DIAMOND BAR, CA (08.12.2021) – SEMA’s support for young, up-and-coming vehicle builders continues, as the Young Guns category of the 2021 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition kicks off with the Eastern U.S. regional qualifier on August 14, 2021.

With three qualifier events in this year’s Young Guns program, the events are divided by regions—Eastern, Midwest and Pacific, taking place August 14, 21, and 28, respectively. Selected participants will be interviewed and judged remotely via video chat.

Top prize for one young vehicle builder (age 27 and under) at each qualifier event is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the trade-only SEMA Show in Las Vegas, in November. The prize includes transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature vehicle spot at the Show and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

First introduced into the Battle of the Builders competition in 2017, the Young Guns category provides exposure for rising young builders who may not otherwise be able to qualify for the competition due to certain requirements.

The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition is the automotive industry’s premier vehicle competition, with participants featured at the SEMA Show, online, in magazines and on television.

“We’re seeing great innovation from our young builders”, said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, PR and communications. “We are beyond excited to welcome our Young Guns back to a live SEMA Show this year.”

The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world. The “Young Guns” classification is exclusive to up-and-coming builders who are under 27 years old and have performed the majority of the work on their vehicles.

For more information about the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition or the SEMA Young Guns program, visit www.semabotb.com or www.semayoungguns.com.

AVON LAKE, OH (08.12.2021) – Enjoy a cooler, comfortable ride on your next UTV adventure with a new Heat Control & Dirt Deflector Kit (part # 902111) from Design Engineering, Inc.

Now available for Honda Talon 2-seat models and 4-seat models, the kit is made from high quality, long-lasting, durable materials to reduce heat in the center console area while also sealing it from dirt and mud build-up. An Extreme Heat Barrier is included that blocks radiant heat from the engine and exhaust on the passenger seat to keep riders fully protected.

“Our Heat Control & Dirt Deflector Kit is made using multiple materials that are best-suited for the job,” said Mike Buca of DEI. “That includes our semi rigid Form-A-Barrier™ to block heat and dirt from the lower section of the tunnel, and our Heat Screen aluminized glass fiber material to block heat on the top”

Talon riders enjoy a more comfortable ride with complete protection, including blocking dirt and mud from building up in the tunnel area. The kit installs easily with detailed instructions, and the materials will not absorb water.

Each kit includes CNC cut pieces:

Form-A-Barrier material used in the tunnel – good to 1,300° F
Radiant Heat Screen material used in the console – good to1,200° F
Radiant Extreme Heat Barrier used behind the passenger seat good to 1,750° F
Hardware & fully detailed installation instructions

For more information about DEI’s Heat Control & Dirt Deflector Kit for Honda Talons and the company’s complete line of powersports products, visit www.designengineering.com

STILLWATER, USA – KICKER (8/10/2021) and more than 150 of the fastest street cars in the country, including high-profile television stars, are committed to attending the annual Outlaw Armageddon no-prep drag race in Noble, Okla. Thunder Valley Raceway Park plays host to the event August 13 and 14.

KICKER plans to roll in with the completely revamped XRV (Xtreme Recreational Vehicle). The 82-foot big rig houses a full showroom of audio products in addition to the legendary Boom Room, which returns to life following major upgrades. A larger, louder Boom Room features an enclosure now suspended in a custom steel framework, built to withstand the low-toned torture emanating from a massive 40,000-watt power plant of amps. A dozen KICKER Q-Class L7 ® 15-inch subwoofers, in addition to an array of 11-inch compression-driver, KM-Series Tower Speakers, deliver tons of bass – and fun – to countless racing fans.

KICKER-equipped vehicles from Discovery Channel’s ® Street Outlaws’ ® own Ryan Martin (driver of the Fireball Camaro ® ) and a SEMA Show-quality International ® SCOUT ® owned by Shawn Ellington’s (aka “Murder Nova”) 187 Customs (Mustang, Okla.) will be in the KICKER XRV setup area.

More than 12,000 spectators attended the last Outlaw Armageddon, with more anticipated this year. With nearly $45,000 in prizes at stake in six different classes, several members of Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws and Street Outlaws: New Orleans have committed to attend. Racing celebrities like Big Chief, Daddy Dave, Jeff Lutz, Dominator, Farmtruck and AZN, Deathtrap, Birdman and many more are expected to be on hand, ready to race and sign autographs.

For race details, fans can go online at http://www.outlawarmageddon.com.

Arlington, VA, August 10, 2021 – The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®  today announced that General Motors (GM) Chair and CEO Mary Barra will deliver the opening keynote at CES® 2022, the world’s most influential technology event. Barra will return to the CES keynote stage, sharing GM’s vision for mass adoption of electric vehicles . She will show how technology and the all-electric era will create opportunities for mobility experiences to serve the planet and the people.  

The automotive sector is tracking for record growth at  CES® 2022, with companies from around the world using CES to launch products, share their vision and conduct face-to-face meetings. More than 180 companies from the transportation and vehicle tech industry have committed to the show, including GM, Daimler AG, Fisker, Turing Auto, Waymo and more.

“CES is the global stage for brands to showcase their commitment to driving change,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “Mary Barra disrupted an industry at an inflection point by showing the potential of an all-electric future. GM stock hit an all-time high following the show. We are thrilled for her return at CES 2022 and look forward to hearing the progress GM has made towards an all-electric future and its vision for how this technology will benefit our planet.”

Barra has served as CEO of GM since Jan. 15, 2014 and Chair of the GM Board of Directors since Jan. 4, 2016. Under Barra’s leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity – time. She began her career with GM in 1980 as a co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division and has since held various roles within the company, including executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing & Supply Chain, vice president of Global Human Resources, and vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering.

Barra joins recently confirmed T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert as a keynote speaker. The CES keynote schedule will be updated regularly as keynote speakers are announced. Top visionaries and thought leaders will speak and share insights on premiere technologies during CES 2022. Attendees will be able to view the keynotes in Las Vegas and through the digital experience, giving the world a front row seat to experience the future of technology. 

Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2022 will convene the tech industry in-person and digitally, Jan. 5-8, 2022, with Media Days taking place Jan. 3-4, 2022. Global audiences will have access to major brands and startups, as well as the world’s most-influential leaders and industry advocates. For over 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation, and CES 2022 will provide an opportunity for companies from around the world, both large and small, to launch products, build brands and form partnerships. Visit  CES.tech for all CES 2022 updates, including registration details, and the media page for all press resources.

CHINO CA (08.09.21) As Aunex is expanding the company’s reach they have been on the road across the U.S. John Franks, Aunex Sales Director, recently completed 3 back-to-back territory trips visiting current and prospective dealers along side Aunex rep firms. During the sales calls Franks introduced and demonstrated the value of the Aunex line to many dealers.

Franks traveled through Ohio, Minnesota, Indiana and Kentucky with trips to the northeast and south east coming soon.

“Spending time with dealers in their stores is very rewarding. They are telling me that Aunex products are being well received by their customers. In addition, the Musway DSP products are providing more options to provide top quality sound production. In all cases they also say that our products provide profit opportunity” Franks related.

Some top notch dealers that have come aboard include Horizon Audio, Barry Electronics, Stereo Advantage, Mobile Installation Services, Custom Wheels or Zanesvillle, Sara’s Custom Car Audio and GNC Customs. Many more have indicated plans to join the Aunex Team in the near future.

With close to 250 independent specialty retailers nationwide and 13 rep firms representing Aunex and Musway the company is definitely headed in the right direction, especially considering the company began shipping less than 18 months ago.

For more see aunexus.com

WESTMINSTER, Colo.–(8/9/2021)– Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR) today announced the company will manufacture a new geostationary communications satellite for longtime customer SiriusXM.

The SXM-9 satellite will be based on Maxar’s proven 1300-class platform and built at the company’s manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, California. It is expected that SXM-9 will launch in 2024.

“Maxar’s 1300-class platform has served as a reliable spacecraft platform for decades, and we’re glad to see SiriusXM will rely on its performance once again,” said Robert Curbeam, Maxar Senior Vice President of Space Capture. “We’re looking forward to continuing our decades-long relationship with SiriusXM.”

Maxar has been building satellites for SiriusXM since 2000, which includes the first-generation Sirius satellites launched in 2000 and the second-generation Sirius satellites launched in 2009 and 2013. Most recently, SXM-8 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on June 6, 2021, and completed in-orbit testing in July 2021.

Holly Hill, Fla. – August 5, 2021 – Metra Electronics^® is heading to Dallas, Texas to host six training sessions at KnowledgeFest™ and showcase their latest aftermarket installation products. At the booth will also be a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD built by Extreme Offroad and Performance and customized from the front to the back with Metra’s Heise LED lights and more.

Metra’s training sessions will outline new integration products, lighting and audio upgrades for Harley-Davidson^®, aftermarket accessories for Jeep^® Wrangler and Gladiator, and new products for upgrading vehicle safety systems. Installer Institute^® will also host a session to show shops how to connect with trained, certified graduates through their online career portal and explain the future of mobile electronics education. As a Diamond Ultra sponsor, Metra is proud to support the industry by providing in-depth training sessions for installers. Training sessions include:

“Simplify your Install with Axxess DSPs” on Friday, August 27 at 1:45 PM

This training will cover the entire Axxess DSP product line, highlight new vehicle coverage, and showcase the newest app features. Metra will show installers how these solutions can increase sales in the showroom and decrease time in the bay. Attendees will learn how to use and set up Axxess DSPs through the app for complete tuning control and when to use the DSP “Lite” versus “X” solutions. This training will also explain how to use the different types of applications offered within the AXDSP line, including CAN-based systems, new A2B systems, MOST25, and MOST50 vehicle technology.

“New Accessories for Jeep^® Wrangler/Gladiator from Metra” on Friday, August 27 at 3 PM

Metra has focused an entire product line on the growing market of Jeep^® owners who want to customize their rides to be louder and reflect their own personal style. This session will help them learn about the new speaker adapter plates, backup camera options, complete integration solutions, and LED lighting solutions designed to fit Jeep^® Wrangler JL and Gladiator models. Attendees will hear valuable tips for selling and installing these new products that will give them additional opportunities to sell a full range of upgrades to loyal Jeep^® customers.

“New Lighting and Audio Upgrades for Harley-Davidson^® Motorcycles” on Saturday, August 28 at 4:45 PM

How can shops cut down installation time on audio and lighting upgrades? Metra’s Saddle Tramp brand is here to help with even more new products launching this season. Attendees will be the first to learn about new Axxess DSPs that fit Harley-Davidson^® with a built-in re-flashing feature and Saddle Tramp’s newest replacement inner fairing. Attendees will learn how to offer upgrades to make their customer’s motorcycles louder and more stylish, without the need for labor-intensive custom fabrication and wiring.

“Upgrading Vehicle Safety Systems with iBEAM” on Saturday, August 28 at 6:00 PM

As more consumers upgrade their vehicles, safety and convenience features should not be left out of the selling strategy. Attendees will learn about the aftermarket safety features they should be selling and how to install iBEAM’s newest products. This session will go over the hot-button selling points and features that consumers are asking for plus installation tips to give installers a better understanding of what is involved in an upgrade.

“The Future of Mobile Electronics Education with Installer Institute” on Sunday, August 29 at 9:15 AM

There are some things best learned with hands-on training. Mobile electronics education is one of them. Attendees of this session will learn how Installer Institute has adapted its curriculum to include courses designed to give students practical training for car audio installations plus additional skills for home theater integration, marine audio, upholstery, security, remote start installation, window tinting and more. For shops looking for trained, MECP and MESA certified installers, this session will show them how to connect with ii graduates through the online career portal and also explain what they can expect an ii graduate to have learned.

“Advanced Integration Made Easy with Axxess and Metra” on Sunday, August 29 at 10:30 AM

Attendees will learn about the newest solutions from Axxess and Metra that make vehicle integration easy, even with some of the notoriously complex vehicle systems. This training session gives in-depth installation information for Metra’s new AXPIO-JL1 integration kit for Jeep^® Wrangler, Metra’s latest TurboTouch^® dash kits, and new Axxess interfaces hitting the market.

Metra’s customers can register for the KnowledgeFest event at no cost using Metra’s VIP code, available by request from their sales representative. Once registered for the event, attendees will also need to register online at KnowledgeFest.org for each training session they will attend. Metra will be at booth #615 from August 27^th-29^th at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Additional information about the show, produced by the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA), is available at KnowledgeFest.org.