The 2002 SEMA Show was held Nov. 5 -8 in the

Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). According to SEMA, it boasted more exhibitors, more square feet,

more buyers, more attendees and more excitement than ever before.

"We’re very excited to have raised the bar on our already world-class trade show this

year," said Christopher J. Kersting, CAE, president of SEMA, the Specialty Equipment

Market Association. "Our exhibitors and attendees clearly demonstrated that the

SEMA Show is the place to get business done."

In addition to the specialty

equipment manufacturers exhibiting, twelve carmakers, including the Chrysler Group,

which was the Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show, displayed their new vehicles, parts

and accessories. More than 1,500 unique cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles were

on display in the LVCC and the area surrounding the Center.

According to SEMA, the record number of exhibiting companies was met by a record number of automotive

industry professionals, (86,787). Of the crowd filling the booths and aisles, 39,879 were

buyers from more than 100 countries. "The SEMA Show, as part of Automotive

Aftermarket Industry Week, continues to deliver real value for both buyers and sellers

of automotive parts and accessories," said Chuck Schwartz, CEM, chairman of

ConvExx, SEMA's show management company.

SEMA is planning its 2003 SEMA Show, the 27th consecutive annual show

the Association has held in Las Vegas, and the 38th it has organized. The 2003

show's space selection, held during the 2002 SEMA Show, assigned exhibit space

locations to more than 1,100 companies. They have reserved more than 780,000 net

square feet of exhibit space, more space than the 2002 exhibits occupied. Kersting

said that SEMA expects to sign several hundred additional exhibiting companies

before the 2003 Show opens on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

SEMA represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association

has more than 4,500 member companies. It is a source of 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 cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs

and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista

Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org or

www.enjoythedrive.com.