Toronto, Ontario -- The Specialty Equipment Market Association is acquiring the Off-Road Business Association.
Founded in 2001, ORBA represents companies tied to motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides and snowmobiles.
SEMA president and chief executive officer Mike Spagnola said the acquisition gives the industry a stronger voice in policy debates.
“Today is a great day for off-road and powersports enthusiasts and the businesses who cater to them, because it further unifies efforts to advocate in Washington, D.C., and statehouses nationwide on their behalf,” Spagnola said, according to a press release.
“By acquiring ORBA, SEMA further unifies our shared efforts to preserve motorized access to our nation’s open spaces and secure policies that strike a tenable balance between land use and conservation.”
Fred Wiley, who has led ORBA since its founding, described the handover as a logical next step for his organization.
“ORBA was formed to bring the added resources to support the off-road Industry through business acumen and advocacy, and by directly joining forces with SEMA, this industry will remain at the table on the important issues affecting motorized access to public lands, protecting the right to modify, race and other important issues to the off-road community,” he said, adding that he will remain involved as a senior strategic advisor on off-road and powersports issues.
The Truck & Off Road Alliance, a SEMA council, is expected to benefit directly from ORBA’s addition. "We are excited to have the additional firepower of ORBA under the SEMA brand and to expand the advocacy and litigation efforts to not only protect our community but to advance policies that will allow our industry to thrive for generations to come,” said TORA chair Dawson Druesedow.
