Engineering for the aftermarket

Suppliers that serve the OE market are setting their sights on the growing market for customization.

If the annual SEMA Show, which convenes in Las Vegas every November, is an accurate reflection of the automotive accessories market, then business for the industry's participants is booming. With 2000-plus exhibitors expected to fill more than 1 million ft² (92,900 m²) of space this year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has expressed concerns that its show may soon outgrow the Las Vegas Convention Center, already one of the largest such facilities in the U.S.

SEMA figures show that the automotive accessories industry is indeed expanding at a similarly steady pace, with $31 billion in retail sales in 2004, up 6.9% from 2003, which in turn was up 7.7% from the prior year.