Vehicle technology will be hot topic at SEMA, AAPEX

LAS VEGAS — Dealing with changing vehicle technology will be a recurring theme this year at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show and Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), which run concurrently the week of Oct. 30 in Las Vegas.

Once again, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) will sponsor the Global Tire Expo powered by TIA during the SEMA Show, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

The tire and wheel exhibition and conference, in the South Hall of the convention center, targets all segments of the tire industry, including light-, medium- and heavy-duty, retreading and recycling along with wheels.

SEMA Show exhibitors fill the rest of the convention center with a plethora of automotive specialty products and customized vehicles.

SEMA Show displays are segmented into 12 sections and a New Products Showcase features nearly 3,000 newly introduced parts, tools and components.

Meanwhile, AAPEX, co-owned by the Auto Care Association (ACA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) — the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association — will run Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. AAPEX 2017 is expected to feature 2,200 exhibiting companies.

About 158,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from more than 140 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show and AAPEX.

TIA will host its annual membership meeting, various committee meetings, the Tread Rubber Manufacturers Group and Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau membership meeting and the Tire Industry Honors Awards Ceremony/reception at the Paris Las Vegas and adjoining Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino on Oct. 30.

TIA's 2017 Hall of Fame class comprises: Cabot Corp. founder Godfrey Cabot; Schenuit Tire & Rubber Co. President William Conklin III; and industry veteran Norman Gaither, founder and owner of DSP 20 Group. TIA also will bestow the Ed Wagner Leadership Award to industry contributors Anthony Blackman, Atlantic Tire & Service owner, and David Zielasko, Tire Business publisher and editorial director.

During the awards ceremony, Tire Business will announce its Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner.

The Global Tire Expo will feature exhibitors of tires and wheels for passenger cars, trucks and off-the-road equipment, recyclers, retreaders, suppliers and affiliated organizations.

Education sessions sponsored by TIA, to be held in the meeting rooms on the ground floor of the LVCC's South Hall, include:

• Truck Tires at 10 (Oct. 31): Jacking and Lifting Trucks and Trailers will address the basic safety guidelines for using jacks, jack stands and cribbing material on trucks and trailers.

• TPMS at 10 (Oct. 31): Next Generation of TPMS Tools will feature a panel of electronic TPMS tool manufacturers who will discuss how they are adapting to new technology so they can meet the growing needs of automotive service providers.

• Tires at 2 (Oct. 31): Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets will feature a panel of award-winning dealers, including the 2017 Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner.

• Truck Tires at 10 (Nov. 1): Truck Tire Service after 7 Years of CSA will discuss the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance, Safety, Accountability program in order to improve commercial vehicle safety by holding motor carriers and accountable for their roles in highway safety.

• ATS at 10 (Nov. 1): The Art of Balancing will feature a panel of balancing experts who will provide their thoughts on the steps that technicians can take to improve the quality and performance of every tire balance.

• TIA's 2017 Legislative Review (Nov. 1): How has President Trump and the Republicans in Congress Impacted the Tire Industry. TIA will distribute legislative materials, answer questions and provide an overview of the legislative climate moving forward.

• Management at 2 (Nov. 1): Growing Your Tire Business in the Millennial Age. Matt Winslow of Automotive Training Institute (ATI) will discuss how dealerships can re-engineer their shop's culture with top-performing team members and grow their customer base with Millennials.

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will hold a first-time event called "Coffee & Conversation" on Nov. 2 in the South Hall foyer starting at 8 a.m. This event is being held in lieu of a membership meeting in the hope of engaging tire and wheel industry professionals who haven't been active in the WTC.

AAPEX 2017 is introducing several programs to show the impact of technology on the automotive aftermarket industry and how businesses can best prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

New AAPEX programs with a focus on technology include:

• The AAPEX Mobility Park — located in the LINQ parking lot behind the Sands Expo —with underhood training, a scan tool theater and an electric vehicle display.

• The Technology Intersection to display concept technology for the automotive aftermarket industry, with several companies offering product demos, in the Venetian Ballroom.

• Let's Tech, 20-minute presentations for the latest on technology-related products, tools and mobile apps on the Let's Tech stage in Sands Expo Upper Level Lobby

• A keynote session each day of AAPEX will address the "Future of the Vehicle," the "Future of the Buyer" and the "Future of the Shop."

• The AAPEX 2017 Service Professionals Program, sponsored by Mahle, will feature a Service Professionals Summit on "Emerging Technology: How Will the Aftermarket Prepare?" on Nov. 2 with a reception for service professionals following the event.

AAPEX also will offer AAPEXedu seminars to discuss trends, best practices and advanced vehicle technologies.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is joining AAPEX this year to present [email protected], Nov. 2-3, at the Sands Expo.

The Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), sponsored by the ASA and the Auto Alliance, will present the Technology and Telematics Forum V5.0 on Nov. 2 to spotlight cybersecurity, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle data and OE technology. The forum will feature:

Anuja Sonalker, founder of STEER Tech and cybersecurity expert, together with Donny Seyfer, co-owner, Seyfer Automotive, will provide the latest information on cybersecurity and how to avoid being a victim.

Bob Redding, ASA Washington D.C. representative, will lead a panel discussion on what's coming to V2V and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication.

Bill Long, AASA president, and Aaron Solomon, CEO and owner, Mobile Devices Ingenierie, will address vehicle data, including who owns the data, who gets it and how auto repair professionals can use it.

Sessions on Nov. 3 will discuss how shops can attract and retain technicians and protect and expand market share.

The Automotive Maintenance & Repair Association (AMRA) and its Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) will be celebrating their 25th anniversary during this year's general membership meeting, Oct. 30.

The association was organized in September 1994 as a not-for-profit trade association to represent the interest of automotive maintenance and repair providers, their suppliers and related automotive companies to help overcome the lack of trust between the motorist and the repair center by creating standards for recommending service.

These standards, called the Uniform Inspection Communication Standards (UICS), are used by their members to promote a consistent message to the motorists regardless of location.

"AMRA/MAP is fortunate to have had a tremendous 25-year history of leaders from across the industry coming together to create inspection and communication standards that foster trust between service providers and consumers," said Chairman Al Wheeler, senior vice president, consumer business, for Advance Auto Parts.

The National Automotive Service Task Force will hold its Fall 2017 General Meeting at AAPEX on Nov. 1, with a presentation to emphasize the value of OEM technical information websites for technicians working outside franchised dealerships.

The session, "The Most Underused OEM Service Info Resources," will familiarize attendees with the 40 light-vehicle and heavy-duty OEMs that provide service information resources for access by technicians outside their franchise dealerships.

The meeting will feature sessions on a coordinated solution for the shortage of qualified technicians and the changes coming for the SAE J1962 DLC simple 16-pin data link.

The ACA's Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) will be presenting [email protected] for auto care industry professionals under the age of 40.

The program will include the YANG Town Hall titled, "Get in the Driver's Seat: The 3 Keys to a Successful Auto Care Career," featuring an executive panel from the auto care industry.