Auto Industry News: SEMA360 Recap, October 2020 Sales Figures, PerTronix Acquisition of Aeromotive
The auto industry recovery continues! From optimistic sales figures to a creative and successful virtual SEMA show, things are looking up. Plus, news of a noteworthy aftermarket partnership shows companies are making moves to ensure 2021 looks bright.
October 2020 Sales Figures
According to vehicle sales figures, the month of October was another clear demonstration that the lingering effects of the ongoing global health crisis haven’t scared off consumers.
Year-over-year, October sales figures are still lagging. However, consumer demand for SUVs and pickups continues to bolster new vehicle sales. Ford reported a 6.1% decline in U.S. sales but saw its luxury line, Lincoln, jump 2.8% and its sport-utility vehicle sales increase 9.4%. The latter was largely driven by Explorer sales, which jumped a whopping 20% compared to last year. (Not bad for a vehicle with a bungled launch.)
Honda showed a similar trend. The Japanese automaker reported overall sales down 3.4%, while its luxury badge, Acura, posted a 9.1% gain. SUV sales increased as well, with the Pilot (22.1%) and Passport (12.4%) leading the way. Honda’s Ridgeline pickup also showed a banger month, with sales jumping 28.5%.
Fellow carmakers Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, and Hyundai/KIA all reported sales increases for October 2020 as well. They, too, were helped along by customer interest in SUVs and crossovers.
“Modest improvements in the U.S. economy including gains in consumer confidence and job creation, coupled with the roll-out of new MY2021 products, are keeping consumers interested in purchasing even during turbulent times.” -Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive
On the flip side, lower-priced segments like compact cars remained weak. According to Cox Automotive senior economist Charlie Chesbrough, such data implies “these buyers, generally with lower incomes, have been hit hard by the pandemic recession. All of which suggests the vehicle market is an example of the K-shaped economic recovery – higher incomes do well while lower incomes do not.”
For the aftermarket, consumer sentiment and spending hold steady. And after this week’s SEMA360, we expect both of those factors to improve.
SEMA360
With COVID putting the squeeze on in-person events this year, the 2020 SEMA Show, a five-day trade-only event, moved 100% online. Virtual SEMA360 brought attendees together from around the world to interact with automotive parts manufacturers, learn about new trends and products, network, and hear from leaders and experts in the specialty equipment aftermarket industry.
Keeping with tradition, the show wrapped up the week with its most distinguished awards: Myles Kovacs, President and Co-Founder of DUB Magazine, was named 2020 SEMA Person of the Year; Brendan McGrath, CEO of Dyme PSI, was named 2020 SEMA Gen-III Innovator of the Year; and Redline Detection was selected 2020 SEMA Manufacturer of the Year.
Battle of the Builders Winner
When 40 of the nation’s top builders take the stage to compete for recognition and celebrate who’s best, the industry takes notice. The annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition wrapped on Friday, Nov. 6, with Brady Ranweiler and his 1963 Chevrolet Full Custom 2 Door Wagon named winner.
Battle of the Builders shines a light on top builders across various categories. These include: Hot Rod, Sport Compact, Truck/Off-road and Young Guns, a newer segment devoted to encouraging confidence among younger generations.
On Wednesday, the 40 builders were narrowed down to 12 finalists, with three competitors per category. A cool feature of Battle of the Builders is that the Top 12 perform double-duty as judges, rating each other on the quality of their builds.
On Friday, 12 became four, narrowing the pool to Ranweiler’s ’63 Chevy Custom (Hot Rod), Mark Giambalvo and his 1965 Chevrolet C10 (Truck/Off-Road), Chip Foose and his 1974 Jaguar E-Type (Sport Compact), and Young Guns winner Cody Medeisis with his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro.
According to SEMA officials, this marks the first time in the seven-year history of the competition that a wagon has taken home the title.
Last year, Battle of the Builders bragging rights were awarded to Jim and Mike Ring for their 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.
Presenting a complete redesign, the Ring Brothers’ Camaro featured a 100% carbon fiber body (widened by 4 inches) and a supercharged LS3-swapped engine pumping out 890 hp.
Click here to check out highlights of the whole competition and exclusive behind the scenes details of the 2020 Battle of the Builders.
SEMA Launch Pad
Battle of the Builders wasn’t the only competition to keep an eye on at SEM360. There was also the eighth annual Launch Pad competition, an innovative program that shines a light on the ingenuity of young up-start entrepreneurs and inventors between the age of 18 to 39.
This year, Roland Hence, the founder and director of FrontLane Inc., came out on top against five other finalists and a total of 80 applicants.
“As an entrepreneur, you dream about this moment. I am incredibly proud of my team and grateful to SEMA for the platform to showcase our hard work and life-saving product,” said Hence. “I hope that with this incredible result we can take a meaningful step toward reducing rear-end crashes.”
Hence’s winning product, the Impulse – Emergency Brake Light, is a wireless, battery-powered emergency brake light that reduces rear-end collisions by pulsing eight ultra-bright LEDs under extreme braking situations to alert the following driver up to 50% quicker. Impulse can be installed on any passenger vehicle with a standard back windshield and has a four-year battery life.
Hence will receive a prize package that includes $10,000 to be used to benefit the business. He will also gain priceless exposure and marketing opportunities for Impulse, as well as turn-key exhibit space at the 2021 SEMA Show, a free advertisement in SEMA News magazine, and access to valuable business resources.
Few can say they had a better weekend than Hence, that’s for sure!
Vehicle Highlights
The main attraction of SEMA remains the incredible vehicles on display. Turning imagination into reality, these rigs never fail to wow a crowd. While meant to be gushed over in person, like most things in 2020, we’ll have to settle for the virtual experience.
You can pour over hundreds of new product and featured vehicle photos HERE, compliments of SEMA.
Since trucks and SUVs continue to dominate public affection, we want to shine a light on two rugged 4×4 builds that caught our eye: the 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine Overland-Ready Tacoma and Westin Automotive Products’ Chevy Silverado HD.
These builds may not be as eyeball-popping as some other off-road SEMA rigs. (You can catch some of those here). But beneath the clean lines and organized customizations is a hoard of savvy aftermarket upgrades that make these vehicles better, faster, stronger—and in our opinion, sexier.
4WD Toyota Owner Magazine Overland-Ready Toyota Tacoma
As you may have deduced, Toyota’s build was developed with input from the 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine editors. Starting life as a Tacoma TRD Off-Road pickup, the overland-ready adventurer packs a Magnuson Superchargers Roots-type blower. This mod increases power output to 370 horsepower and 330 lbs-ft of torque.
Off-road upgrades include: ToyTec BOSS Aluma 2.5 Series coilovers, shocks and add-a-leaf package; Toyota E-locker locking differential; CBI Offroad Fabrication lower control arms, front to rear aluminum and steel skid plates; and DOM steel tube rock sliders with top plates and CBI’s ‘kickout’ design; Camburg Engineering upper control arms, and MaxTrax MKII traction boards.
The automaker also tossed in some BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 255/85R16 tires mounted on 16×8-inch matte black 704 Trail Series from Method Race Wheels, a CBI Offroad Fabrication T3 aluminum front bumper and T3 Swing Arm Series steel rear bumper with dual swingouts. The rig also sports a variety of recovery gear and exterior accessories from ComeUp, Rigid Industries, Truck Covers USA, Rotopax and Yakima.
Read more about this impressive build HERE.
Westin Automotive Ultimate Tow Rig: Chevy Silverado 2500 HD
Westin’s beastly Silverado HD features the brand’s steel Pro Mod front and rear bumpers and R5 XD side steps. Made of sturdy 10-gauge steel, the bumpers boost ground clearance and off-road capability. (They also tack on a few style points.) Additionally, the R5 XD side steps provide extra protection and easier access, running the length of the crew cab.
Last year, Westin acquired renowned Superwinch. As expected, Superwinch gear makes an appearance here in the form of a 3.6-horsepower electric S5500 trailer winch. Designed for loading and unloading off-road vehicles from a flatbed trailer, it features a 5,500-pound maximum weight capacity.
Pulling the look together are blue Westin-branded vinyl graphics.
PerTronix Performance Brands Acquires Aeromotive
On the heels of SEMA360, PerTronix announced big moves in the aftermarket space. The parent company of several brands in the ignition and exhaust space just acquired Aeromotive Inc. and Waterman Racing Components.
We’ve covered Aeromotive several times here at The Engine Block. The brand is a big player in the fuel system and component space, offering some top-notch and seriously clever products. Similarly, Waterman Racing Components is an innovative fuel system manufacturer. The company holds a strong reputation in drag racing and circle track racing.
“The future of Aeromotive has never been brighter,” said Aeromotive Founder and President Steve Matusek. “To work side by side with a team of seasoned professionals with a common goal of continuing to produce the industry’s best product will pay dividends on day one. This is one of those unique instances where one plus one will equal three.”
Cheers to these companies joining forces and becoming part of the extended PerTronix family.
2020 Jessi Combs Foundation Scholarship Winners
The Jessi Combs Foundation Scholarship Program awarded $30,000 to seven deserving women pursuing the trade industry. Initially, two $10,000 scholarships were awarded. However, the organization decided to fundraise for an additional five $2,000 scholarships after receiving so many inspiring applicants.
“We were totally taken aback by the story of every woman that applied. Seven of these stories stood out and reflect the grit, determination, courage, and ‘Jessi Factor’ that was undeniable. All seven of these women are the real deal,” said Dana Wilke, Board Member for The Jessi Combs Foundation and friend of Combs.
Jessi Combs was a successful TV personality, talented welder and fabricator, and avid off-road racer. Combs died in a racing accident on August 27, 2019. She attempted to best her own four-wheel land speed record when her jet-powered high-speed race car crashed.
As an advocate for women in skilled trades, Combs served as a role model to many. The Jessi Combs Foundation Scholarship Program, established in her honor, strives to educate, inspire and empower the next generation of female trailblazers & stereotype-breakers.
