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☑️ Two identical training sessions available for flexible scheduling!
LAS VEGAS, NV (12.07.25) — Siemens CEO Roland Busch will take the keynote stage at CES 2026 to outline the company’s vision for AI-enabled industrial systems spanning manufacturing, infrastructure and transportation. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) confirmed Busch will present a technology roadmap built on AI, automation, and digital twins, signaling what Siemens describes as a pivotal shift toward AI-ready industrial ecosystems.
Siemens CEO Roland Busch
According to CES organizers, Busch will focus on how Siemens’ industrial tools connect real-world systems with digital models to improve planning, engineering, and long-term operations. “AI and digital twins will revolutionize industrial environments, streamlining design, planning, engineering, operations, and maintenance,” said Gary Shapiro, CEO and Vice Chair, CTA. “Roland Busch and Siemens are showing how AI, combined with data and deep domain know-how, can reinvent entire industries.”
Siemens plans to use its CES presence to demonstrate AI-driven workflows and applications alongside partners and customers. Demonstrations will feature what the company describes as industrial-grade AI – systems designed to run in factories, buildings, and transportation networks with high reliability and clear operational benefits.
Busch framed the moment as part of a broader technological inflection point. “It is always a defining moment when a new general-purpose technology becomes available: There was a world before electricity; today, electricity is ubiquitous. There was a world before AI, right now we are transitioning to a world that makes full use of it – including in factories, buildings, grids, and transportation,” he said.
With more than three decades at Siemens and a background in physics, Busch has led initiatives across automation, smart infrastructure and industrial digitalization. Under his leadership, Siemens was included in TIME’s 2025 World’s Best Companies list. Kinsey Fabrizio, President of CTA, said Siemens’ involvement aligns with the show’s broader theme. “Siemens embodies the spirit of CES – where human creativity meets tech transformation,” she said.
Busch will speak January 6 at 8:30 a.m. PST at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Other CES keynote speakers include leaders from AMD, Caterpillar, Havas, Vivendi and Lenovo. Siemens will host product demonstrations, livestream discussions, and an on-site mobile experience center throughout the event.
Learn more and register for CES 2026 today at CES.tech.
HOUSTON TX (12.10.25) – The first week of December, David Toliver put a plan in place to make dealer calls between Houston and Dallas. As part of the plan, Ceasar Olaes, MTX National Sales Manager, flew into Houston to hit the road.
David Toliver, Synergy Marketing Principal, has been the area representative for MTX since September 2022. Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana make up the territory Synergy Marketing covers.
Ceasar, David and Jorge (L/R) outside Jack’s Stereo in Waco.
David Toliver by the new MTX ThunderLink wire on display at XXtreme in Salado.
An additional component of the trip was making dealer calls with Jorge Grijalva, who recently joined the firm to cover northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
“Ceasar flew into Houston Monday evening and early Tuesday we hit the road. Our first stop was to see Kevin West at XXtreme Soundz Salado. Kevin runs a strong shop there and as an MTX dealer most recently ordered the new MTX ThunderLink Wire products. Kevin indicated that consumers certainly see the value with the MTX quality of the products.” West also told the 12volt Central Studios, “We work with car audio customers and a lot of marine, bikes, and Powersports customers. They all recognize the quality of MTX products across the board.”
Jorge on the left with a stop at Kingdom Audio team members Drew and Willie in Abilene on Monday.
Jorge pictured with his Rockin’ Hyundai Veloster in front of his location in Joshua Texas.
The next stop was Jack’s Stereo in Waco. There they met up with Jorge, who came down from south of Fort Worth to spend time with dealers and meet Ceasar to get a full understanding of the MTX product line and plans. Jorge has been active in the territory for many years and maintains strong relationships. In addition to visiting Jack’s Stereo in Waco, they also visited the Jack’s Stereo location in Killeen.
Jorge arrived in Waco in his Hyundai Veloster, which now includes MTX gear since joining Synergy. Mike Sykora and Dean Law at Jack’s Stereo were very impressed with the MTX demo sound quality in a daily driver.
Following those calls, Toliver headed back to Houston while Ceasar and Jorge continued north to spend time with more dealers before Ceasar flew out of Dallas on Friday, returning to San Diego.
Toliver shared, “Results from this trip are very, very positive. At every stop we made along the way—well over 20—dealers were all very impressed with MTX products and plans for 2026. All certainly liked meeting Ceasar one-on-one in their store. MTX had a strong showing at the recent SEMA Show and we were able to give dealers the heads-up on new products that are on the way. Spending real-world time with Jorge connecting with dealers makes me feel I made the right decision adding him to the Synergy Marketing Team. Watch for more to come!”
WASHINGTON, DC (12.10.25) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is the first-ever winner of the Federation International Automobile (FIA) President’s Award for Excellence in Communications, honored for its groundbreaking, multi-year, multi-channel effort to protect vehicle choice in the U.S. by stopping EV mandates. The award was announced and presented earlier today at the FIA General Assemblies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
For this new award, which recognizes outstanding communication efforts that inspire, inform, and engage, SEMA was selected from a global pool of entries from across FIA’s member clubs.
From left: Jim Moore (SEMA Vice President OEM & Product Development-Garage), Mohammed Ben Sulayem (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile President), and Matt Daigle (SEMA Director of Communications-Government Affairs).
SEMA’s entry highlighted the strategies and tactics it deployed during its historic two-year national advocacy campaign to defend Americans’ right to choose internal combustion, hybrid, or electric vehicles. In response to California’s 2035 zero-emission mandate (adopted by 11 states), SEMA launched a multi-channel political, media, and grassroots campaign to protect vehicle choice. Through the Driving Force Action SuperPAC, digital activism, and direct congressional lobbying, SEMA mobilized 7,000 small businesses, 70 million automotive enthusiasts, and lawmakers from across the political spectrum. The effort resulted in President Donald Trump signing a bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolution repealing California’s Advanced Clean Cars II waiver, reaffirming technology neutrality and preserving automotive freedom nationwide.
“Congratulations to CEO Mike Spagnola and SEMA on being awarded the 2025 Excellence in Communication Award,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “SEMA’s commitment to advancing our shared mobility values and championing consumer choice is inspiring. Their project has shown what can be achieved through unity, and I look forward to continuing our work together and seeing the progress of this campaign.”
“SEMA is honored to accept this award on behalf of our members and the broader U.S. community of automotive enthusiasts and consumers, for whom we fought this battle,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “Our fight was never about preventing electric vehicles from gaining a foothold in the market; rather, it was about our right to choose, our ability to innovate, and our belief that technology-neutral government policies are necessary to help the free market thrive. The American automotive aftermarket has long been a shining example of our nation’s engineering prowess, and we’re anxious to continue this work to help every small business, family, and automotive enthusiasts to live their best, most prosperous lives through the vehicles they choose.”
For more information, please see SEMA’s highlight video submitted for the initial nomination.
CULVER CITY, CA (12.10.25) – – Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), the joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today announced that it will be exhibiting at CES 2026, which takes place in Las Vegas, NV January 6-9, 2026. Ahead of the show’s public opening, SHM will be holding its first ever independent press conference on Media Day at its booth (LVCC, Central Hall, Booth #20800) on Monday, January 5, 2026. During the conference, SHM will share exciting new updates for its first model, AFEELA 1, now presented as a pre-production model, and showcase an all-new concept model. Currently available to reserve, the AFEELA 1 will begin deliveries to California customers in 2026.
At CES 2026, SHM’s booth, its largest to date, will feature several AFEELA 1 pre-production vehicles in multiple color variations, alongside a new AFEELA concept model, demonstrating the company’s commitment to the evolution of the AFEELA brand as consumer interest in the brand continues to grow and as the AFEELA 1’s launch approaches.
The entire booth will showcase examples of the values that the AFEELA brand offers: Autonomy (evolving autonomy), Augmentation (expansion of the body and space-time), and Affinity (collaboration with people and symbiosis with society).
More details are below:
CES® 2026 Sony Honda Mobility Press Conference
Date and Time: Monday, January 5th, 5:00 PM-5:30 PM PST
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Sony Honda Mobility AFEELA Booth (Central Hall Booth #20800)
SHREVEPORT, LA (12.08.25) – Christmas 2025 is just 17 days away. Holiday lighting outside the store and in the showroom can be a big ticket to drive sales for brick-and-mortar retailers. The in-store experience is more important than ever as the ever-growing AI universe and online activity add to the challenges faced by brick-and-mortar retailers across all categories.
Proactive 12volt retailers across the US are taking steps to create a Holiday theme at their stores. Below are examples of proactive 12volt retailers attracting consumers to their stores and creating the in-store experience. Social media posts spotlighting these activities are extremely important.
Proactive 12volt retailers have big cards in the deck to play to drive business. The “In-Store Listening Experience” and the “Professional Installation” cards are strong aces to play every day. The in-store experience of demonstrating top-quality sound with orchestrated live demos in the showroom is the first ace. Concertgoers are spending billions every year to enjoy the live music experience. Proactive 12volt retailers can put that concert experience in a consumer’s daily driver to enjoy on the way to work—without the big ticket price or the hassle of crowds in a concert arena.
Offering expert installation is another ace in the deck for 12volt retailers to play every day. Installation professionals understand the important aspects of speaker placement for staging and system tuning. Consumers need to understand the importance of professional installation to deliver the concert experience in their daily drivers.
BOCA RATON, FL (12.05.25) — ZZ2, a leader in OEM-integrated automotive technology solutions, is proud to announce the newest addition to its growing product lineup: the DIZZPLAY Screen Replacement for Mercedes-Benz vehicles, officially shipping on December 10th, 2025.
Following the overwhelming success of the DIZZPLAY Screen Replacement for BMW—which quickly became a top seller among dealers and installers nationwide—ZZ2 is expanding its next-generation infotainment upgrade to the Mercedes-Benz market, bringing larger 10.25″ to 12.3″ brighter HD displays and advanced connectivity. As always, the company stands behind its quality products with a 3-year warranty on all DIZZPLAY screen replacements.
Built on the powerful zOS Linux-based operating system, the new system delivers ultra-fast boot-up times and a seamless user experience that feels factory-made—only smarter and more capable.
Tiago Sperandio, Vice President of ZZ2, commented, “The response to DIZZPLAY in the BMW market has been nothing short of incredible. Dealers love how easy it is to install, and customers love how transformative the upgrade feels. Expanding DIZZPLAY to Mercedes-Benz was the natural next step. Our mission at ZZ2 has always been to elevate the driving experience through seamless, intuitive technology—and DIZZPLAY for Mercedes-Benz represents exactly that. We’re proud to deliver an upgrade that feels factory-made while offering the modern features today’s drivers expect.”
The DIZZPLAY Screen Replacement for Mercedes-Benz begins shipping December 10th, 2025, through authorized ZZ2 dealers and distributors.
Dealers interested in early access can visit ZZ2.com/dizzplay or contact their ZZ2 sales representative.
KERNERSVILLE, NC (12.08.25) – Jimmy Cook, the owner of Sounds Good Car Stereo in Kernersville, NC, passed away on Monday December 1, 2025.
Sounds Good Car Stereo is a longtime 12volt retailer in Kernersville NC that is very connected with the community. Boomer Robinson, Ambassador Sales related, “Jimmy was a very good friend and customer for many years. Hearing the news that he had passed away was very sad for me, his family and his friends across the industry.”
David Holland, Shiflet & Dickson stated, “Jimmy was a very good customer and attended many of our dealer shows. It was a very sad day when I learned that he had passed away.”
Jimmy was just 50 years old and spent the majority of his life working in the 12volt industry. Jimmy was proceeded in death by his father Jimmy Cook Sr. He is survived by his mother and his wife Penny Cook along with two beloved children Rylee and Alexander. Funeral services and dates have not been determined.
Boomer Robinson, Ambassador Sales, contributed information to the 12volt Central Studios.
RENO, NV (11.18.25) – THE AMA EnduroCross rolled in the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center for the new season on Friday, November 15th.
“It was great to get back to Reno this year. The Reno-Sparks Livestock venue is perfect for EnduroCross. The whole track area can be seen from the stands and again this year the stands were packed. Also, the lobby was very business as attendees arrived, and in between races, as KICKER dealer Nevada Auto Sound showed new products in the KICKER booth. This year the doors opened at 5:30 and riders sighed autographs by the Kicker booth. Lorin Morrell, Maddog Media related.
The stands were packed watching riders on the track.
During the AMA EnduroCross pre-racing Track Walk fans had a chance to walk the track mounds and visit the pit area. “The Track Walk was a great way to give fans a fun experience. During the Pit Party fans got to meet and talk with their favorite their favorite riders and check out their bikes” Morrell added.
As soon as racers hit the track they got their rhythm as they went around tight turns, eased through beds of logs and boulders and up mounds. Between races the PA announcers let the crowd know to check out the KICKER booth.
Thomas Wing from KICKER Reno dealer Nevada Auto Sound talked with enthusiasts and many had questions about what KICKER products would be best for their rides. The KICKER PowerBar was once again grabbed a lot of interest in the booth. Dana Doyle, Area KICKER rep, was also un he house. Fans from the area also had questions about KICKER products for their trucks, boats, cars, bikes and side-by-sides.
Thomas Wing-Nevada Auto Sound is flanked by Dana Doyle (R), the KICKER Rep in the area along with Lorin Morrell- Maddog Media on the left. The booth was set to showcase a wide variety of KICKER products.
HOUSTON, TX (11.14.25) – The highly anticipated SSR Annual Distributor Show is set for this Sunday. The location is 5725 Hartsdale Drive Houston TX 77036.
“We’re excited to invite dealers across our territory to our annual dealer show in Houston. Join us this Sunday for an exclusive look at some of the latest products, innovations and partnership opportunities with SSR. Attendees can take advantage of special show only deals and holiday season discounts designed to help boost dealers’ margins to end the year strong,” Amir Dhanani stated.
This image shows SSR Houston action from 2022.
At the SSR Dealer Show over 30 vendors will be on site along with trainings from WavTech, Kenwood, JVC, and AudioControl. There will be tons of products to be raffled off including a Blaupunkt E-bike valued at $1600. Attendees will enjoy food and drinks; snacks will be available in this family-friendly environment with plenty for the kids to do. The Annual SSR Distributor Show offers once-a-year deals that dealers don’t want to miss.
Brands on site will include Rockford Fosgate, Kenwood, Firstech, MASSIVE AUDIO, PowerBass, KICKER, SiriusXM, RDVFL, Pioneer, VOXX, ADS, PRV, Omega, Limitless Lithium, SoundSkins, Accele, Jensen, Vinland, Brightway, JVC, Monarch, Autotech, DS18, Metra, Harman, Stinger, SolarGuard, Cicada, SoundQubed and WavTech.
Metra will watch again have a large presence at the SSR Show like this image from last year.
Aisles will once again be packed like this image from 2023.
Make sure the SSR Annual Dealer Show in Houston is on your schedule for this Sunday, November 16th.
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