Industry

Firstech Launches 3-Channel Car Dash Camera

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SEATTLE, WA (05.04.22) – Firstech has announced the release of the Momento M7, a 3-channel dash camera system with 2K QHD recording and battery-saving technology. The Momento M7 is now available for preorder and will begin shipping in early May from Firstech’s new distribution center in Texas.

All-Time High Dash Cam Awareness

As more drivers return to their regular morning commutes, mobile electronics retailers have reported a
surge in customer demand for dash camera solutions, otherwise known as “dash cams.” Retail experts
and analysts have attributed this growth in consumer awareness to the effectiveness of dash cams in
fighting accident fraud and the rising trend of viral video recordings of on-road incidents.

In response to this growth, the Momento M7 arrives as a key addition to Firstech’s Momento brand of
dash cams. The M7, or MD-7200, includes two cameras for front and rear recording along with an
additional video input for a third camera. M7’s front camera records in 2K QHD, promising clearer visibility of details such as license plate numbers or faces – key ingredients in fighting accident fraud.

“ECO” Battery Saving Technology

Despite their rise in popularity, dash cameras have faced one consistent obstacle: car battery depletion.
For a dash camera to monitor activity around a parked vehicle, it needs to constantly draw current from
the battery. In as little as a day, a dash camera could completely drain a car’s battery.

The Momento M7 addresses this issue head-on with the introduction of “ECO” mode. “ECO” mode is
Firstech’s new battery-saving technology that reduces the M7’s power consumption by up to 90% while
the vehicle is parked. It works by turning off the M7’s image sensor and instead using radar to detect
motion in front of the vehicle. When the M7 front camera detects a vehicle or person approaching the
vehicle, the system will reactivate the cameras’ image sensors and begin recording. The utilization of
radar greatly reduces battery usage while retaining full motion detection capabilities.

More About M7

Momento M7 will serve as the brand’s co-flagship product along with the M6, which Firstech released in Whereas the M6 features a companion mobile app for iOS and Android devices, the M7 is an “allin-one” device that has a 2-inch touch LCD screen built into the camera for reviewing video.

In addition to the touch LCD, the Momento website touts the 3-channel M7 as having an enhanced lowlight image sensor, on-board GPS antenna, and industry-leading 2-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty (most other dash cam brands offer 1-year of warranty protection).

To learn more about the Momento M7, visit www.MomentoCam.com or follow the brand’s
Instagram page @momentocam. MSRP for M7 (MD-7200) will be $379.99. Dealers interested in reselling
the Momento M7 can contact an authorized Firstech distributor and/or sales representative – or visit
www.myfirstech.com.

BOSS Audio Named an Official Partner of MotoAmerica for 2022

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OXNARD, CA (05.04.22) – BOSS Audio Systems is proud to announce that it has been named an official partner of the 2022 Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship and, more specifically, the Mission King of the Baggers Series. MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series.

“MotoAmerica is the ideal partner for BOSS Audio Systems as they are a leader in motorcycle racing, as we are a leader in 12 volt and powersports audio solutions,” said Navid Farhand, BOSS Audio System’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We are excited to get involved with those that love their music and freedom of the open road. As MotoAmerica continues its growth and expands its audience, we can’t wait to get started and be a vital part of this extremely popular riding and racing community.”

Added said Lance Bryson, MotoAmerica’s Director of Sponsorship, “We’re stoked to have BOSS Audio onboard as an official partner for 2022. BOSS makes great audio systems for all kinds of motorcycles and for baggers like Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide and Street Glide. They’re weatherproof, affordable, and their plug & play design makes DYI easy to install. With so many of our fans riding their baggers to our races, having BOSS Audio as a series partner makes a lot of sense on many levels.”

For more information, visit www.bossaudio.com.

Firstech Expands to Texas with New Facility

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SEATTLE, WA (02.18.22) – Firstech, maker of Compustar, Momento, and DroneMobile products, has announced the scheduled opening of its new distribution and training facility in Flower Mound, Texas. The company planned to commence operations at its new Texas facility in April 2022.

The new Firstech facility in Flower Mound TX is located just 6 miles from DFW International Airport.

At launch, Firstech’s move to Texas will establish another distribution center in the South-Central U.S. where the company can improve its shipping turnaround times for dealer and distribution partners. Approximately half of Firstech’s logistics team will permanently relocate to Texas to make the expansion as seamless as possible.

Cody Galen is preparing pallets for shipment in the new Flower Mound location.

In the near future, the Texas facility will also provide an additional meeting hub for installers, salespeople, and partners to receive hands-on training from Firstech’s award-winning technical support team. The new location is conveniently located within six miles of Dallas Fort-Worth Airport (DFW).

Firstech’s primary headquarters will remain near Seattle, Washington where it has been since the company relocated from Anchorage, Alaska in 2003.

Neil Bagalso on the forklift in the warehouse working to put stock on shelves.

“We couldn’t be more excited to open a new branch to better serve Firstech’s growing customer base,” shares managing director, Jason Kaminski. “In addition to expanding our warehouse space and improving our just-in-time inventory, the Texas location will also open up additional port options for ocean-going cargo to combat congestion.”

If you would like to learn more about Firstech, visit the company’s website at www.firstechllc.com.

Race Sport Lighting Patented Solar Roof Cab Light System

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RINGWOOD, IL (05.03.22) – Race Sport Lighting is pleased to announce the release of its new patented and innovative Solar Roof Cab Light System shipping to Retail locations soon. No Wire, No Holes, No Drilling involved! This Product was first previewed by Race Sport Lighting during the SEMA 2021 Show, and their sales and marketing team has been showing off the prototype at trade shows everywhere this year with an overwhelming popular response. Thousands of pre-orders are already awaiting the official shipping of this product to their store locations nationwide. This amazing new product is made in an ISO 9000 factory right here in the USA.

This USPTO patented technology is revolutionary, it is completely run by solar and vibrations sensors and requires no wiring or drilling of holes into the roof of the vehicle. Many shops avoid customer requests to sell and/or install cab lights because of the high risk or liability involved into drilling into a customer’s brand new truck. This innovative product allows all dealers to now add Cab Roof Lights to their list of products they sell or install and eliminates the complex installation and liability concerns that traditional wired version have. For shops that already do the old wire version cab roof lights systems, their techs typically take 4-6 hours to do these jobs, or all day basically. With Race Sport Lightings New Solar cab light systems, their techs can have the system installed in 30-minutes and move on to other jobs or products on that vehicle.

“This is one of the most exciting single products launches our company has ever had. The patented solar cab light technology is such a unique solution to a major problem in the marketplace. Our team has had the 1st prototype on the company vehicle for the last 2 years and it has very successfully gone through two Chicago winters and working strong today. The quality and performance make this one of the best roof cab light systems on the marketplace” – Steve Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting

To learn more about this system, please watch this In The Garage video from the partners at Total Truck Centers

The Part number for the Solar Cab Light System is #1007472 and it is only available in amber color right now. Race Sport Lighting will be releasing the white LED version late in the summer of 2022 under the same patent. The 1007472 system starts shipping very soon in May to distributors and retailers nationwide. Pre-orders are being accepted for this product right now.

Haynes Hits The Road With AlloyGator Wheel Protection Company

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John Haynes will drive sales for AlloyGator USA.

(05.02.22) – 12volt Industry veteran John Haynes joined AlloyGator early last month. “Received my AlloyGator samples, have them in my trunk, and am ready to hit the road in SoCal” he related. Haynes is now in charge of driving sales for AlloyGator USA.

AlloyGator USA is the original wheel protection company and protects wheels from curb and pothole damage plus can effectively prevent much curb rash.

“I have AlloyGator samples in my trunk and I’m ready to hit the road in SoCal, Monday May 2nd,” Haynes stated.

“We’re actively looking for mobile electronics dealers who have crossed over and expanded their business model into wheels and tires” said Haynes. “The great thing about AlloyGators is that they don’t compete with any other product space, so dealer are adding dollars, not just trading dollars. The end result is increased sales and profits on top of the business shops would have done anyway. It’s the perfect add to actively selling and installing wheels.”

AlloyGator is the only truly engineered wheel protection solution on the market and is MIRA Certified and TÜV approved.

Haynes has stock for orders in his car too.

Gator rim protectors fit between the wheel and tire and are held in place with diamond gripping technology. The AlloyGators use specially designed locking teeth, diamond grips and robust stainless-steel clips to ensure a secure, long-lasting fit for vehicle wheels. AlloyGators, available in multiple colors, have a rounded edge and matte finish to enhance the overall appearance of a vehicle.

Contact John Haynes via email JHaynes@alloygatorusa.com Visit alloygator.com/us for more.

Tint World Names Genevieve Amabile Project Communications Manager

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BOCA RATON, FL (05.02.22) — Tint World Automotive Styling Centers, a leading window tinting and automotive accessory franchise, has named Genevieve Amabile as the company’s project communications manager. In her new role, Amabile oversees multiple communications channels across Tint World’s operations to support the rapidly growing company’s marketing, reporting, and franchise development efforts.

“Genevieve is a key player in our strategy to continue building on our success in 2022,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, CEO and president of Tint World. “Her position is critical for ensuring we have effective communication throughout the company, not just in our new state-of-the-art corporate office, but with franchisees as well. Genevieve has demonstrated high-level communications, marketing, management and branding skills that elevate our overall operations and enhance our opportunities for growth.”

Genevieve Amabile

Amabile’s responsibilities as projects communication manager include managing Tint World’s executive-level and franchise development communications, management of our fulfillment center inventory, assisting with vendor partnerships, coordinating marketing initiatives, franchise development strategies, and maintaining consistent project brand messaging.

Before joining Tint World, Amabile worked in health care marketing and publishing. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University.

“This job puts me right in the middle of a fast-paced work environment, so I immediately felt like a member of the Tint World family,” Amabile said. “The entire culture here is focused on supporting success, from franchisees to the top executives. It inspires each of us to deliver real results that contribute to the company’s growth.”

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. Tint World is also 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 tintworld.com for more.

AlpineF#1Status Wins iF Design Award 2022

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AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.29.22) – AlpineF#1Status, the pinnacle of car audio developed by Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. has won an iF Design Award 2022 in the Product category.

The iF Design Award is one of the world’s most prestigious design awards. This year, a total 10,776 products and projects were entered by 4,179 companies in 57 countries and rigorously evaluated by 132 design experts. As a result, 3,518 products and projects of 1973 companies won an award. This is the first time Alps Alpine has won the award.

Click here for more information about AlpineF#1Status and its iF Design Award 2022.

Visit alpine-usa.com/alpineflagship for more.

Opinion: Ford’s F-150 Lightning is Just What the EV Market Needs

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This article was written by Paul A. Eisenstein for TheDetroitBureau.com

DETROIT, MI (04.29.22) – When the first Ford F-150 Lightning rolls off the assembly line at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center near Detroit today it will join a growing list of new battery-electric vehicles. By my estimate, there’ll be as many as 60 on the road by the end of 2022, more than triple the count last year.

But Ford’s new pickup isn’t just another BEV. It’s the spark the market needs to bring battery technology into the mainstream, connecting with potential buyers that hardly glance at earlier models like the Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt or Volkswagen ID.4.

With much fanfare, Ford begins production of the first customer-ready models of the F-150 Lightning EV today.

“Those vehicles still appeal to the early adopter community,” suggested Sam Abuelsamid, the principal auto analyst at Guidehouse Insights. “This is the first BEV to really move into the mainstream market.”

The broader F-Series has been, of course, America’s best-selling nameplate for 40 straight years — and the number one pickup for 45. Even after the production cuts suffered last year due to the semiconductor shortage, Ford managed to sell 726,004 F-Series pickups in 2021, far surpassing next-in-line models like the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado.

One year after Ford confirmed construction of the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, the first F-150 Lightning pre-production units was ready.

And where pickups were once the purview of farmers and contractors, they’ve today become mainstream vehicles, nearly as commonplace in the New York suburbs as on Texas ranches. If you were simply to go by average transaction price, industry data reveal the F-Series to be the best-selling luxury vehicle in America. And you certainly can outfit it like one, with upgraded trims like the Platinum, King Ranch and Limited loaded with leather, wood and the latest technologies.

In the automotive market, familiarity typically brings comfort, rather than contempt. Making the switch to an all-electric version of the truck becomes that much easier when there seems little to sacrifice and plenty to gain. At up to 7,700 pounds, Lightning has more than enough towing capacity for most pickup buyers, and its range of as much as 320 miles is significantly better than many of the new battery-electric sedans and SUVs now coming to market.

Click to continue reading the full article on TheDetroitBureau.com

Alpine Now Shipping Alpine Halo Preloaded Truck Subwoofer Enclosures

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AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.28.22) –Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”), is now shipping two new Dual 8” Alpine Halo Preloaded Truck Subwoofer Enclosures with ProLink. The enclosures come preloaded with Alpine’s 8” S-Series (S-DB8V-TRK) and next-generation R-Series (R2-DB8V-TRK) subwoofers and feature an adjustable linking design.

Designed for Trucks
The Truck Subwoofer Enclosures were intentionally designed for the space underneath the backseat. Two 8” subwoofers are preloaded into a compact enclosure for under-the-seat installation and linked with a ProLink bracket that can adjust from 40”-51” to fit most full-size truck applications, including the 2018-Up RAM 1500 (crew cab), 2015-Up Ford F-150 (crew cab), 2018-Up GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado (crew cab), 2011 – 2018 Jeep Wrangler (in cargo area), and 2020 – Up Jeep Gladiator. Height-adjustable “feet” accommodate uneven truck floors for a secure install.

Centered on the enclosures is an integrated amplifier mount tray that’s optimized for Alpine’s mono power amplifiers. This convenient design ensures that the entire system can be installed underneath the seat.

High-Performance Subwoofers
Each enclosure comes preloaded with high-performance subwoofers that are tuned for the unique cabin environment of the truck and add deep, accurate bass to the sound system. The ported enclosures house 8” S-Series (S-DB8V-TRK) or next-generation R-Series (R2-DB8V-TRK) subwoofers that provide options in both power and price. The 600W RMS S-DB8V-TRK was designed for optimum performance at an approachable price while the 750W RMS R2-DB8V-TRK feature deeper, more authoritative bass that can be played at higher volumes.

The enclosures were designed with dual voice coil drivers, wired in parallel for a 2Ω load to take the guesswork out of choosing an amplifier that’s compatible in power rating.

Groundbreaking Alpine Halo Design
The new Truck Subwoofer Enclosures join the Alpine Halo Family with a premium, unmistakable design. The enclosure pulls design cues from the Alpine Halo Display with unique, curved edges outlined by a silver trim and a front link bracket cover with an Alpine logo badge. The enclosures are built with sturdy, 5/8” MDF construction covered in a premium black carpet that will provide a premium look in the truck.

The R2-DB8V-TRK and S-DB8V-TRK are now shipping at a MAP of $799.95 and $699.95 respectively and are available at Alpine Authorized retailers and at Preferred Online Stores. Authorized Installation Centers can be found on the Alpine-USA website through the store locator.

Visit www.alpine-usa.com for more.

M.A.G. Sales Adds Andy Adkins to the Team

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SUNRISE, FL (04.27.22) – Andy Adkins is on the M.A.G. Sales Team. Andy will be working with M.A.G. Sales/Progressive 12volt brands based out of the East/Central Florida area. Those brands include Kenwood, Rockford Fosgate, Elettromedia, Harman, Race Sport Lighting, Boss Audio and ATG.

Adkins is an avid Side by Side enthusiast, ex installer and graduate of the Installer Institute. He is very hands on with 12volt products and served as a product specialists for several of the Metra brands over his 15 years with Metra Electronics. Most recently Adkins was the Metra Florida Sales Manager.

“Please welcome Andy to the M.A.G. Sales Team and look for him at The Jeep Beach activities in Daytona Beach this week” Mike Sajecki, M.A.G. Sales Rep Principal stated.

Andy can be reached at aadkins@mag-fl.com and 386-747-2788