Two News Stories from SEMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Rosemarie Kitchin, <rosemariek@sema.org> SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 104 SEMA 2002 INTERNATIONAL AUTO SALON PRE-SHOW NUMBERS SHOW INDUSTRY BUYER PARTICIPATION SUBSTANTIALLY UP DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (April 16, 2001) - If advance registration numbers are any indication, this weekend's SEMA 2002 International Auto Salon (IAS) will be a tremendous industry success. The show, geared to the hot, fast-growing sport compact performance niche, has 624 buyers pre- registered, 239 percent of last year's equivalent pre- registration of 261 buyers. The registration for non- buyer attendees is also much higher than last year (552 compared with 294 at the equivalent time before the shows, an 88 percent increase). Total pre-registration for the show is up eight percent, at 2,389 vs. 2,212 last year. "So far, we have booked 65,000 square feet of actual exhibit space for our 2002 Auto International Salon," said Gary Vigil, SEMA's director of trade shows. Vigil said that the 2001 show had an exhibit total area of 59,000 square feet. In addition, more than 200 project vehicles will be on display at the Long Beach Convention Center. Currently, there are 172 companies on the exhibitor list. This is the fifth show that SEMA will hold for the vibrant sport compact market. For this year's event, which is open to consumers as well as industry personnel, SEMA has chosen Vision Entertainment, creators of the Hot Import Nights events, as its consumer promotion partner. The IAS opens with an industry-only day this Friday, April 19, and is open to consumers and industry personnel on Saturday, April 20, from noon until 8 p.m., and on Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the International Auto Salon, visit the SEMA Show & Events section of www.sema.org, or www.ias2k2.com. Vision Entertainment is an integrated marketing and production company providing its customers and clients with interactive experiences. With its fingers on the pulse of America's youth, Vision Entertainment has a firm understanding of this savvy, progressive lifestyle, and a proven track record of success. Vision Entertainment currently produces more than 26 annual events in the top 20 markets in North America. These events range from import car shows to skateboard & snowboard expos, to consumer gaming events. For more information, contact Vision Entertainment at 1360 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651; call 949/376-6942 or visit www.visionevent.com. SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $25 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has more than 5,000 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends, and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com. # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Rosemarie Kitchin, <rosemariek@sema.org> SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 104 Linda Spencer, <lindas@sema.org> SEMA, 202/783-4032 SEMA EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF WHEEL MANUFACTURERS SENDS MEXICAN REGULATORS BACK TO DRAWING BOARD WASHINGTON (April 15, 2002) - SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, working with the U.S. government, and a group of companies that import goods to Mexico, has succeeded in its efforts to scrap a proposed Mexican domestic wheel standard. The proposed standard, PROY-NOM-150-SCFI-2001 Auto, would have greatly increased the costs of importing wheels for the Mexican market, according to Linda Spencer, SEMA director of international and government relations. "PROY-NOM-150, if it had become government policy, could have significantly increased the price of imported wheels in Mexico, because it would have required all aftermarket wheels to be tested in Mexican labs, certified, and imprinted with Mexico- specific information. That would mean a separate wheel-mold process for wheel manufacturers who want to do business with our NAFTA partners to the South," she said. SEMA will be part of the industry and governmental group involved in the next steps in determining the governmental standard for how aftermarket wheels or rims will go to market in Mexico, Spencer said. Currently, the market share of aftermarket wheels in Mexico is 70 percent. Estimated cost for the changes which PROY-NOM-150 would have instituted is approximately USD 1,800 per model per application, according to SEMA research. Wheel manufacturers faced as many as 25 different tests to qualify their line of replacement wheels and rims. Spencer said that the proposed regulation would have minimal, if any, benefit to Mexican consumers, doing little to improve consumer safety. "And, there have been no reported problems with the quality or safety of wheels in Mexico," she said. SEMA represents the $25 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has more than 5,000 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com. ============================== If you do not wish to receive e-mail from SEMA, please reply to this message and tell us to delete you from the list.