LAS VEGAS, Nov. 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- When the 38th Annual SEMA Show opened its doors today to the over 120,000 attending automotive professionals, one thing was clear: the muscle car is back, and with it, hundreds of aftermarket products to match. Setting records in exhibitor, buyer and media attendance, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has once again created the year's most important and largest industry trade show, the launching pad for innovative products and a veritable research and development, and trend marketplace for manufacturers and aftermarket companies.
"The baby boomer generation grew up with muscle cars - a lot of them never stopped lusting after power under the hood and raised children with the same passion for performance," said Christopher J. Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "The 2004 SEMA Show indicates that both the muscle car and the industry within which the auto enthusiast thrives have given them what they've been wanting for a long time."
If the SEMA Show is an indicator of past, current and future trends, the reintroduction of the muscle car brings with it a new wave of accessorization, personalization and modification. Muscle cars and the aftermarket are a natural fit. Muscle car owners give their love and attention to the vehicles they own and the aftermarket industry benefits from this bond. Their affordability makes them accessible to more enthusiasts and allows budget left over for aftermarket parts and accessories.
"The thing about the muscle car is that it's always been around," said Ira Gabriel, publisher, Hot Rod Magazine. "Power and performance epitomizes the true American spirit. And so does the muscle car. There are brand new platforms being developed but the true American muscle car classics stand the test of time ... this is not going to be another passing trend for the aftermarket - the muscle car is back in a big way."
The new 2005 Ford Mustang, SEMA Show's feature vehicle, is one example of the synergy between muscle cars and the aftermarket. Winner of the inaugural SEMA Vehicle Design Awards for most accessory-friendly vehicle, the Mustang symbolizes the efforts of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to build models with the aftermarket in mind. Other contemporary muscle car examples include: the Chrysler 300 CE, Dodge Magnum and Corvette C6.
The muscle cars of 2005 represent the ongoing relationship between OEMs and SEMA member companies; SEMA's information sharing programs such as technology transfer initiatives, measuring sessions and tech talk seminars were epitomized by the success of SEMA Show's opening day. For example, the 2005 Mustang had hundreds of compatible exhibiting aftermarket parts and accessories from SEMA member companies ready to be bought at the show and sold to Mustang owners. Consumers benefit from the synchronization of new model and aftermarket product launches getting what they want and when they want it faster and easier than ever before.
"We want to make nonproprietary information available to the aftermarket so they can enhance our products in the marketplace," said Paul Russell, Ford Motor Co. marketing manager for the Mustang, Ford GT and Thunderbird, who helped launch the Ford/SEMA Technology Transfer Program. "At the end of the day, aftermarket development will bring great products to the market that will support the Mustang and support its strong sales position - our research shows that 30 percent of all Mustang owners will modify their cars with either wheels, accessory or performance items."
Muscle car aftermarket parts and accessories were only a portion of the products that grabbed buyer and media attention. The off-road, mobile electronic, performance tires and wheels and hot rod sections were buzzing with exciting products for the growing $29 billion aftermarket industry. Over 1,000 new products from the eleven show categories were on display in the grand lobby, exemplifying the highly synergistic relationship between car manufacturers and aftermarket exhibitors working together to create cutting-edge products for new vehicle platforms such as the 2005 muscle cars.
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $29 billion specialty automotive industry of 5,727 member companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends and market growth information for *automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more information contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765-0910: call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org.
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
CAPTION: A host of Ford Mustangs are on display at the 2004 SEMA Show, this year's feature vehicle and winner of one of three inaugural SEMA Design Awards for the most accessory-friendly vehicle.
CAPTION: Legendary racer Parnelli Jones drives off the SEMA Show floor in a 2005 Ford Mustang and onto a proving ground where show attendees wait to ride with him around a closed-course track.
CAPTION: Several all new 2005 Ford Mustangs are on display at the 2004 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. This bright yellow Ford GT was modified and customized by Westrenz.