Industry leaders come together for a celebration of leadership and collaboration with Q&As, a fireside chat, and presentation of New Product Awards

The 2025 SEMA Show will begin in high gear with the annual Kickoff Breakfast, a long-standing tradition that brings together the global automotive aftermarket community to celebrate innovation, leadership, and connection. The sold-out event takes place Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 7–8:45 a.m. at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Ballroom, welcoming hundreds of exhibitors and attendees from around the world to officially launch SEMA Show week.

The Kickoff Breakfast underscores the event’s role as the global hub for automotive advancements and culture, uniting the most influential voices shaping the industry. The morning will open with a Q&A hosted by SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola and Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. They will discuss a range of topics, including the new partnership between SEMA and FIA to advance mobility and safety policy in the U.S. and abroad, and how the collaboration strengthens both organizations’ roles in global and U.S. policy while giving members access to research, advocacy, and new opportunities.

The program continues with an exclusive fireside chat featuring comedian and car collector Jay Leno and Stellantis Head of American Brands, North America Marketing and Retail Strategy and RAM Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis. They will share insights on the evolving landscape of automotive design, ingenuity, and car culture in a lively discussion.

The breakfast will also feature Hoonigan Industries co-founder Brian Scotto presenting a sneak peek of the latest Gymkhana film and giving attendees an exclusive first look at the high-octane automotive action.

“The Kickoff Breakfast sets the tone for SEMA Show week,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA Vice President of Events. “It’s where the industry comes together to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the people driving the automotive aftermarket forward. With this year’s lineup of distinguished guests, award presentations, and exclusive first looks, it's shaping up to be an inspiring start to the Show.”

In addition to these featured presentations, the Kickoff Breakfast will include the presentation of the SEMA Show New Product Awards, recognizing innovative products that have made significant contributions to the automotive aftermarket. These awards honor companies shaping the future of automotive technology, design, and services through creativity and engineering excellence. The Manufacturer of the Year and Channel Partner of the Year will also be recognized.

"The Kickoff Breakfast and our featured activations are designed to bring the industry together, celebrate ingenuity, and showcase the trends shaping the future of the automotive aftermarket," said Andy Tompkins, SEMA Trade Show Director. “Attendees can look forward to engaging conversations with industry leaders, exclusive first looks at cutting-edge products, and experiences that showcase the creativity and passion of our community."

The SEMA Kickoff Breakfast marks the beginning of SEMA Week, four days dedicated to business growth, discovery, and connection. Throughout the week, attendees will explore groundbreaking builds, new product launches, live demonstrations, and countless networking opportunities that showcase the creativity and strength of the automotive industry.

With the unique lineup of speakers and innovation on display at the Kickoff Breakfast, this year’s event has already sold out. For more information about the 2025 SEMA Show or to register, visit SEMAShow.com.

About SEMA and the SEMA Show

The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. Additional details are available at www.semashow.com or www.sema.org.

Tagged: automotive advancements

SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast Sets the Stage for a Week of Innovation and Automotive Experiences