2025 SEMA Show: Mixed Reviews

The 2025 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show just concluded.  Feedback shared by show attendees was mixed.  I’ll share a little about that later in the article, as I want to focus on some of the custom vehicles shown.

Related article:  Inspired by SEMA Vehicles (2024 SEMA Show)

What Is SEMA?

SEMA is a trade association for the automotive aftermarket industry.  It has over 7,000 member companies and represents an industry that generates $337 billion revenue in the United States.

The SEMA Show is an exhibition of specialty parts and accessories, custom-built vehicles, and the latest industry trends.

Some of those trends observed at the 2025 SEMA Show included the following:

• A strong focus on advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) integration
• Diverse alternative propulsion solutions
• A blend of high-tech innovation with traditional craftsmanship and performance. 

SEMA Show Vehicles

While the parts, accessories, and services of the SEMA member companies are featured heavily throughout the show, it is the custom vehicles that draw the attention.  

Mothers Polish hosts a Battle of the Builders event that takes the top forty vehicles (ten in each of four categories), and picks the top vehicle in each category.  The four category winners (as well as the overall winner) are shown below.

The Battle of the Build winners have all done an excellent job with their vehicles.  Unfortunately, it is hard to get inspired by another Ford Roadster, Chevy C10 or Porsche 356 build.  The VW Thing was cool and different, but I would have walked passed the others if I was at the show.  

As good as those cars above may seem, I like vehicles that have more personality and inspiration. Some good examples of inspiring vehicles from the show are shown below:

Mixed Feedback About The Show

In the past, I looked for inspiration from the SEMA show.  For those people who could not attend, SEMA provided over thirty hours of live coverage on the SEMA YouTube Channel. I watched all of the video content, fast fowarding through sections that were not interesting.  Sadly, I did a lot of fast forwarding.

My disappointment wasn’t unique.  I found an interesting Instagram thread started by that_d100 that generated over 700 replies.  He led the thread with “This was the worst ever SEMA. I can’t be the only one that feels this way right? From the take over style burn out pit, to the cookie cutter bro trucks. It all felt like I was scrolling through the crappy part of instagram.”  Over 700 replies seem to support his claim.

I have a friend who is the accessories manager for a major OEM who worked the show.  He felt there was not much new or exciting (except for his products!), and was even surprised that General Motors was not even at the show.

Final Thoughts

Perhaps this lack of enthusiasm and new trends is indicative of our economy and general fatigue.  Who knows? A review of future SEMA events may tell a different story.