Chevrolet also planning to skip SEMA?

Wow, that'll leave a hole in the main hall. Kinda hard to miss the GM booth. 

So what is this "shift in strategy"?

Do they expect electrics to be so locked down, there is no market for specialty modifications?

They don't expect there vehicles to be used for anything but driving to work and back?

Did SEMA " Jump the shark" and turn the show into a 3 ring circus ?

there seems to be so much stuff that has nothing to do with the Aftermarket "Speed shop" buyers filling the shelves , 

it does makes SEMA buckets full of money by renting all the available space .

or maybe I am just getting old........

aircooled said:

So what is this "shift in strategy"?

Do they expect electrics to be so locked down, there is no market for specialty modifications?

They don't expect there vehicles to be used for anything but driving to work and back?

Electrics only affect the stuff that turns the wheels. All the suspension/brake/wheels/styling/infotainment/aero/etc etc etc modifications still apply.

But it is an aftermarket show, and Ford/GM's participation was way out of line with the possible return for GMPP or Ford Racing. Honda doesn't do anything for the aftermarket so it was just an F&F hangover for them. But when Ford bowed out, GM may have seen an opportunity to scale back their attendance as well. You can bet there will be a bunch of GM and Ford engineers roaming around, though, and I'll bet I (as a SEMA member) could pretty easily schedule one-on-one meetings with them.

I can't comment on SEMA, but in my old  job I was involved in autoshow planning.  Not the layout, but the planning for both global and regional reveals for vehicles, concepts, teasers, themes, would be, and the timing with respect to launch, production, competitors etc..  Already by 2017/18ish the writing was on the wall pretty much for regular auto shows.  Sure all the manufacturers still attend them, but it's generally with the regional or country operation putting on the stand, rather than the big head office dog and pony show.  Vehicle reveals went more to offsite events, and even virtual, where the manufacturer has a captive audience and they can show the audiance their presentations, see the vehicles, go on drives etc. without having to worry the journalists will be rushing off to the next show stand in 15 mins for a competitor reveal.  The other big change came from the type of press that the manufacturers feel they need to reach.  It used to be all the auto magazines, but with the rise of the internet and social media that changed as well.  Both mens and womens lifestyle magazines, general technology press, bloggers, vloggers etc. are all more important than the old school motoring publications for new vehicle launches, especially with vehicles not targeted directly at enthusiasts.  

By the time the concepts or new cars appear on the stands these days, there's already been a big unveiling to the press, and often the public at either their headquarters, or some other location.  Covid pretty much put an end to any significance traditional auto shows still had from the manufacturer side.  My guess is the same thing has happened with SEMA.  There are those on here who have been to SEMA way more than I have, but when I was last there in 19, it was far more informative to visit the accompanying APEX show than the main SEMA show area.  There you can see, meet, greet vendors from various parts of the world for manufacturing contacts.  But I only attended SEMA/APEX as a visitor, not as a vendor.  I'd love to see what Keith, the GRM crew, and anyone else who has more experience of SEMA than me have to say about their views.

The real business at the SEMA show (it's easy to confuse the show with the organization) is done by appointment. Oh sure, you might come across something cool on a booth babe car, but mostly you're jumping from spot to spot for pre-arranged meetings or seminars. The crowds make that really difficult, and when Eastwood has Foose signing posters you can consider that area closed to through traffic. 

I have come across some good finds by walkin' and lookin', but that's the exception rather than the rule. 

GM can't easily be replaced by a dealer in this show like they can in a regional auto show. First, they're showing off all the crate engines and bolt-on doohickeys. Second, the folks working the booth have real in-depth knowledge and information.  That's the real value. Scoggin Dickey is a real player in the crate engine world including combos you can't get from GM so it's not surprising to see them showing on their own regardless. 

I agree that all the cars are revealed before the show, so maybe losing some of that will make the show more useful to those who are there on business instead of as tourists. 

I enjoyed going over to Apex and seeing all the small companies in the basement , 

I always bought a few "samples" the last day that they did not want to drag home , 

But I would bet that the SEMA  spaces will be filled with someone who is on the wait list or has been stuck in a back corner for years , 

Apparently your location is based on how long you've been exhibiting. Seniority gets you better placement, and if you skip a year you start over. So there will be a bunch of new exhibitors in the main hall thanks to the Honda/Ford/GM vacuum, but it won't be little unknown shops doing cnc brake calipers and led washer nozzles. It'll be the guys that were close but not quite there before.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I'd second that. If you don't arrive at SEMA or PRI with a slate of meetings, you're way behind. Yes, there is some walking and getting lucky, but really you need to go in with a plan–and with the scope of the place, you need to use the map when making those plans. 

And, yes, the traffic doesn't help. 

Sort of related to the changing world, GRM participates in SEMA's MPMC. Think of it like speed dating: SEMA members and members of the media are paired up for half-hour conversations. You go in with a schedule so you know who you'll see but it's basically a few days of back-to-back meetings with each one limited to 30 minutes. 

The event has gone digital and, I admit, it's so useful: You meet, you talk, you get things done. No huffing around a convention center, no navigating past autograph signings, no interruptions.