LAS VEGAS — The annual SEMA Show — put on earlier this month by its namesake organization, the Specialty Equipment Market Association — welcomed more than 130,000 attendees, according to the trade group.
The show, held Nov. 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, had in excess of 2,500 exhibitors, which SEMA said was its highest ever for the show. Six hundred of these companies were first-time exhibitors, it added, and the exhibit space took up more than 1 million square feet.
Audiovox Electronics announced it was entering the category of electric vehicle charging stations, a new segment for the company. It is partnering with Schneider Electric for a turnkey offer that includes the EVlink charging hardware, installation and extended warranty to support Audiovox’s expeditor and car dealer network.
The EVlink charger is designed to be mounted on a stud, drywall or masonry wall in the garage, and consumers have the option of customizing the skin of the charger cover. InstallerNet will be a delivery partner and will implement the field installations, Audiovox said, noting that it is upping the warranty to five years for certified installations vs. the two-year warranty for units sold without a certified installation.
Escort traveled to the show to formally launch its unveiling its Laser ShifterPro laser-detection technology. The Laser ShifterPro uses true laser diodes to optimize effectiveness against laser guns, and a spokesman for the company told TWICE it will outperform any previous Shifter technology it has ever done.
Users will be able to upgrade the technology for defense against future laser guns by using the company’s online updater, known as Shifter Tools.
The Laser ShifterPro technology will be included in Escort’s Passport 9500ci custom-installed detector system.
The company also won the Best New Mobile Electronics Product Award for its Passport Max radar detector at the annual New Products Showcase Awards.
Vizualogic showed off its SmartLogic Android rear-seat entertainment (RSE) tablet system, now with a DVD player. The DVD Player is built into the company’s custom headrests, designed to replicate the interior of all major vehicle makes and models.
The Wi-Fi-enabled tablets are removable from the headrests and have five-hour battery lives. Details include 7-inch touchscreens, 1.2GHz processors, 8GB of storage, 512GB RAM, A/V in/out capability, SD and USB slots, front- and rear-facing cameras and microphone, Bluetooth, FM modulator and wireless IR audio. They operate via the Android 4.1 OS.
Vizualogic also showed off the SmartView Automotive Safety Camera System, a collection of four cameras that provide a 360-degree field of view.
The system is designed for 12-volt installers, and in addition to the four cameras, it comes with a control module box, harnesses and cables, installation parts and a remote control.
Next year’s SEMA show will be held Nov. 4-7, 2014.
