New products, companies, concepts, ideas, education, and legions of the wildest looking display vehicles.
When the 50th annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show kicks off Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, all these things – and more – await for more than 140,000 individuals from all walks of the automobile world.
And while the show itself is not open to the general public, everything that happens inside (and sometimes outside) the Las Vegas Convention Center from Nov. 1-4 is extremely important to everyone who is a fan of Jeep vehicles. That’s because SEMA strives to bring retail buyers and manufacturers together to discover and launch new products that will help set aftermarket trends for the coming year. Also, many automakers choose the SEMA show to unveil new designs and release future plans. Plus - let's face it - all the display and concept vehicles are extremely creative and interesting.
The Quadratec Channel, including our social and You Tube sites, will have wall to wall coverage of the 2016 SEMA show in the coming week including picture galleries, show news, new product sneak peeks, trends, interviews, videos, and more.
The SEMA show itself isn’t all about Jeeps or other off-road vehicles, but this ever-growing segment certainly seems to dominate show news more and more each year thanks to innovative vendors, trends, and ideas. This year should be no exception thanks, in part, to possible news on the upcoming Jeep Wrangler JL, Truck, and Wagoneer.
Jeep’s presence at SEMA, as well as the off-road market in general, has consistently grown over the years since the show first debuted in the basement of Dodgers Stadium back in the late 1960s. Mopar will sport a 15,345-square-foot booth this year featuring all types of vehicle products, as well as what may turn out to be a few dozen new concept vehicles.
So far, the company has released several SEMA concept vehicle sketches, including the CJ Sixty Six. The company also plans a press conference Nov. 1 at 4:15 PM PST, when it says it will unveil exciting new Mopar-powered products.
Nearly all of Quadratec’s vendors attend this show as well, and many have won or finished near the top of SEMA's prestigious ‘Best of Show’ awards for new products. Rigid Industries (LED Lighting) and Westin Automotive (LED Light Hoop) were runners up for the 2015 Exterior Gear award, while Rightline Gear 4x4 finished as an Interior Gear runner-up thanks to its Roll Bar Storage Bag. In the Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product section, Bubba Rope won for its Gator-Jaw Soft Shackle, while Factor 55 (ProLink Bridle) and Omix-ADA(Exo Top Soft Top and Cargo Rack) were runners up.
Most, if not all, of these same vendors will feature new and exciting products during the four-day show again this year, and will occupy booths alongside more than 2,400 other companies from sectors all over the automotive map. Sectors like trucks, hot rods, performance cars, luxury SUVs, and hybrids - with manufacturers all seeking to enhance the performance, styling, comfort, convenience, and safety of these vehicles through their products.
In addition to connecting manufacturers with buyers, the SEMA show also seeks to provide educational seminars so everyone who attends can gain enhanced product training and new technology skills to service their aftermarket customers.
Altogether, the show utilizes 1.2 million net square feet for exhibit space, as well as 1.5 million square feet of feature and attractions – making the event one of the largest, and most attended, in the Las Vegas convention schedule.
The SEMA organization first began in 1963 as many in the growing hot rod industry decided to put together a trade association similar to the Hobby Industry Association (HIA), which comprised of several car modeling companies at the time. The HIA lobbied for or against laws to help their members, as well as provided legal advice and reduced insurance rates.
Called the ‘Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association’ initially, the organization held small shows in 1965-66 before the first official SEMA Show event debuted in 1967 in the basement of Dodgers Stadium. Approximately 3,000 people attended and 98 company booths were at that first show.
In subsequent years, other facets of the automotive industry mixed in with the hot rod segment which led the organization to take its current name. The event moved to its current Las Vegas location in 1977.
This year, SEMA anticipates over 140,000 attendees which includes buyers, company representatives, media, and others from the aftermarket auto world. It also expects over 2,400 exhibiting companies for the four-day event.
The SEMA show is organized by the Specialty Equipment Market Association - the trade organization representing the $39.2 billion a year automotive aftermarket. In addition to organizing this show, SEMA also offers research, training, education, support, and legislative advocacy for the aftermarket industry.
