As we here in Australia begin to ease restrictions, both domestically and internationally, across the Pacific the SEMA Show is in full swing. With three days all but complete, here are some of the highlights of this pre-eminent industry event from Las Vegas.
The show was officially opened with an industry breakfast featuring some of the hottest new products and special guest Jay Leno teasing a customised Mustang built for musician Keith Urban. With more than 1,300 exhibiting companies and 51,000 buyers committed, the week kicked off full of expectation.
Exhibitors wasted no time showcasing their new products and making industry announcements, as customers enthusiastically navigated the convention centre seeking to reconnect and strengthen existing partnerships as well as developing new relationships.
Leading the way was the dedicated “SEMA Electrified” area where the latest innovations and cutting-edge technology took centre stage, with electric vehicles and products designed for modifying electric vehicles or converting vehicles to electric power, really capturing the attention of the crowd.
Some of the other stand out initiatives this year include:
- The largest collection of Chip Foose-built vehicles featured in a special corral that highlights some of the most influential and important vehicles created at Foose Design
- A display of over 50 off-road racing vehicles ranging from motorcycles to trophy trucks in SCORE’s “Baja 1000 Experience”
- An exclusive West Coast Customs Edition wide body kit on a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger in the West Coast Customs Experience
- Interactive driving demos in the Hoonigan Burnyard Bash and the “Ford Out Front” experience.
One of the highlights – and long-time crowd favourite – the Battle of the Builders, has narrowed down the field to the final 12, covering the Hot Rod, Sport Compact, Truck and Off Road and of course the Young Guns categories with winners yet to be announced.
As always, SEMA would not be SEMA without education and training, and it was the SCRS and their Repairer Driven Education (RDE) program that once again led from the front. The sessions, which ran for three consecutive days kicked off on Monday and were once again in hot demand, as was the Thursday OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, the highlight of which was the session on electric vehicles and how they will change the shape of the collision repair industry.
With so much more to talk about and lots of stunning images, look for the full story on the SEMA Show in the December issue.