Every year people who can not go to SEMA/AAPEX ask me how it went and what I saw at the show. Especially since they had to close down during the COVID years!
I have gone for many years and have experienced the days of glory of the auto aftermarket over the years. Saying that everything changes and sometimes for the better or worse depending on your view. Nothing remains the same.
2023 did not disappoint! Is it the same as 1997, 2007 or 2015? No way but after the Covid stall it was a success for both shows. The industry needs the show - period.
I always go on Monday while the vehicles and companies are still moving in and setting up for the show so I can get full view shots of the trucks without people in the way. Too bad SEMA won't let us media in early to get the shots of vehicles indoors on Mondays but they do let us in 30 minutes early every morning. Once the show opens it is very hard to get shots of the special vehicles.
The SEMA show has become somewhat of a world wide car/truck show for the best builds in the country with many of the top builders showing their wares. Inside is what i want to see which is the newest products from all of the manufacturers. So many companies have now combined into one corporation investment but it does give you their products under one banner. This makes the number of booths smaller since they all used to purchase single booths.
Saying that SEMA has filled the spots with new companies and manufacturers. New products are good and some are small so you would never see them unless you came to the show. Unique products for automotive aftermarket is good for our industry giving the performance geeks a chance to design and fabricate better than the OEMs on different model vehicles.
It is what makes America great! Out think the other guy and how to make it better for our vehicles. The big 3 obviously hate this since they are no longer part of the show (in any big way)!
I was surprised to see so many foreign companies represented at the shows and many could not even speak english thus making them useless other than collecting their monies for being there. However, the direction of making SEMA a world event has been transforming for many years so not totally surprised.
A great time to see many people in the industry I have not seen in a few years because of COVID. Always good to network at the show and talk shop with some of the industries brightest people. They all come to one place and that is SEMA.
Now as far as the trucks go it seems the new look for show is not performance but looks. The lifted trucks diesel or gas have very detailed fabricated lift kits that are beautiful plus very large wheels and tires. Many had custom wraps with very nice designs and companies represented on them. It's all in the details that set these trucks apart and the older trucks had some great performance adds to them.
Did I go to the BIG SEMA concerts afterwards, no I did not so I can not report on them. I am there for business with many companies and walk over 6 miles a day seeing them so I am pretty wore out to stay for a concert. From what I saw they had some great acts coming.
Photo Link: SEMA 23
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.725524559608995&type=3
AAPEX review coming tomorrow in my blog so revisit tomorrow.
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