LAS VEGAS — The current lineup of Las Vegas trade shows has a new leader, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) research center.
The 2023 SEMA Show, the world’s largest automotive specialty equipment trade show, is ranked No. 1 with 160,000 attendees and 2,200 exhibitors. The SEMA Show had an estimated total economic impact of $356.5 million.
“We create the environment that supports the goals of our attendees. They want to find the latest products and innovations, get fresh ideas, discover the hottest trends and make new connections. We offer the programming to help them achieve those goals,” Tom Gattuso, Vice President of SEMA Events, said. “At the end of the day, the SEMA Show is an environment for the entire community to gather. We’re unique because we have the entire marketplace represented in one place, from manufacturing to service providers to distribution to end users. When you have that, great things are bound to happen.”
SEMA exhibitors agree with these sentiments. “It’s the pinnacle of the aftermarket world,” Sam Paek, Director of Marketing at Pioneer Electronics, said. “It’s our equivalent of the Super Bowl, drawing industry insiders and consumers alike. This show is a must-attend event, boasting unparalleled reach and significance within the industry.”
The second largest show to meet in Las Vegas last year was CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, a construction equipment show that occurs every three years. Last year, it attracted 142,000 attendees. CONEXPO-CON/AGG was followed by the consumer electronics trade show CES that attracted 118,000.
SEMA, the $336 billion-a-year specialty automotive aftermarket industry show, will be back in Las Vegas this year November 5-8.
“SEMA is not just a great place; it’s the place for industry leaders to exhibit their products, their brands, learn from each other and meet in person with current and prospective customers. Not just in the American market, but in the global market,” Jeff Carpenter, Director and General Manager of Sales at TCS Technologies, said.
SEMA Fest Will be Back
Similar to last year, SEMA Fest, a two-day outdoor festival will be back. Last year’s festival brought together automotive enthusiasts, the biggest names in music and the hottest automotive brands in a large-scale festival format drawing over 16,000 fans for the two days.
“In 2024, we’re moving SEMA Fest to the SEMA Show Campus, bringing it closer to our family of events, linking it to our Friday Enthusiast Experience and putting a big exclamation point at the end of a successful week for our members while creating a bucket list event for automotive enthusiasts. We have been building on this concept for the better part of two decades, so it’s encouraging to see it pay dividends at a time when trade shows are going through a transformation,” Gattuso said.
Related. SEMA Show Drives Into Las Vegas with Historic Attendance
A recent study reveals that the specialty automotive aftermarket supports over 1.3 million American jobs, contributes $100 billion in wages and benefits, and generates more than $40 billion in tax revenue annually.
“SEMA is unique because we’re positioned to resonate with both trade and consumer audiences — B2B and B2C. As the marketplace changes and becomes younger, we’re meeting their desire for more opportunities for discovery and connection, as demonstrated by SEMA Cruise.” Gattuso said.
SEMA Cruise is a parade of hundreds of cars and trucks that roar out of the Las Vegas Convention Center and onto the streets. It delights thousands who gather on the grandstands along the route who generate millions of social-media impressions.
Reach Tom Gattuso at tomg@sema.org
