SEMA/AAPEX 2024 what did it look like?

First I have to say when attending SEMA/AAPEX last year I predicted that the 2024 year would be a difficult year financially because of the election year. It showed at both shows as the attendance was down from previous years. Even with Covid years the attendance has not been the same as pre-Covid. With that being said it was still a good show for business.

SEMA seems to change every year moving further away from it's origin as a trade show for automotive aftermarket accessories and performance enhancements for OEM vehicles.  It has now become a car/truck entertainment show for auto consumer enthusiasts. A perfect show for and fueled by auto influencers and social media wannabes! Every where you go you see individuals shooting photos or videos with talking heads about the vehicles and booths at the shows.

Now you can see concerts beginning and ending for the SEMA show which is fun for the youth crowd but honestly after walking 6-7 miles a day looking at the show's products and visiting people at booths the last thing I want to do is stand another four hours watching music.

SEMA did bring some impressive bands into the show but I had business dinner meetings every night so going from 8am to 10 pm was enough for me! Maybe some of the young crowd can support the shows. I'm there to conduct business with the companies there to display their new products. What can the companies provide for our HD truck markets diesel or gas!

It is still a good industry show to attend if you want to see products! Yes, you now have to bypass many Asian companies who many do not event speak english. No problem, I just skip those segments and meet with the people I want to meet with based on a planned schedule of booths to visit. Do I possibly miss some? Yes, I do but still walk 6-7 miles a day visiting the two different shows.

SEMA did have a HUGE obstacle in front of them for this year and that was the construction on the convention center by the city. It was a mess in the front entrance and I had to finally ask how do you get into the show. This construction cut down on many of the vehicles displayed or displaced them to areas I don't normally visit. So a lot less vehicles on display this year!

The AAPEX show made a big move by putting most Asian companies in another building and adding more big name displays in the main show. The AAPEX show is ALL business with a proper dress code along with no vehicle displays. So minus the tire kickers wanting to look at vehicles, the show is business people talking business. 

Yes, the format is setup for the manufacturers to sell to large groups such as store chains, truck stops, service centers and chain garages! However, a shop owner can see a lot of product and talk business about the products without the excess crowds. Many of the same companies are now displaying at AAPEX.

The "Joe's Garage" downstairs is a nice setup to display items with seminars but not many shops there to hear it. I encourage shops attending SEMA to look at the AAPEX seminars in Joe's Garage, may be worth the short trip to the Sands.

Overall, I accomplished what I needed at the SEMA/AAPEX shows which is why I go every year! I can see everyone in one location plus see a few new manufacturers. We appreciate what both shows provide every year for our industry.