In SEMA and AAPEX News are Toyota, Ford, Washtenaw Community College, Stellantis, Mopar, Nissan, Honda Racing Corporation, Mitsubishi, Holley Performance Brands, Firstech, Wolfbox, XPEL, Mazda, Bugatti, 1stMILE, CTEK, Dodge, Stinger, AudioControl, Air Lift Company, Meguiar’s, Toyo Tires, Narwhal, DRiV, Royal Purple, ZF Aftermarket, HELLA, Hunter Engineering, SEMA, Harley-Davidson,
Automakers
Toyota Brings Crown Signia GT-S Performance Concept and Snow-Ready Concepts to SEMA
Toyota Motor North America unveiled the Crown Signia GT-S Concept ahead of the show. Developed by Toyota Motorsports Garage to evaluate a performance-oriented grand touring version of its production crossover, the vehicle adds custom widebody fenders, an aerodynamic package, revised headlight surrounds and a dual exhaust with trapezoidal tips on the factory hybrid platform. A custom MCS coilover suspension lowers ride height by roughly five inches, while front and rear calipers sourced from the Lexus RX 500h F SPORT sit behind custom 21-inch HRE wheels wrapped in 295-mm tires, which Toyota says increases contact patch area by 20 percent over stock.
The automaker is also showing a family of Snowhunter concepts, five SUVs and trucks fitted with snow tracks, and a set of lifted Woodland concepts that includes the RAV4 Woodland Plug-in Hybrid, the Sienna Woodland and the bZ Woodland. Motor1 reported that these configurations are not planned for production. Toyota exhibits in Central Hall, and its press conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Ford Builds a Bronco Live on the Show Floor With Washtenaw Community College
Ford is centering its SEMA presence on the Bronco, including the Ford Custom Garage Ultimate Build. Six students from Washtenaw Community College will assemble the winning design in Ford’s booth over the course of the show, with the finished vehicle revealed on the final day, according to Ford Authority. Ford is among the automakers holding a press conference on opening day.
Stellantis Marks 90 Years of Mopar With Charger Package and Truck Concepts
Mopar is commemorating its 90th anniversary with the Mopar ’27 Dodge Charger, an annual limited-production package that combines unique styling, carbon-fiber details and functional performance enhancements on the all-wheel-drive Charger. Mopar’s display also includes a Ram 1500 concept called “The Dude” and a Moparized Dodge Sixpack Charger concept, per listings compiled by The Weekly Driver. Dodge previewed a Durango “Tow Hook” ahead of the show, and Auto123 reported that Jeep intends to unveil a concept vehicle, though details have not been released.
Nissan Revives the Sentra Spec-V and Shows Two Z Builds
Nissan’s Central Hall booth is anchored by the Sentra Spec-V Concept, a tribute to the Sentra SE-R, which arrived in North America 35 years ago. The concept carries a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine rated at 300 horsepower, a six-speed manual transmission from the Juke Nismo RS, GT-R-sourced Brembo brakes and Recaro seats, and 19-inch Nismo wheels. Two Z projects accompany it: the Project NAT2 SCCA Touring 2 car, built by a volunteer group of Nissan employees called the Nissan Acceleration Team, and a Datsun S30 Concept created with Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg that uses a twin-turbo V6 from the current Z.
Honda Racing Corporation Launches HRC Performance Parts and a Trophy Truck
Honda Racing Corporation will launch its first HRC Performance Parts at SEMA, aimed at the Honda Civic Type R, Acura Integra Type S and Honda Passport TrailSport, with sales beginning in March 2027. The company also introduced a Honda Passport “Baja Spec” Trophy Truck, which will compete in the 2027 SCORE World Desert Championship and appears at the show after its October 29 debut.
Mitsubishi Returns to SEMA for the First Time Since 2012
Mitsubishi Motors North America is back at the show for the first time since 2012 and is hosting the world debut of the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition. The company is among the automakers holding a press conference on Tuesday.
Products and Exhibitors
Holley Performance Brands Holds First In-Booth Press Conference
Holley Performance Brands, which counts more than 60 aftermarket brands in its portfolio, will present company announcements, new products and partnerships at a press conference Tuesday at 12 p.m. Pacific in Booth 22463, Central Hall. The company is showing four builds across consumer segments, and executives will be available for media interviews afterward.
Firstech Enters Vehicle Infotainment and Reveals Flagship Dash Camera
Firstech, maker of the Compustar brand, announced its entry into the vehicle infotainment space on November 2. The company is also taking pre-orders for the Momento M8 Ultra (MD-8500), described as its flagship dash camera, which it will reveal at the show.
Wolfbox Previews Multi-Channel Dash Cams and Trail Electronics
Wolfbox is presenting the FlexPilot mirror dash cam, a modular system for off-road and RV use that supports up to four concurrent channels and a 1,500-nit, 12-inch display. Sony STARVIS 2 sensors capture 4K on the primary forward and rear channels. The company also introduced the K9 Pro, a three-channel recorder for fleet, rideshare and passenger vehicles with a 4K forward camera and dual 2.5K cabin and rear channels, plus the NomadPixel 5, an IP69K-rated off-road light with an app-programmable 84-pixel LED matrix rated at 17,700 raw lumens per pair. Maintenance gear rounds out the exhibit, including the MegaVolt 32 Air jump system rated at 6,000 peak amps. The products are staged on a custom 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 4WD.
XPEL Shows Protection Film on Mazda 787B, Bugatti Concept and Live Installations
XPEL is exhibiting at Booth 52065 in West Hall, where Mazda’s rotary-powered 787B Le Mans racer is wrapped in ULTIMATE PLUS paint protection film to preserve its original livery. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo concept is treated with ULTIMATE PLUS film and FUSION PLUS ceramic coating. Certified technicians are performing live installation demonstrations on an Infiniti QX65, and Team Penske driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden appears at the booth Wednesday, November 4.
1stMILE Introduces Zero-Capital Level 3 EV Charging Program for Repair Shops
Automotive financial technology company 1stMILE is debuting 1stMILE EV Charging at Booth 24713 in Central Hall. The program covers hardware sourcing, permitting, utility interconnection and maintenance for independent repair shops and regional tire dealers at no upfront cost, with participating shops receiving a tiered share of charging revenue. The company targets 20-to-40-minute charging sessions to give technicians a window for tire, brake and battery-health inspections.
CTEK Unveils Seven New Products and Brings a Fast & Furious Dodge Charger
CTEK is introducing seven new products at the show alongside a 1970 Dodge Charger featured in five films in the Fast & Furious series.
Stinger and AudioControl Expand Lighting, Audio and UTV Displays
Stinger is showing more than 70 vehicle-specific HEXCORE lighting kits, debuting HEXCORE COLOR for off-road vehicles and UTVs, and introducing HORIZON XTR, a multi-function display for UTVs. Sister brand AudioControl is unveiling its largest EPIC subwoofers, the X5, in a 62-speaker, 30,000-watt build.
Air Lift Company Combines Three Brands in One Booth
Air Lift Company, Air Lift Performance and Universal Air Suspension share Booth 22543 to present new ProSeries products, Smart Terrain Leveling and AirConnect.
Meguiar’s Introduces 2027 Car Care Lineup
Meguiar’s announced a group of new 2027 car care products from Irvine, California, as the brand marks 125 years in business.
Toyo Tires Showcases 27 Custom Builds Through Treadpass
Toyo Tires returns with 27 custom vehicle builds in its Treadpass program.
Narwhal Brings Carbon Fiber Truck Toppers to Ford and Toyota
Narwhal is showing carbon fiber truck toppers in Booth 61013, with production units for the Ford Ranger Raptor and F-150 Raptor. Toyota models are available to order now, and Ram and GM versions are targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
AAPEX
AAPEX 2026 runs November 3 to 5 at the Venetian Expo and the AAPEX Forum in Las Vegas, with more than 2,500 exhibitors across 550,000 square feet, according to organizers.
DRiV Announces More Than 30,000 New SKUs Across Ride Control and Braking
DRiV is exhibiting at Booth F13600 in the AAPEX Forum with a global expansion of more than 30,000 new SKUs spanning light vehicle, commercial vehicle and off-highway segments, led by a Fel-Pro oil filter housing assembly designed to address top-of-engine leaks. Wagner added 547 light-vehicle calipers and 1,065 premium rotors, among other braking items. Monroe added 111 heavy-duty air springs and 102 ride height sensors, Rancho introduced 114 RS9000XL strut assemblies, and Walker added 89 exhaust kit configurations. DRiV will also debut an interactive support format called Experts on Tap, pairing technicians and distributors with product engineers.
Royal Purple Restructures Passenger Car Motor Oil Into Three Tiers
Royal Purple, a subsidiary of Calumet, Inc., consolidated its passenger car motor oil catalog into High Performance, Ultimate High Performance and Extreme Performance Racing tiers. It is exhibiting at Booth V3861. The new Ultimate High Performance tier is positioned for direct-injected, high-mileage and light-duty diesel engines and uses the company’s Synerlec ionic additive technology, while the racing tier adds elevated ZDDP levels for flat-tappet camshafts. Widespread retail rollout is scheduled for January 2027.
ZF Aftermarket Adds OE Chassis Diagnostics to MultiScan
ZF Aftermarket is showing guided diagnostic test plans for vehicles with its Continuous Damping Control semi-active suspension at Booth F13011 in the AAPEX Forum. When the MultiScan tool detects a chassis-related trouble code, it generates a targeted test plan with parameter thresholds, prioritized inspection steps and automatic polling of relevant parameter identifiers, replacing manual searches through live-data channels.
HELLA Splits Its Presence Between AAPEX and SEMA
HELLA is showing its full vehicle ecosystem, from maintenance and emissions to lighting and horns, at AAPEX, and an enthusiast lineup at SEMA headlined by Robb Holland’s Pikes Peak racer and the launch of “The Joy of Racing” documentary.
Hunter Engineering Previews AI-Based Product and Remote Diagnostics
Hunter Engineering is introducing or enhancing nearly two dozen products at SEMA and AAPEX, including an AI-based product and remote diagnostics, the company said from its St. Louis headquarters.
News for Attendees
SEMA Opens on Election Day With Kickoff Breakfast Featuring Jay Leno and Harley-Davidson CEO Artie Starrs
Opening day falls on Election Day, and SEMA’s Drive the Vote campaign asks attendees to make a plan to vote before traveling. The Kickoff Breakfast begins at 7 a.m. at the Westgate Las Vegas, with a fireside chat between Jay Leno and Harley-Davidson President and CEO Artie Starrs and the presentation of the 2026 SEMA Best New Product Awards across 15 categories. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. The show is trade-only until Friday, November 6, when it opens to the public, with SEMA Fest concerts that evening.
SEMA Battle of the Builders Adds a Motorcycle Category
The Battle of the Builders competition debuts a Bike Builder Shootout on Tuesday at the Battle of the Builders Stage in Central Hall, with motorcycles judged separately by industry judges. Cuts for the main competition run Tuesday through Thursday, and the overall winner is named on Friday.
SEMA Future Trends Report Details Tariff Pressure on the Aftermarket
SEMA’s 2026 Future Trends and Industry Update report describes an industry facing tariffs, inflation and higher oil prices while remaining cautiously optimistic. Nearly 30 percent of manufacturers surveyed are shifting toward domestic suppliers to offset tariffs, according to the report. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in February, SEMA stated that tariffs on automotive parts and on steel- and aluminum-derivative items were not affected by the ruling.
SEMA Expands ADAS Hands-On Access and Adds a Powersports Section
SEMA’s expanded ADAS showcase offers hands-on access to repair and calibration issues, with I-CAR presenting courses, live welding demonstrations and an ADAS display vehicle, and ADAS programming continuing at AAPEX. The show also launches a dedicated Powersports/SxS/Lifestyle section for the first time.