Top Picks from SEMA 2019 for Aftermarket Opportunities
Top Picks from SEMA 2019 for Aftermarket Opportunities
Get it. Mod it. Tune it. Tweak it.
But which vehicles are consumers choosing to modify? With so many vehicles available on the market, it can be difficult to determine which car manufacturers or truck models to specialize in. The Specialty Equipment Market Association asked the 2019 exhibitors of the SEMA Show to vote on the vehicles they felt had the most opportunity in the aftermarket industry. Here’s what the people who know the aftermarket chose:
SEMA Car of the Year: Ford Mustang
According to a 2018 study done by SEMA, more than half of Mustang owners with old and new models modify their vehicles. With more than 2.2 million Mustangs on the road, this shows a significant opportunity for business owners in the industry.
SEMA Truck of the Year: Chevrolet Silverado
Silverados offer a unique opportunity for the aftermarket industry. Though there are less full sized trucks on the road, they still account for over 25% of retail sales in the specialty equipment market, according to a 2018 study. Popular modifications include everything from lift kits to tool racks to towing options, so there is no limit to what consumers are looking for to improve this American made monster.
SEMA 4×4/SUV of the Year: Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a staple of the aftermarket industry. Owners take the lift kits and towing options of the full sized trucks and bump it up a notch to include snorkel kits and top accessories leaving Wranglers as some of the most modified vehicles on the road. And there’s more than 2.9 million Wranglers on those roads, leaving plenty of room in the market for more mods.
SEMA Sport Compact of the Year: Audi RS 3
The RS 3 was released in 2019 leaving little in the way of modification statics. But the aftermarket pros made it a top choice for opportunity in the industry. And if it follows in the footsteps of the Audi A4 with a modification rate of 40%, this little car shows some serious potential.
SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year: Polaris RZR
This isn’t the first year the industry has chosen the RZR as their top choice for modification opportunity. Released in 2007, this offroad brute won a contract from the United States Marine Corps in 2013. Like the Wrangler, it offers the opportunity for some creative modifications from the industry.
The pros in the aftermarket know their vehicles and they know the potential for opportunity. In a press release from the 2019 SEMA Show, Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and product development said “The SEMA Show is where the newest and most innovative aftermarket products are seen first. SEMA Show exhibitors are the innovators and experts who drive the $45 billion industry. Knowing what they believe are the best vehicles for accessorization helps to forecast trends.” And these are the vehicles those experts believe will keep pushing the market forward.
