Lord Phil as he takes the reins of the newly combined territory for HKI USA.
POMPANO BEACH, FL (03.13.23) – RDV Automotive Technology the go to company for Wireless CarPlay integration is proud to release the first of its kind Radio Replacement for the 2007-2017 Maserati GranTurismo the MAS-SCREEN. There are 3 sku’s for the 3 different radio trim options MAS-SCREEN (Gloss Black / Matte Black / REAL Carbon Fiber) This radio with all 3 available trims are shipping now! In stock!
Rich De Sclafani the owner of RDV said about the new radio “This new radio is a game changer! Until now it was extremely complicated to change the radio in the Maserati GT. This new plug n play radio is a massive upgrade to the vehicle as it also incorporates digital climate controls. I have worked hard to ensure that this radio is fast, stable, and reliable. The hardware used is the best available and the result is a truly impressive product. I stand behind my products 100% and these radios have a 3 year warranty. I will also be releasing a radio for Bentley and Infiniti shortly.”
AMARILLO, TX (03.10.23) – The KICKER AMA Arenacross was Livin’Loud in the Amarillo National Center of Friday March 3rd. Local KICKER retailer Tunes and Tint was in the lobby under the KICKER tent with a crew of five along with Lorin Morrell and KICKER Central Region Sales Manager Brad Ganz. Morrell orchestrates the KICKER AMA Arenacross events on the 14-City 2023 Series.
Pictured L to R: Stacy Robertson, Bill Robertson, Lorin Morrell – Kicker, Michael Parker, Tiffany Nivens, and Paul Pina.
Stacy Robertson speaking for the Robertson family, Tunes and Tint owners, related “Being on site under thenKICKER tent in the lobby was terrific. The Arenacross event was well attended and we connected with so many of the crowd members starting with the Pit Party before the racing began. We gave away so many koozies and lanyards and invited people to see us in the lobby. Many came to see the great product display Lorin Morrell had set up, Seeing KICKER’s Brad Ganz was a special surprise.”
An excited Lorin Morrell with Brad Ganz in his vintage 1973 long sleeve T-shirt.
Continuing “The PowerBar demo was Livin’Loud. We talked with old customers from our Amarillo plus many new people who came to the booth. We set up several appointments for the store following the event for KICKER product installs and tint jobs. In the week following the Arenacross we definitely wrote substantial business…all from the Arenacross. I BIG Thank You to all at KICKER.”
Brad Ganz offered “It was terrific to have the Tunes and Tint crew at the event. The event went very well. Seeing the crew members connecting with attendees and setting appoints for the week following showed the KICKER Arenacross program is working.”
Friday, March 10th, the KICKER Arenacross will take place in Tulsa and area retailer Expert Customs, with Chester West and crew, to be in the house.
Watch for more from the 12volt Central Studios and visit kicker.com for more.
HENDERSON, NV (03.10.23) – The RetroSound Europa is an all-new design by Retro Manufacturing inspired by the sophisticated style found in the 1960s-1970s Mercedes vehicles. The replica knobs, large push-buttons, elegant chrome trim, and pinstriping perfectly complement the interior style of these classic Mercedes vehicles while updating their audio technologies to today’s standards. A new DIN-Kit is included with the Europa Radio Face to provide an easy installation and OEM appearance. The DIN kit also allows the Europa to be installed in any application with a single DIN opening making it a great choice for other European classics from the era that originally had a single DIN radio.
Joe Rock, Retro Brand Manager, proudly shows the new Retro Sound Europa authentic aftermarket radio for 1960s-1970s Classic Mercedes Vehicles in the company’s Henderson Nevada HQ.
The Europa is compatible with all RetroSound Radio Motors giving Mercedes fans all the features of a modern car stereo. Available features include HD-Radio technology, built-in Bluetooth, Made for iPod /iPhone compatibility, USB inputs for flash drives and media devices, and non-volatile memory. The Europa is SiriusXM-Ready connecting directly to an SXV300V1 Connect Vehicle Tuner without needing special cables or adapters. The SXV300V1 tuner adds SiriusXM broadcasts to a RetroSound radio and integrates with the radio’s display and controls. The 32,000-color display allows users to browse through media by artist, song title, or album, with the option to customize the display color to match their gauges. A selectable AM/FM Tuner with USA, EUR, AUS, JAP, and RUS tuner frequencies lets users set their specific broadcast region, with 30 presets to store favorite stations. The Europa is also available with DAB+ for consumers outside North America and receives crystal clear digital broadcasts in regions where DAB+ is available. A powerful built-in 300-watt (peak) amplifier pushes plenty of power over four channels with RCA pre-outs and a subwoofer output for customers that want to expand their audio system further.
HENDERSON, NV (03.09.23) – Joe Rock, Retro Brand Manager, proudly shows the new Dallas Radio Face for Ford F-Series and Broncos 1985-1986 in the company’s Henderson NV HQ.
The RetroSound Dallas Radio Face is the latest officially licensed Ford Radio Face by Retro Manufacturing, designed to replicate the original factory radio in 1985-86 Ford F-Series trucks and 1985-86 Ford Broncos. Dallas’s subtle and straightforward design features replica black plastic knobs, rounded push-buttons, and a thin seek bar, finished in matte black with the official Ford logo for added authenticity. The Dallas mounts directly into the factory opening in these vehicles with the included mounting kit and vehicle-specific wiring harness for an easy installation and OEM appearance.
Joe Rock, Retro Brand Manager, proudly shows the new Dallas Radio Face for Ford F-Series and Broncos 1985-1986 in the company’s Henderson NV HQ.
The Dallas is compatible with all RetroSound Radio Motors giving Ford fans all the features of a modern car stereo. Available features include HD-Radio technology, built-in Bluetooth, Made for iPod /iPhone compatibility, USB inputs for flash drives and media devices, and nonvolatile memory. The Dallas is SiriusXM Ready connecting directly to an SXV300V1 Connect Vehicle Tuner without needing special cables or adapters. The SXV300V1 tuner adds SiriusXM broadcasts to a RetroSound radio and integrates with the radio’s display and controls. The 32,000-color display allows users to browse through media by artist, song title, or album, with the option to customize the display color to match their gauges.
A selectable AM/FM Tuner with USA, EUR, AUS, JAP, and RUS tuner frequencies lets users set their specific broadcast region, with 30 presets to store favorite stations. The Dallas is also available with DAB+ for consumers outside North America and receives crystal clear digital broadcasts in regions where DAB+ is available. A powerful built-in 300-watt (peak) amplifier pushes plenty of power over four channels with RCA pre-outs and a subwoofer output for customers that want to expand their audio system further.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.09.23) – The SEMA Show is driven by connections, and brings exhibitors, buyers and media from around the world together for the automotive aftermarket’s most valuable, in-person, transformative business experience.
The Las Vegas Convention Center is annually reshaped into the definitive gathering place of the world’s professional automotive community, where the industry’s sights and sounds combine to create an energy that fuels the imagination, sparks new trends, expands business relationships and drives the industry forward.
Exhibitors have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with buyers from all segments of the aftermarket, and can conduct multiple meetings each day to create new business, or reinforce existing customer relationships. Meeting face-to-face is the ideal way to build trust and to communicate ideas more clearly, and it helps avoid potential distractions or the technical difficulties that can disrupt online meetings.
Here are some additional advantages of meeting in person.
When you meet in person, you can read body language, see facial expressions, use context clues and better get to know someone’s personality.
The automotive aftermarket prefers to meet face-to-face, without potential distractions or technical difficulties.
It’s more effective to brainstorm, generate ideas and discuss what is working, and what is not, face-to-face.
Conducting business in person provides the opportunity to engage in purposeful small talk, deepening relationships, loyalty and trust.
Research shows face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than those sent by email, and that a physical handshake promotes cooperation and influences negotiation outcomes for the better. (MIT’s Human Dynamics Lab)
According to a study by Forbes Insight, 85% of people say they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships during in-person meetings and conferences.
According to a study by the Harvard Review, 95% of people say face-to-face meetings are a key factor in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships.
The 2023 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 31–November 3. For more information about the 2023 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. To exhibit, get started at www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.
SPRINGFIELD, MA (03.08.23) – GoFast Solutions is excited to announce the official date for the 2023 Mobile Expo… April 12th at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA from 8 AM – 6 PM.
“The Mobile Expo is the traditional kick-off to the season,” said David Prinz CEO of GoFast Solutions. “As the weather starts to turn and the days get longer, consumers are anxious to break out recreational vehicles [cars, ATVs, boats, motorcycles, etc.] that were stored for the winter.”
“The one constant in our industry is CHANGE. We feel that it is a responsibility of a true distributor partner to provide our customers with the tools they need to navigate the changes and succeed. This is why we have challenged our vendor partners to provide level 2 training for their brands at the GoFast 2023 Mobile Expo.”
David adds, “When I had my retail store, I was always looking for new ways to generate income in the shop. With that in mind, we are focusing on helping our customers explore new opportunities to add to their core business, maximize the space that they already have, and ultimately increase profit. This isn’t a typical car stereo show, it’s a business show geared towards small business owners specializing in the automotive aftermarket industry.”
This One-Day Only Live Show will Feature:
• Keynote Speaker Steve Greenfield Founder and CEO of Automotive Ventures o “The Future of Automotive Retail” • Chris Cook MEA President o “Pulse of the Industry” • Live Training & Presentations o P&S Detailing’s featuring Social Media Sensation Syndi Gwinn o Solar Gard Featuring Tint “Yoda” Ismail Pereira • New Product Launches • Catered Breakfast & Lunch • Cocktail Hour • Prizes & Giveaways • Networking Opportunities
The GoFast Solutions 2023 Mobile Expo is being held LIVE & In-Person at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 12th, from 8 AM – 6 PM.
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