The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas used to be the obvious place to see the future of car technology. But in recent years, it’s the city’s SEMA Show that’s putting mobile electronics firmly in the spotlight.
More than 100 brands will exhibit in SEMA’s dedicated Mobile Electronics section when the show takes place from November 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, bringing together car audio, infotainment, dash cameras, radar detectors, driver-assistance technology and other connected-car electronics.
Watch the video for highlights from last year’s event:
SEMA says the strength of the Mobile Electronics section reflects the continued evolution of connected driving, with exhibitors ranging from established audio manufacturers to companies working across the wider vehicle electronics market.
Among the long-established names heading to Las Vegas are BlackVue, Blaupunkt, Cobra Electronics, Kicker, Metra Electronics, Rockford Fosgate and Stinger. SEMA’s latest market research puts the US automotive mobile electronics aftermarket at US$3.36 billion (£2.48 billion), highlighting the scale of the opportunity.
The organisation also discovered that buyers under 40 account for between 55 and 67 per cent of spending across most mobile electronics segments, underlining the appeal of connected technology to a younger generation of automotive enthusiasts.
Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events, said: “The mobile electronics category is one of the most exciting areas of growth at the SEMA Show. From immersive audio and intelligent infotainment to safety-focused technologies like radar detection and dash cameras, this is where drivers experience innovation first-hand. The presence of long-standing brands alongside emerging companies underscores the strength, heritage, and forward momentum of this industry segment.”
SEMA isn’t just about products, either. The show brings together manufacturers, distributors, installers, retailers and enthusiasts, creating the sort of audience that can turn a new car audio product into an actual aftermarket success story.
And with more than 2,000 brands committed to the 2026 show and around 1 million net sq ft of indoor exhibition space already booked, there won’t exactly be a shortage of competition for attention. Expect to see performance cars, off-road and powersports, restyling, tools, and emerging technology sectors, with major OEM manufacturers including Toyota, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Stellantis.
For the big audio brands, meanwhile, the show provides an opportunity to demonstrate the next generation of products and technologies directly to the people who sell, install and use them. SEMA’s New Products Showcase, the Battle of the Builders and FutureTech Studio will add another layer to that, with the latter focusing on technologies shaping the vehicles of tomorrow.
The only question is how many new speakers, amplifiers, DSPs and other gadgets we’re going to want to bring home from Vegas. We’re guessing quite a few.
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