So far only Lexus, Nissan, and Toyota have signed up
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March 24, 2023 at 17:03
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by Michael Gauthier
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The SEMA Show is still months away, but that hasn’t stopped organizers from bragging that “exhibitors are signing up earlier than they had in previous years.”
However, automakers are few and far between as Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis aren’t on the list of participating manufacturers. Neither is Audi, Acura, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru or Volkswagen.
In fact, the only automakers we noticed were Lexus, Nissan, and Toyota. While it’s possible more companies will sign up closer to the show’s kick off in October, SEMA noted “more than a third of all applications [are] historically submitted a week before the April 3 priority application deadline.”
More: SEMA To Take Over More Of Las Vegas In 2023, Invite More Enthusiasts With ‘SEMA Week’
As a result, things aren’t looking very promising and it appears automaker indifference to the SEMA Show continues. If that’s the case, it’s going to be a painful blow as 2023 is the first year of SEMA Week.
Part of a “five-year vision to expand the SEMA Show into an ‘all-city’ experience,” SEMA Week is set to consist of the traditional industry-only event that runs from Tuesday through Friday. On the last day, the show will open up to a “limited number of enthusiasts” through a Friday Experience program. Friday and Saturday will also see organizers host the all-new SEMAFEST at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds.
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SEMAFEST is set to bring automotive enthusiasts together for an “immersive festival-like celebration of car culture.” It’s slated to include “top music and entertainment, a car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities and motorsports.”
While automakers seem primed to pass on this year’s show, Chinese firms will have a huge presence. In particular, there’s five companies named after Changzhou, eight companies named after Foshan, and 24 companies named after Guangzhou. That’s just scratching the surface and there will be 48 different exhibitors named after the Chinese city of Ningbo.
