SEMA 2006
Much like Cher, Madonna, and Sting, SEMA has grown so large that it’s known within the car world by just one name. “SEMA” is actually the acronym for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, a lobbying organization founded by early automotive go fast parts makers.
What started as a small annual convention of primarily Los Angeles based parts makers 40 years ago has turned into the single biggest automotive aftermarket industry orgy this side of the moon. Parts makers from all over the world come to Las Vegas the first week of November each year to peddle their latest wheels, tires, exhausts, audio/visual equipment and pretty much anything else that can be welded, bolted or glued to a road going (and some not so roadworthy) vehicle.
SEMA says that the aftermarket business rung up $34 billion in retail sales this past year--up 8% from 2005. $5 billion of that came from the sport compact market alone, one of the fastest growing segments of the industry. Thanks to size of the market the big automakers are now beginning to really take notice. This year’s show-- which as always was open only to those working in the industry and not to the general public-- had 14 automakers on hand displaying cars with their own in-house brand of bling.
Despite the “American Muscle” theme of this year’s show, there was still plenty of Asian and European tuning on display. Sub-compact cars like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris seemed to be the most prevalent showcars on the floor. There were fewer Nissan 350Zs, Mitsubishi Eclipses, and BMW M3s than ever before—due more to their end of lifecycle timing than popularity I suspect. SEMA is about new if it’s about anything; especially in the sport compact end of the industry which caters to the fickle “what have you done for me lately” young ADD generation.