DIAMOND BAR, CA (009.29.2020) – After a public online voting, five young business owners and executives have been selected to compete in the final stage of the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad Competition. They will now pitch their products and ideas to a panel of industry experts, who will select and announce a winner during SEMA360 on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Available to business owners, executives and entrepreneurs under the age 40 who are launching new automotive products, the SEMA Launch Pad Competition supports young innovators and encourages future industry growth. This year’s finalists will be pitching products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

“We are excited to support our young industry innovators by providing a platform to showcase their new ideas and products,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA vice president of councils and membership. “This year’s finalists represent a diverse group of products. We continue to be amazed and inspired by the ingenuity, talent and skills that the younger generation possesses.”

The finalists who will be competing and pitching their ideas to a panel of industry experts and leaders on Monday, Nov. 2, during SEMA360 are:

Justin Bradshaw, Director of REVER
Product: Mobile App
REVER is a mobile app and website for powersports enthusiasts to discover, track and share routes. The company has thousands of recommended roads for sports cars and off-highway users as well as offline maps, turn-by-turn directions, a friend tracker to view other people in your group in real-time, weather alerts and the first CarPlay-compatible app of its kind for this specific audience.

Khanjan Desai, Director of Alchemy
Product: ExoShield
ExoShield is a thin, transparent film that stops rock chips by increasing the impact resistance of the windshield by six. The advanced safety features in most modern cars use sensors that sit behind the windshield, which has driven up windshield replacement costs by three to five times, even for mid-level vehicles. ExoShield is powered by Alchemy’s proprietary nanocoatings, which allows it to be both impact and scratch resistant and prevents expensive windshield replacements for vehicle owners.

Roland Hence, Director of FrontLane Inc.
Product: Impulse – Emergency Brake Light
The Impulse is a wireless, battery-powered emergency brake light that reduces rear-end collisions by pulsing eight ultra-bright LEDs under extreme braking situations to alert the following driver up to 50% quicker. Impulse can be installed on any passenger vehicle with a standard back windshield in seconds and has a four-year battery life.

Matt Rafeld, Director of Beachcomber Offroad
Product: Stowaway Door
The Stowaway Door is designed for Jeep owners to enjoy door-free days without worrying about rain, cold or a little mud on the seats. When not in use, the soft-door folds to fit under the rear seat or anywhere you could store a small tent.

Eric Rivera, Director of Dirt Dynamix
Product: Truck Accessories
Established August 2019, Dirt Dynamix designed and brought to market its Universal Truck Bed Mount—a simple and cost-effective way to offer shade via umbrella and/or mount any flag pole in the bed of any truck. Work, race or play—utilize your truck bed in any truck manner and one could benefit from this mount.

Industry professionals can watch as the five finalists compete on Monday, Nov. 2, at 5:00 pm (PST) by registering for SEMA360. Taking place 100 percent online, SEMA360 is the industry’s new event that was created to fill the void of the in-person SEMA Show not taking place in Las Vegas.

To learn more about the competition and finalists, visit www.sema.org/launchpad. To register for SEMA360 and watch the finalists compete, apply at www.sema360.com.

DIAMOND BAR, CA (09.28.2020) – California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a controversial Executive Order this week instructing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to draft regulations requiring that all new cars and passenger trucks sold in the state be zero-emissions by 2035.

Once drafted, CARB’s proposed regulations will be subject to a lengthy regulatory process, including legal, economic, and environmental analyses, public comment and hearings. The Governor’s order is also expected to face numerous legal challenges from opponents.

“SEMA is deeply disappointed in Governor Newsom’s decision to escalate his ongoing feud with the Trump Administration at the expense of the consumer and California’s small businesses,” said Daniel Ingber, SEMA vice president of government and legal affairs. “SEMA will work with the industry and enthusiasts in opposing the Governor’s proposal on all fronts.”

According to the California Energy Commission, zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) currently make up approximately 2% of the over 28-million vehicles in use in the Golden State. It is estimated that at least 8% of new vehicle sales in California will be ZEVs and plug-in hybrids by 2025.

California’s ZEV program falls within the state’s greenhouse gas rule that is being challenged in court by the Trump Administration. The federal government is seeking to withdraw EPA recognition of the California rule under the Clean Air Act because it effectively establishes fuel economy standards, which are the sole jurisdiction of the federal government. The challenge could eventually be decided by the Supreme Court.

Visit sema.org for more.

DIAMOND BAR, CA (09.24.2020) – The SEMA360 Education Program will feature more than 30 professional development seminars and candid conversations with industry-leading celebrities and personalities.

Each session will take place in SEMA360, the new industry event that is 100 percent online on November 2-6. Attendees will be able to sign up for an unlimited number of seminars at no additional cost, when registering to participate in SEMA360.

“While circumstances have refrained us from meeting in person this year, SEMA remains committed to helping our industry members succeed and prosper,” said Gary Vigil, SEMA senior manager of professional development. “Each educational session in SEMA360 was carefully crafted to help attendees make smarter business decisions, and offers the exciting opportunity to hear stories and advice from a diverse collection of highly successful, entrepreneurial leaders.”

View the SEMA360 Seminar schedule document here.

The program includes sessions on online marketing and business management, vehicle accessorization, aftermarket trends and research, advanced vehicle technology and more. Each session is designed to help businesses succeed and automotive aftermarket professionals advance their careers.

“Now more than ever, our members are looking for new and effective ways to come together and build on their industry knowledge and create long-lasting business relationships,” said Vigil. “SEMA360 Education will open new doors to those who are looking to enhance their expertise and get more involved in the industry.”

Register for SEMA360 to get access to the full seminar and event schedule. Additional details: www.sema360.com.