Back For 2021 SEMA Does Not Disappoint

After what felt like an eternity for us gearheads, the #SEMA show came back with a vengeance for 2021. Friday, November 5th, SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), successfully wrapped up their 1st show since 2019. The show was said to have recorded over a 100,000 attendees, exhibitors, and media. The Las Vegas Convention Centers 4.6 million square feet of in-door space and 2.2 million square feet of outdoor space conveniently accommodated every participant, making this show the largest North American automotive trade show since the pandemic.

Satisfied by the positive turnout of the show, CEO and president of SEMA, Chris Kersting, commented that the show was a great homecoming for the industry after such a long break. He stated, “The industry was clearly excited to be back in-person at the SEMA Show, both to capture business opportunities and to network and celebrate the world’s greatest collection of innovation on wheels. Our industry was waiting to reconnect, and the SEMA Show was a welcome homecoming after nearly two years apart.”

The industry only show is known for being a meeting point for manufacturers and buyers. This year’s event was of no exception. A plethora of manufacturers, suppliers, and customers from far and wide were present to witness the latest customization innovations planned for the near future. Kathryn Reinhardt, 4 Wheel Parts Director of Retail Marketing, stated “We were excited to see our old friends and colleagues after being apart for so long. We did a lot of business at this year’s SEMA Show. It was clear that our industry was ready to meet and had two years of innovations to show off.”

Celebrities like actor, James Marsden and car builder and co-host of Wheeler Dealers, Ant Anstead were present to show off their custom 1962 Buick that had been converted into an electric powered vehicle. Also, Fast and Furious star, Sung Kang made an appearance showing off his Datsun 240z “Safari” in the Nissan booth, meanwhile over in the Ford exhibit, Comedian, Jay Leno helped unveil a fully restored 1969 #Ford #Mustang for singer Keith Urban.

A new yet prevailing theme of the SEMA show that one simply could not ignore was the increased presence of electrified vehicles. Manufactures and builders were clearly out to prove the viability and feasibility of the electronic vehicle market. This led to the announcement of the latest section inside the SEMA Show, SEMA Electrified. The SEMA Electrified is an area which specializes in the designing and modified of electric vehicles including converting ICE vehicles to electric power. According to Tom Gattuso, vice president of events, “Our industry has embraced electrification. We saw electric vehicles and electrified vehicles in every hall at the SEMA Show. Our industry is on the cutting edge of technology. Products you see at the SEMA Show often become standard and mainstream five to 10 years after it debuts at the Show.”

Other show highpoints included the largest collection of Chip Foose-built vehicles that emphasized some of the most influential and important vehicles created at Foose Design, an exclusive West Coast Customs Edition wide body kit on a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger in the West Coast Customs Experience, over 50 off-road racing vehicles ranging from motorcycles to trophy trucks in SCORE’s Baja 1000 Experience, and driving demos in the #Hoonigan Burnyard Bash and the Ford Out Front experience.