DIAMOND BAR, Calif. – The first in a series of ground-breaking forecasting reports is being made available to help SEMA members identify trends and adjust to potential market changes. Conducted by the acclaimed Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the report delves into key aspects of the market, focusing on automotive electronic systems, trends toward reduced accessory content at the OEM level, length and volume in vehicle runs and the aftermarket as an enabler for the “connected car.” Contributing to the uniqueness and value of the report is knowledge and insight from nearly 40 of the automotive industry’s most respected and influential leaders.
“The CAR report is unlike anything that we’ve seen,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “These are truly forecasting reports. They look at what’s on the drawing board today and enable companies to make smarter, more strategic decisions based on what will likely happen three, five or even seven years from now.”
Among the key findings in the report are:
-Structural Change; Strategic Opportunity: Organizations are re-examining what must be done to remain competitive in the coming months and years. This change may present opportunity to forge new relationship and business models between the original equipment manufacturers and the specialty equipment market.
-Vehicle Portfolio Mix: Most vehicle manufacturers continue to focus their performance, chassis, and appearance specialty equipment strategy on small cars, specialty cars and light trucks. The changing market presents an opportunity – in small cars – and a challenge in the decline in pickups and SUVs for specialty equipment suppliers.
-More Nameplates; Fewer Platforms: Both automakers and suppliers will be challenged to engineer a wider variety of vehicles and components with distinct features and appearances, while using more common platforms and parts. Also, because model life spans will be shorter and redesigns will be performed more frequently, specialty suppliers will see an increase in the number of projects they will face at any one time.
-Collaborative Access: The over-riding concern for the vehicle makers is that aftermarket access into the electrical/electronic system may modify the integrity of the vehicle. In the case of the chassis electrical/electronic system, any modification may alter safety. The challenge for specialty equipment suppliers is to continue producing and installing product that do not have an adverse impact on vehicle safety, yet adapt to a more electronically integrated vehicle.
-The Connected Vehicle: Vehicle communications and connected-vehicle technology offer important opportunities for specialty equipment manufacturers along several dimensions. It is possible, even likely, that products offered by SEMA members may be the enabler for accelerating the deployment of connected-vehicle systems and allow this technology to reach a critical mass. For this to materialize, closer cooperation with VMs and greater involvement in regulatory and standards processes will be needed.
To help members better understand the report, its significance and how to best utilize its findings, SEMA is hosting a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 from 10 -11:00 a.m. (PST). The event will be moderated by John Waraniak, SEMA’s vice president of vehicle technology, and presented by the report’s authors, Brett Smith, assistant director of the manufacturing, engineering and technology group at CAR, and Richard Wallace, senior project manager at CAR.
To learn more about how to participate in the webinar or obtain a copy of the report, send your name, company, email and phone number to [email protected]
