SEMA/AAPEX to spotlight new technologies

LAS VEGAS — Electric and hybrid vehicle technologies, the growing prevalence of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and the ever-changing regulation landscape are among the issues that will be discussed during the upcoming concurrent SEMA Show and AAPEX events in Las Vegas.

Nearly 162,000 automotive aftermarket professionals and suppliers are expected to attend the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, Nov. 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo), Nov. 5-7 at the Sands Expo.

Both shows, which expect to host about 2,500 exhibiting companies each, are trade-only events and not open to the general public.

• This story appears in the Oct. 14 print edition of Tire Business.

The tire and wheel industries will be concentrated at the Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA (Tire Industry Association) in the South Hall of the LVCC during the SEMA Show.

AAPEX, which is co-owned by the Auto Care Association (ACA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), is geared for automotive service professionals, auto parts retailers, warehouse distributors, service chains, auto dealers, fleet buyers and engine builders.

TIA will host its pre-event activities Nov. 4 at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, including its annual membership meeting, the Tire Industry Honors Awards Ceremony and a welcome reception.

During the awards ceremony, TIA will induct Brent Hesje, CEO of Fountain Tire Ltd., and the late Frank Holeman, director of the Tire Industry Safety Council in the 1970s and 1980s, into its Hall of Fame. TIA also will present the Ed Wagner Leadership Award for 2019 to Edward Burleson Sr., president and owner of Central Marketing Inc. in Colonial Heights, Va.

Also during the ceremony, Tire Business will announce the winner of its Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award for 2019.

TIA has organized a number of seminars that will run during the Global Tire Expo in the South Hall meeting rooms:

Nov. 5

• Automotive at 10: Wheel Retention and RIST — The session will focus on step-by-step procedures for securing tire and wheel assemblies to the vehicle, while addressing the different tools that are used to deliver the proper torque. Presenters: Joseph Chizmar, account manager, Haltec Corp.; Don Tinker, North American business development, AME International; and Joseph Heath, technical manager, TIA.
• Truck Tires at 10: Truck Tire Changing Machines — The session will explore the pros and cons of heavy-truck tire-changing machines and provide tips so technicians can ensure fleets get the full benefit of eliminating the use of hand tools when demounting and mounting truck tires.
• Hybrid & Electric Vehicles: Driving Us Back to the Future — The session will explore emerging hybrid and electric technology, current trends and future forecasts from the perspective of the independent tire dealer. Presenter: Dave Crawford, president and COO, Hybrid Shop.
• Tires at 2: Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets — The Tire Business Humanitarian Award winner along with other industry award winners will make brief presentations on what makes them successful and then participate in a question and answer session.

Nov. 6

• TPMS at 10: Programmable Sensors — Presenters: John Amato, TPMS technical trainer, Autel North America; Anthony Babine, director of sales, northeast, Dill Air Control Products L.L.C.; Blendi Bega, sales manager, Alligator North America; Matthias Froehlich, key account manager, Huf North America; Enri Osmani, general manager North America, Hamaton Inc.; John Rice, director of TPMS products and support, 31 Inc.; and W. Ripptoe, team leader North America, Schrader TPMS Solutions.
• Truck Tires at 10: Truck Tire & Wheel Assembly Balance — The session will outline the steps technicians can take during the mounting and inflation process to improve balance, in addition to the different methods for external balance.
• TIA 2019 Legislative Review: How New Laws and Regulations Will Impact the Tire Industry — The seminar will review upcoming and ongoing legislation and their impact on the tire industry and tire dealers' businesses. Topics covered will include tire registration, repeal of the estate tax, tariffs, tax credits and automotive related legislation. Presenters: Roy Littlefield, TIA CEO, and Roy Littlefield IV, TIA director of government affairs.
• Management at 2: Re-engage Profitability by Engaging the New Generation Field of Study — The seminar will cover how to connect with millennials, staff a tire and auto service store, make sales grow, increase margins, attract business and boost profits. Presenter: Matt Winslow, senior instructor/content developer, Automotive Training Institute.

SEMA's education program. held in the North Hall of the LVCC, features dozens of presentations on numerous topics. Among those of potential interest to tire dealers/auto repair facilities include:

• Is It Time To Sell Your Biz? Nov. 6;
• Entrepreneurship in the Automotive Aftermarket, Nov. 6; and
• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Forum: Next-Gen Safety Performance, Nov. 7.

SEMA's Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) will be a co-sponsor at this year's SEMA Show of the Stage, a public discussion forum featuring live interviews with industry professionals and personalities addressing topics such as wheel and tire trends, best business practices, marketing and sales, etc.

Interviews will take place multiple times daily at a stage set up in the South Hall, lower level, of the LVCC.

Among those scheduled to speak are:

Nov. 5

• Mike Lusso, sustaining engineering manager, Hennessy Industries;
• Gary Ruede, product and quality management technologist, Discount Tire/America's Tire;
• Wade Kawasaki, president and CEO, Legendary Companies (formerly Coker Tire); and
• Marla Moore, marketing director, Legendary Companies.

Nov. 6

• Brittany and Kevin Williams, Lite Brite Studios;
• Bud Brutsman, CEO, BlockChain Industires Inc.; and
• Ken Johnson, manager, MuscleKingz.

Nov. 7

• Jamie Jiang, CEO, Fury OffRoad Tires;
• Chip Foose, president and chief designer/fabricator at Foose Design and star of MotorTrend TV's "Overhaulin'";
• Michael Welch, president/CEO, Tirescanner.com Inc.; and
• Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA;

Nov. 8

• Sean Holman of "The Truck Show" podcast, MotorTrend Group.

The WTC also will hold its annual members reception Nov. 5 at the Renaissance Hotel and sponsor a "Coffee & Conversation" hour on Nov. 7 in the LVCC South Hall foyer.

AAPEX will host a Service Professionals Summit on Nov. 7 titled "Aftermarket 2030: Consolidation Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges for the Independent Service Professional," featuring a panel discussion on how consolidation will impact service professionals, sellers and buyers.

The show also features several seminar tracts, including:

• AAPEXedu sessions will offer presentation on industry trends and an outlook for the 2020 aftermarket, strategies for recruiting and retaining employees and attracting customers; and updates on trade and regulations issues.
• A three-hour forum on the opportunities and challenges of servicing vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), Nov. 7.
• Mobility Garage sessions will offer hands-on training and discussion of such topics as servicing hybrid and electric vehicles, diagnostics, cybersecurity and increasing shop profits and sales.
• The Let's Tech stage presentations, held outside the Sands Expo exhibit hall, are modeled after the popular TED Talks, with Let's Tech speakers delivering 20-minute sessions on topics such as communicating with customers, tire sensors, braking with ADAS systems, the future of lubrications, and vehicle security and diagnostics.

In addition to a New Products Showcase, AAPEX will feature a Technology of Tomorrow section where exhibitors will display prototype products relating to ADAS, predictive maintenance, diagnostics and other emerging vehicle technologies.

The AAPEX 2019 Grand Opening Keynote session will feature President George W. Bush and an overview of the state of the industry, presented by ACA CEO Bill Hanvey and AASA President and COO Bill Long.

Other events of potential interest:

• Automotive Maintenance & Repair Association annual membership meeting, Nov. 4 which will include a presentation of the inaugural J.D. Power tire repair/replacement and oil change/general maintenance awards;
• Women in Auto Care awards ceremony and reception, Nov. 5;
• ASE Training Managers Council member reception, Nov. 6; and
• National Automotive Service Task Force annual general meeting, Nov. 6.