Lucas Bell 
If you have been an automotive enthusiast for any real length of time, you have certainly heard of the folks at SEMA. While they may be best known for their massive trade show and the work they do in Washington D.C., SEMA actually does a lot of hands-on development alongside parts suppliers. This collaborative work takes place at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, where aftermarket parts companies can utilize the facilities advanced technology and testing equipment. Now though, they’ve has announced that they will be opening a second SEMA Garage location just outside of Detroit. Here’s what you need to know.
SEMA has announced their purchase of a 45,000 sq-ft facility in Plymouth, Michigan, which will serve as their new SEMA Garage Detroit location. The new building will feature product-development tools, a CARB-recognized emissions lab, as well as an all-new ADAS research and development center. These types of resources are usually reserved for large-scale companies and OEMs, which can make things more difficult for smaller aftermarket parts suppliers trying to create new products. SEMA also gets their members access to exclusive OEM measuring sessions and scanning services to ease the manufacturing process. Currently, aftermarket parts manufacturers are able to develop fully functional prototypes in as little as two weeks at the California location, and even obtain CARB certification in just 12 weeks This second SEMA Garage location then will serve to expand their reach, and to allow for more cutting-edge products to become available for customers.
“The SEMA Garage Detroit facility opens up new doors and opportunities,” said Mike Spagnola, vice president of OEM relations and product development. “We will be able to take our current offerings to a whole new level by making the services accessible to new members, incorporating new technology, and collaborating with key partners in the area.”
Detroit is a logical place for the next SEMA Garage location. Regardless of what Instagram might suggest, the Motor City is still the epicenter of the American automotive universe. Considering the massive number of parts suppliers that have operations in Michigan, the new facility will surely find its fair share of eager customers when it opens in 2022.
