Las Vegas, Nevada -- The SEMA Show opened in Las Vegas Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mike Spagnola, president and chief executive officer of the Specialty Equipment Market Association.
"Welcome to SEMA 2025, everybody," Spagnola said as the scissors sliced through the ribbon.
The event which is expected to attract more than 150,000 people, began with a series of technical training sessions focused on EV safety, welding and calibration.
These morning sessions included “MIG Welding Advanced Features” and “Creating Harmony in the Collision Repair Process Through Collaboration.” Presenters covered high-voltage power-down, mixed-material joining and documentation. Sessions also addressed reimbursement and repair-process communication.
Vehicle unveils ran through the morning. TMI Products showed its Scorched 1969 Mustang widebody. The Musi family debuted the “Norma Jeane” Camaro tribute. Ringbrothers, the Wisconsin custom shop, revealed new builds.
The conference also held several outdoor activities, including the annual HorsePower Rodeo, the Nitro Circus Moto Mayhem and the enigmatically named Hoonigan Burnyard.
Afternoon programming centred on ADAS. Presenters led “ADAS Diagnostics: When the Calibration Fails” and “Real ADAS Blind Spots.” Demonstrations covered calibration software, target setup, floor-level verification and sensor-orientation checks.
On Tuesday evening, many Canadians at the conference will attend Canada Night. Hosted by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) in Las Vegas, the ticketed trade-only event brings together Canadian companies, banner groups, parts distributors and suppliers.
While SEMA might not have officially opened until the morning of November 4, several pre-SEMA events were held on November 3. Among these, Pro Spot held its annual distributor meeting.
"We had a hectic but wonderful night Monday at our distributor meeting," said Pro Spot president Ron Olsson. "This year marks our 40th anniversary, which is hard to believe."
