What's New at the 2025 SEMA Show

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) officials are gearing up for the 2025 SEMA Show, which takes place Nov. 4-7 in Las Vegas, Nev.

The SEMA Show also hosts the Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) Global Tire Expo in the lower south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

According to SEMA officials, the 2024 SEMA Show was the biggest in five years with 2,400 exhibiting brands.

What’s new?

Tom Gattuso, vice president of events, SEMA, says this year’s show will have a focus on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

He believes technology in the tire industry will continue to get “more and more refined” and the industry will see more adaptation of new technologies.

“Just as an example, you’ve got people who’ve been dealing with (ADAS) for a couple of years ahead of other people trying to get a vehicle back to OE specification,” says Gattuso.

“So there was this need to be able to reset the ADAS features and then you have this performance industry that’s making modifications to cars and now they’re all starting to share notes. I think that’s a really healthy thing to have happen and it’s great to see that networking and sharing of ideas.”

Gattuso says SEMA’s New Product Showcase will be in the lower south hall this year.

“I like having it in the lower south hall because it gives you this two-way traffic and it will provide this energy and momentum to that hall, which will be welcome.”

The number of categories has gone from 16 to 15 this year by combining some categories.

This year's categories include:

• Car care and collision protection
• Collision repair and refinish
• Emerging technology
• Engineered new product
• Exterior accessory
• Interior accessory
• Package design and display
• Performance (racing)
• Performance (street)
• Powersports and utility vehicle
• Street rod and custom car
• Tires and related
• Tools and equipment
• Truck and off-road
• Wheel and related

Gattuso says the show has expanded to the Westgate Hotel and Casino next to the Las Vegas Convention Center to free up some space on the show floor.

The SEMA Live broadcast also is moving from one hall to another. Last year, SEMA Live consisted of a 31-hour television broadcast that resulted in over 3.5 million impressions.

“If you look down the road to what we are trying to do, we feel like it sends our message and gives people a glimpse of what happens at the SEMA Show to a much wider audience,” explains Gattuso.

Registration for the 2025 SEMA Show is now open.

Events at Global Tire Expo

Before the SEMA Show kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 4, TIA is hosting some pre-show events. All meetings are located at Planet Hollywood unless otherwise noted.

• Monday, Nov. 3:
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.: TIA Board of Directors Continental Breakfast (invitation only)
  • 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: TIA Board of Directors Meeting (invitation only)
  • 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Annual Membership Meeting and Press Conference (open to all TIA members)
    • Association updates, installation of the 2025-26 TIA Board president, recognition of newly inducted board members and departing members.
  • 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.: TIA Board of Directors & Friends Luncheon (invitation only)
  • 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.: TIA Right to Repair Summit (RSVP required)
  • 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Tire Industry Networking Reception (RSVP required)
    • Complimentary event – open to all members and show attendees to network with other tire industry professionals and enjoy food and drinks.

During the show, TIA is hosting its usual educational seminars. All sessions take place in the Upper South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center and are complimentary to show attendees.

• Tuesday, Nov. 4:
  • 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Wheels and Rims at 10: Ensuring Wheel and Rim Performance
  • 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Truck Tires at 10: North American Truck Tire and Wheel Inspection Standards
  • 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Tires at 2: 10 Things Retailers Can Do to Protect Their Business, Customers and Employees
  • 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.: TIA Booth Happy House (RSVP required)
    • Complimentary event – open to all members and show attendees.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 5:
    • 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: TPMS at 10: Technician Survey Results
    • 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Truck Tires at 10: Helping Fleets Improve Compliance, Safety, Accountability Scores
    • 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Management at 2: Attract and Retain Top Talent

AAPEX

The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is scheduled for Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Venetian Expo and Caesar's Forum.

Mark Bogdanskey, vice president of meetings and events at the Auto Care Association, which is a co-owner of AAPEX along with Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), says there will be some changes to this year's show in order to keep attendees engaged and wanting to come back next year.

One initiative is to have free water on the show floor, which was introduced last year.

“To get a 16-ounce bottle of water (in Vegas) is about, without exaggeration, between $8 to $12,” says Bodganskey.

Along those same lines, Bogdanskey says AAPEX is offering a free buyer lunch every day of the show.

“No commitment, no upsell, no sale, no anything,” he says. “It’s another way to save time and money.”

The biggest change this year comes from segmenting the floor by “broad categories.”

Bogdanskey says the segmentation came from asking companies that exhibit at the show for their thoughts and opinions.

“This changes up the show look immediately because now instead of knowing that company A is always here or company B is always here, I’d say 99.5% of the floor is going to be in a different booth than it was in the past,” he notes, adding that having broader categories like oil, lube, waxes and chemicals help define the floors as well.

AAPEX also will feature meeting rooms out on the show floor in different sections that exhibitors can rent.

Some segments at this year's expo include:

• Accessories/lighting
• Automotive aftermarket central
• Undercar
• Underhood
• Transmission
• Tire service
• And more

Registration for the show is now open.