AAPEX and the SEMA Show 2024 are coming up fast, and there is a lot planned for this year’s event.
SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso and AAPEX Director of Shows Jessica Finnerty shared what to look forward to in Las Vegas this November, and how to make sure you get the most out of your visit.
SEMA Show 2024
Networking is undoubtedly one of the hallmarks of the SEMA Show experience. For those looking to connect with others, there will be plenty of opportunities from the moment the show begins with its kickoff breakfast on Tuesday morning, which will feature a showcase of some of the most innovative new products on the market.
Later that night, Industry Night @ SEMA will take place: a brand-new concert event open to event exhibitors and attendees. The Goo Goo Dolls, O.A.R., and Reignwolf are set to perform at the event to cap off SEMA’s first night.
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings will see plenty of industry councils and networks putting on events to attend, which are also good places to connect with others in the industry.
On Thursday evening, the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet will be another opportunity to make connections. Beginning with a cocktail hour, the awards gala dinner will recognize the winners of titles, including Hall of Fame members, SEMA Person of the Year, Content Creator of the Year, and more.
Besides all of that, the SEMA Members Lounge is always a place where you can find people to chat with as well.
Those looking to gain some training from this year’s SEMA Show will not leave disappointed, with 70 different training sessions being offered. Topics range from marketing to management and repair procedures.
There will be a plethora to learn about EVs, as well as other technologies being developed. The FutureTech Studio alone is a space on the show floor that will feature everything related to new vehicle innovations: EVs, hydrogen vehicles, hybrids, synthetic fuels, and every other emerging technology.
With 2,000 parts to be showcased across 16 different categories, you’ll never be short of new sights to see at SEMA; but some changes to the show will be seen this year. Mainly, the convention center will be undergoing an expansion and is currently under renovation. While the show will still occupy the same halls, the outside will look a little different.
“There still will be an activation where you'll be able to see cars and products in practical use right in front of the show, but it's just going to look a little different, because we've got some new partners doing that, and we've just gotten a new footprint to be able to do it within,” explains Gattuso. “So, we're excited to be able to bring that new look.”
SEMA Fest, a concert taking place on the Friday evening following the show, will be located on the SEMA Show grounds, and will run for one day instead of two. Last year, the concert was just slightly out of convenient walking distance, around three quarters of a mile away. Performing acts will include Cage the Elephant, Sublime, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Petey.
Additionally, all 31 hours of this year’s SEMA Show will also be livestreamed, allowing those unable to physically attend the event to still experience it and see what it’s like from anywhere.
“We're excited about that because there are some people who may not be able to attend the show, or don't know enough about it as to whether they think it can help their business, and we're going to really be able to show them what's happening on the show floor,” says Gattuso.
AAPEX 2024
AAPEX will kick off on Monday with its evening reception, hosted in the level two lobby. It will be a great opportunity to see both some new and familiar faces, and to prepare for the week ahead.
Tuesday morning will start off with the keynote breakfast, which will be a ticketed event. This year, Ratchet+Wrench (a sibling publication to NOLN) columnist Kathleen Callahan will be interviewing sports broadcaster Erin Andrews, followed by a panel discussion between the newly appointed CEOs of several companies, including Advance Auto Parts, Arnold Oil Company, AutoZone, Genuine Parts Company, and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
That evening will then see the Service and Repair Reception, which this year will take place on the show floor from 4-6 p.m. and is open to anyone. The winners of the AAPEX Service and Repair Awards will be named during this event.
With just under 60 training sessions currently slated for AAPEX, those looking for a chance to expand their skill set will have plenty of options. Educational topics span from technical training to business management and HR, with most sessions lasting around two hours.
Many of the programs being offered will be hosted by AAPEX partners, such as Worldpac; and, for the first time, AAPEX will be partnering with the ATRA Powertrain Expo this year to have a section on the show floor about transmission repair.
The EV Experience stage in Joe’s Garage—which makes up the entire downstairs area and is focused on service and repair—will be expanding, with all spaces for EV presentations already being sold out. Another stage focused on ADAS will be added to Joe’s Garage this year, and a third new stage, focused on sustainability, is also being introduced upstairs.
Joe’s Garage has featured a simulated shop with vehicle bays and running cars set up, but it will look a little different this year. Live training will be conducted in bay six of the garage, including a session on diagnostics and repairs on Tesla vehicles.
The conference will expand into Caesars Forum, an exhibit space that opened a few years ago across the street from the Venetian Expo. Free boxed lunches will be offered to buyers at Caesars Forum during all three days of the show.
“If you go out the back of the expo, it is ... I've been told, 117 steps—which is oddly specific. But it gives you kind of an idea of how close it is,” tells Finnerty.
One of the most exciting events planned for AAPEX 2024, is a new student competition that will take place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Joe’s Garage. Seven different vocational schools will be sending a group of students who will compete to rebuild an engine the fastest.
“That's going to be fun; it'll be just a cool way to engage with some students, in addition to also being a live, fun element to add a little excitement on the show floor,” says Finnerty.
Are You Ready?
All of this is just a glimpse at what AAPEX and SEMA will both have to offer. To get the most out of your experience and know which sessions and events are a perfect fit for you, both shows offer mobile applications providing info on what sessions, events, and exhibitors you can find at the show.
Ultimately, one of the best things to do at AAPEX and SEMA is to give yourself time to explore. Be sure and pack comfy shoes, and let yourself take a moment to walk around and soak everything in.
“When we build this pop-up city and see everybody come, you can feel the momentum as you're walking through the show,” describes Gattuso. “You can hear the conversations happening; and you're not hearing a specific conversation, but you're hearing this buzz of conversation that really translates itself into opportunity.”
