SEMA is the world’s biggest car and trade show. Naturally, the association has produced a new report, weeks after the show, that sheds a comprehensive view of the pickup truck accessories aftermarket. It’s no secret that pickup trucks are a hot topic right now, and in high demand. You might be surprised to know that the aftermarket has a wealth of opportunity in front of it as a result, but maybe you’re not surprised at all. The report details the business of the pickup truck aftermarket in length.
Image via American Expedition Vehicles
For starters, the actual report is a whopping 158 pages long. Some highlights of the report include; there are more than 29-million late model pickups (2010 and up) on the road and approximately half of them are modified in some kind of way with 84% of that group already planning to make additional modifications sooner than later.The report also shares that 62% of late-model pickup accessorizers buy off-road-focused parts for their trucks.
SEMA Director of Market Research Gavin Knapp, says that the truck market is strong and will become a priority in terms of production going forward. According to SEMA market research, specialty equipment sales for passenger vehicles reached $50 Billion in 2021. The largest individual portion of that came from the pickup category which yielded $16 Billion alone.
F-150 Limited Hybrid SuperCrew by BDS Suspension. Image Via Ford.
The report also shares that most pickup owners view their vehicle as a utility vehicle and use them mostly for road trips with some of the most common modifications being for pulling a trailer or hauling gear. In terms of what brand of truck is chosen more than others to accessorize, both GM (Silverado and Sierra) as well as Ford (F-series) sit at the top of the list with projected specialty equipment sales over $6 million each. One keen observation the report makes is that truck owners are also more likely to stick to a brand they trust. They prioritize ruggedness over price, because a truck is supposed to be tough and able.
Image Credit: American Expedition Vehicles
