AUBURN HILLS, MI (04.02.25) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) welcomes Pacific Coast Marketing as the new representative firm for the West Coast region, covering the Arizona, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Henderson (NV) markets. The markets were formerly represented by Tim Beason, who, after 14 years of exceptional service to the Alpine Brand, announced his retirement at the end of March.

“We’re very thankful to Tim Beason and his dedicated years to the Alpine brand, and we wish him a happy retirement,” said Dan Sparks, Director of National Sales for the Alpine Brand Aftermarket Division at Alps Alpine North America. “We’re excited to welcome Pacific Coast Marketing to our West Coast markets and know that our West Coast team is dedicated to making this a smooth transition for all.”

Founded in 1991, Pacific Coast Marketing is a full-service firm made up of five representatives that strive to provide superior service to their network of dealers. Alpine representatives will include Gary Sheagley, Rep Principal, Jon Ash, Sales Rep for the Arizona, Las Vegas, and Henderson (NV) markets, and Brian Bruining, Sales Rep for the San Diego, CA markets.

“Pacific Coast Marketing is honored to have been awarded the opportunity to represent Alpine, a line with such a great legacy and reputation in our territory and beyond,” stated Principal Gary Sheagley. “In this evolving market, our dealers are facing challenges that can only be overcome by equipping them with the right tools, knowledge, and vendor partners that will help them meet customers’ demands. We look forward to working with Alpine to offer our dealers these technology-driven products along with the necessary training and support to help them deliver the finest possible listening experience to their customers.”

An official communication announcing Beason’s retirement and Pacific Coast Marketing’s succession was distributed earlier last month to the Alpine Retailers in the West Coast markets.

Visit www.alpine-usa.com for more.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (04.02.25) – Citing the dire impact of California’s intended ban of internal combustion engine vehicles, a coalition of 335 small businesses, comprised of members of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), today urged U.S. House of Representatives and Senate leadership to put an immediate stop to the implementation of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation.

ACC II is currently subject to Congressional Review Act oversight due to the significant disruptions it would cause for the nation’s economy and the $337 billion annual economic impact of the automotive aftermarket industry. Congress has a short window to respond to the transmission of the regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency.

In the SEMA-led letter to Republican leadership in the House and Senate, small business owners stressed the importance of swift, definitive action to schedule a vote to overturn California’s regulatory land grab, which will limit vehicle choice for nearly 40% of American consumers.

“Congress is owed the opportunity to decide on the appropriateness of waivers granted in the waning days of the lame-duck Biden administration, just weeks after the American people resoundingly voted against candidates who favor EV mandates. 

“Congress is owed the opportunity to determine whether a single state should be empowered to enact a heavy-handed policy that requires 100% of new cars, SUVs, and small trucks sold in California and 11 other states to be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) by 2035. 

“And Congress is owed the opportunity to determine if a single state is allowed to eschew a tradition of American innovation and ingenuity in favor of a flawed technology that the American people don’t want, that our businesses can’t use, and that our economy can’t sustain.”

Read the full letter.

SEMA Says: “This is a classic ‘who decides?’ question,” said Karen Bailey-Chapman, SEMA’s senior vice president for public and government affairs. “We’ve seen a cavalcade of unelected bureaucrats trying to say that voters and their elected representatives can’t be trusted to make such decisions. But the decision about whether to ban the internal combustion engine doesn’t lie in Sacramento, or in the halls of the so-called ‘Government Accountability Office,’ or with an unelected parliamentarian, but with Congress itself.

“It’s time for Congress to exercise its lawful prerogative under the Congressional Review Act to stop the nonsense and let the will of voters be heard, to finally end California’s regulatory land grab over national automotive policy. This is a critical moment, and the American automotive aftermarket stands ready to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.”

BACKGROUND
SEMA and the specialty automotive aftermarket industry are not anti-EV; rather, they champion a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. SEMA will continue efforts to preserve Americans’ rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry’s ability to design, manufacture, and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.

California’s ICE vehicle ban through EV mandates would represent a significant hit to the nation’s economy by causing irreparable harm to an industry that annually delivers a $337 billion economic impact and supports more than 1.3 million American jobs through domestic manufacturing and sales. 
33% of the nation’s automotive aftermarket industry is ICE-dependent, representing over $100 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, and impacts roughly 330,000 jobs.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, SEMA, through its Driving Force Action SuperPAC, educated voters about the damaging impact of EV mandates, and the profound importance of empowering the automotive aftermarket to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.

Visit www.sema.org for more.

TORRANCE, CA (04.01.25) – Pioneer Corporation has announced that it will begin manufacturing in-car products in India in 2026. Following the establishment of an R&D center in the country in 2023, this strategic initiative will further enhance the Pioneer Group’s presence and position in India, where the automotive industry has been enjoying outstanding growth annually.

Under the corporate vision of “Creating the Future of Mobility Experiences,” Pioneer has been stepping up its efforts to transform itself into a solutions company. Furthermore, the company has been taking steps toward becoming a major player in the global arena, including bringing in executives and industry veterans from outside and establishing R&D facilities in India and Germany.

Pioneer considers India as one of its high-priority markets outside Japan. The start of local production of in-car products, in collaboration with local contractors, will enable us to establish an end-to-end value chain in the country, ranging from B2B sales and R&D to manufacturing and post-delivery support. This will give us an excellent opportunity to bolster our business with Indian automakers. In particular, we will be able to serve them better by becoming more flexible in accommodating local needs into product design and manufacturing, substantially reducing delivery lead time, and providing after-sale service support promptly when needed. Local production is scheduled to start with Display Audio products for automakers, and we will consider expanding the scope of production to include a broader range of in-car products, both for factory installation and for retail channels.

Commenting on the strategic decision, Shiro Yahara, President and CEO of Pioneer Corporation, said, “We are excited to start the manufacture of in-car products in India. The shift to local production will enable us to better serve local automakers close to their home turf. It is a huge step forward for Pioneer to become one of the key players in the fast-growing Indian auto industry and to drive the growth of our global business in the long term.”

“With the start of local production, we are confident that our commitment to India will become stronger than ever. By establishing closer partnerships with local automotive manufacturers, we will provide a wider range of products and services to meet the needs of evolving Indian automotive customers,” said Aniket Kulkarni, Managing Director of Pioneer India Electronics Private Ltd.

Starting local production in India is perfectly in line with the “Make in India” initiative launched and promoted by the Indian government to drive domestic manufacturing, and is also part of Pioneer’s strategy to deliver enhanced mobility experiences to drivers and passengers around the world.

Visit usa.pioneer for more.

LONG BEACH, CA (04.01.25) – KENWOOD USA proudly introduces the DFR1009XR.

KENWOOD introduces the first receiver with AutoFragrant. Auto Fragrant is a cartridge-based fragrance system that turns the receiver into an air freshener. Just slide a AutoFragrant cartridge into the small slot on the side of the screen.  From the screen you can select the amount of fragrance, and it will tell you when it’s time to replace it. The scent comes out the sides of the screen, in front of the vents on most cars.

AutoFragrant can be found in the new DFR1009XR 10.25” receiver. This receiver is part of the KENWOOD eXcelon Reference line with fewer features.

Wired CarPlay (Android Auto will not be available at launch)

• HD Radio
• 3 Pre-outs
• One USB input and two USB outputs (future use case)

*KENWOOD plans a follow up model with a backup camera input and 16 Channel DSP in 2026.

The receiver comes with four fragrances, Coconut, New Car and Ocean Breeze/Bait shop & Street Takeover.

John Lucas Executive VP, states: this plants KENWOOD squarely in the 2 Billion dollar, in-car fragrance business. “We feel so strongly about this product we are making it a mix requirement and will require an active demo for retail stores.”

The product will launch with the four included scents with plans for more scent offerings in the future. They will be available at $39 each and last about a month. Or you can opt to have a lifetime subscription for cartridge replacements for a onetime fee of $299 and have your favorite fragrances delivered directly to your home.

Rick Noetzli KENWOOD product general manager states “This is the kind of product the industry has asked for years, and we finally have the technology to bring it to market. We expect some great smelling dashes along with the audio performance and entertainment that our customer expects. Technology like this only comes around once a decade so we know other companies will copy us but for now, we have the market to ourselves”

DMX1009FRXR will retail for $1700 and will be available in June.

For more information on the KENWOOD Direct Replacement line, visit www.kenwood.com/usa.

FAYETTEVILLE, AR (03.31.25) – With Joseph Norton behind the wheel the MUSWAY Golf headed out on the road Tuesday morning, the 25th for a swing with dealer stops in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and back home on Friday the 28th.

“My plan was to give dealers in these three states the attention that most manufacturers don’t give them with a stop at their store. The stops delivered the latest information from MUSWAY along with demos in the MUSWAY Golf” Norton related.

Following a stop with Audiophile in southern Missouri the next stop was Springhill KS on the outskirts of Kansas City. There Norton spent time with Cameron Powell, MUSWAY dealer Limitless Innovation Solutions, and prospective dealer Mobile Sound with Kyle Harris. Both were very impressed after the demo in the Golf and especially impressed with the 8″ and 6.5” speakers.

From there, the next stop was at a Aho Audio in Guthrie Ok and spending time with dealer Anthony who is a MUSWAY dealer.

Aho related “We are enjoying working with Joseph and all at MNSWAY. Their price points are very friendly and seeing Joseph in our store was terrific. The demo in the Golf highlighting the DSP Amp and speakers was very impressive. This was the first time in a long while I’ve seen anyone from a manufacturer in my store. I have been open for 15 years.”

From Guthrie it was a quick trip over Tulsa to meet with Cody Landis at Code Zero Customs. Landis was very pleased to see Joseph in his store and is considering the opportunity to becoming a MUSWAY dealer in the Tulsa area.

“I rate this swing as a 4 out of 5 stars regarding the interactions with potential and current dealers. Most dealers are telling me that last year was really tough and this year is beginning to look a little better so far. At every stop along the way, dealers were very excited to have the opportunity for a factory demo vehicle stopping at their store as all are making plans to drive business forward in the coming months” Norton related.

“I’m already thinking about the next swing on the road with the MUSWAY Golf. The Golf features our top-of-the-line 3-Way components upfront, our newest 8-Channel DP amp along with our top-of-the-line 8″ sub and 6.5” speakers along with our new DSP Controller. Doing live dealer demos and connecting in-person is definitely the best” Norton concluded.

Visit muswayusa.com for more.

BATTLE GROUND, WA (03.31.25) – The Crossover Marketing Group is expanding with the addition of Mike Hall as Senior Territory Manager for the Northwest Territory. With over 35 years of experience in the 12-volt industry, Mike brings unparalleled expertise, dedication, and relationship-building skills to the team. His appointment aligns seamlessly with Crossover Marketing’s innovative approach, “The Crossover Way,” which spans two territories across eleven states.

Rob Sutton, Principal Owner and Co-founder of Crossover Marketing Group, shared his excitement about the new addition: “We are thrilled to have Mike join our team. His experience and authenticity align perfectly with the values we’re building our organization around. Mike’s ability to consistently deliver results while fostering meaningful relationships will add significant value to our manufacturer and dealer partners.”

Mike’s career reflects a deep passion for the 12-volt industry. He began in sales and installation at independent car audio shops in the early 1990s before advancing to store manager at Car Toys, where he honed his leadership skills. His journey also includes factory roles at AAMP of America and Memphis Audio, providing him with valuable insights into manufacturing operations. Additionally, his time as a manufacturer’s representative over the past few years has only sharpened his territory management skills and strengthened dealer relationships.

Paul Pilat, Principal Owner and Co-founder of Crossover Marketing Group, shared his confidence in Mike’s abilities: “With Mike’s proven track record in sales management, we’re well-positioned to streamline our processes and expand our reach in the territory.”

In his new role as Senior Territory Manager, Mike will oversee dealer partnerships in Alaska, Washington, Northern Idaho, and Western Montana. He will also participate in business with Key Dealers in the territory.

Mike Hall expressed “I’m thrilled and proud to join the Crossover team and continue serving the wonderful 12-volt dealers in the Pacific Northwest. The values and mission of Crossover Marketing are a perfect fit for me, and I’m hoping to make a strong team even stronger.”

Crossover is committed to delivering exceptional service and fostering growth for all partners. With Mike Hall on board, the company is poised to strengthen its presence in the Northwest Territory while continuing its tradition of excellence. This expansion underscores Crossover’s dedication to building long-term and sustainable partnerships.

Go to our YouTube Channel now to watch a short video profile of the entire team as we enter the next growth phase.

Visit crossovermktg.com for more.

DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.28.25) – The following candidates are vying for a seat on the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Board of Directors:

Chair-elect (1 Seat)

• Norris Marshall, BluePrint Engines
• Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales

Manufacturer (3 Seats)

• Brian Herron, OPUS IVS
• Tim McCarthy, HUSHMAT & ZYCOAT
• Shane McNallie, Lippert/CURT
• Cary Redman, PRW Power
• Marcus Umlauff, Toyota Motor North America (Incumbent)

Manufacturers Rep (1 Seat)

• Rich Butler, R&R Marketing (Incumbent)
• Mark Taylor, KAM Marketing

Voting will take place online between May 19 and June 2 and is open to current SEMA-member companies. Votes must be cast by each company’s primary contact. Details on the upcoming election will be sent to the member company’s designated primary contact beginning May 19. Winners will be announced by June 9.

For more information, visit www.sema.org.

NEW YORK, NY (03.28.25) – The 2025 Major League Baseball season gets underway this week and SiriusXM delivers listeners the most comprehensive audio coverage of the league, offering access to every regular season and postseason game from Opening Day through the World Series presented by Capital One, plus daily in-depth talk on the exclusive MLB Network Radio channel, 365 days a year.

SiriusXM has added several new expert voices to MLB Network Radio this season. Fans will hear insight and analysis from former Marlins and Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, and former major league players Stephen Piscotty, Ryon Healy, AJ Ramos and Cole Tucker, who all join the channel as hosts.

They join an MLB Network Radio roster that features former GMs Jim Bowden, Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips, former players David Aardsma, Kevin Frandsen, Chris Gimenez, Jensen Lewis, Trevor May, CJ Nitkowski, Eduardo Pérez, Xavier Scruggs, Ryan Spilborghs and Mike Stanton, and former manager Kevin Kennedy. The channel is also home to shows hosted by national baseball writers Tyler Kepner and Jon Morosi, as well as baseball insiders Robert Brender, Jenny Cavnar, Mike Ferrin, Dan Graca, Jeff Joyce, Jim Memolo, Grant Paulsen, Ed Randall and Dani Wexelman.

SiriusXM and MLB Network also recently announced that MLB Network will simulcast the final hour of SiriusXM’s daily morning show, “The Leadoff Spot,” which is hosted by Steve Phillips, Xavier Scruggs, and Eduardo Pérez. “The Leadoff Spot” airs live on SiriusXM weekdays from 7 to 10 am ET. MLB Network viewers can watch the show live each morning from 9 to 10am ET starting March 26.

As for the action on the field, with SiriusXM, fans can get every one of their team’s 162 regular season games, plus every playoff game, in their cars or anywhere they go with the SiriusXM app. 

Additionally, the SiriusXM app features 30 dedicated MLB team pages where fans can find their team’s official radio broadcast for each game, plus SiriusXM programming and podcasts that are specifically focused on that team. 

For a schedule of MLB games on SiriusXM go to SiriusXM.com/Sports.

Throughout the season, fans can also hear regularly scheduled interviews with several MLB managers on MLB Network Radio. These include: Torey Lovullo (Diamondbacks), Matt Quatraro (Royals), Stephen Vogt (Guardians), Ron Washington (Angels), Pat Murphy (Brewers), Rocco Baldelli (Twins), Brandon Hyde (Orioles), Alex Cora (Red Sox), Mark Kotsay (Athletics), Mike Shildt (Padres), Bob Melvin (Giants), Derek Shelton (Pirates), John Schneider (Blue Jays), AJ Hinch (Tigers) and others.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (03.27.25) – Maxxsonics is poised for more business and growth with a completely revitalized Sales team. Reinforcing Maxxsonics’ commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction — the Sales team is looking to accelerate growth and expand its industry and market presence.

Maxxsonics is entering an exciting new chapter with a revitalization effort being led by the entire Sales team. The Maxxsonics Sales team includes — Eddie Ramirez – National Sales Manager, Beata Wasilewski – Senior Director of Strategic Accounts & Customer Support, John Driscoll – Regional Sales Manager, Mark “Sarge” Schleipfer – Regional Sales Manager, and Luis Larralde – International Sales Director. This revitalized Sales team is aligned with Maxxsonics’ long-term vision of innovation and growth, ensuring that its brands — including MB Quart, Hifonics, Crunch, and Autotek — continue to lead in the Mobile, Marine, and Powersports audio industries.

“The Maxxsonics Sales team brings together a wide range of industry expertise and a shared commitment to driving growth, strengthening partnerships, and delivering innovative products,” said Eddie Ramirez, Maxxsonics National Sales Manager.

With this newly energized Sales team, Maxxsonics is set to strengthen relationships with existing customers, forge new partnerships, and introduce innovative strategies that will propel the company to new heights in the audio industry.

“The evolution of the entire Sales team reinforces our dedication to excellence — positioning us to better serve our partners, enhance customer relationships, and continue leading with cutting-edge solutions in the mobile electronic space,” concluded Ramirez.

Follow the link for complete details on Maxxsonics and their entire family of audio brands: maxxsonics.com.

PALM BEACH, FL (03.27.25) – Mark Towel from NETFLIX’s Car Masters Rust to Riches give ZZ2 a shoutout on his social media channel Gotham Garage. View ZZ2’s caption and Mark’s video below:

Special thank you to Mark Towle from @gotham.garage Gotham Garage and the hit Netflix series @carmastersrusttoriches Car Masters: Rust to Riches! 🏁🚘 As big fans of the show, we’re honored to hear how much you love our MPPLAY product. Your creativity and passion for building one-of-a-kind automotive masterpieces inspire us here at ZZ2—keep pushing the boundaries!

We also want to send a shoutout to @audio.addiction Audio Addiction in Temecula, California, for getting us in touch with Mark & for their exceptional service and expert installations using ZZ2 products! Your dedication to quality and innovation never goes unnoticed—we’re proud to have you as part of the ZZ2 family. 🙌🔧

Be sure to follow @audio.addiction Audio Addiction and Mark Towle @gotham.garage to stay updated on their incredible work. We can’t wait to see what they do next! 💪✨

Learn more about the MPPlay below:

Visit zz-2.com for more,