PLYMOUTH —The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced the purchase of a 45,000-square-foot building in Plymouth to be used as a second SEMA Garage, where manufacturers will have access to advanced product-development tools and equipment, an emissions testing lab, an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) research and development center, and expert technicians who will help bring products to market.

Like the original SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, Calif., the Michigan garage will give aftermarket parts manufacturers access to sophisticated resources that are typically accessible only to large-scale manufacturers. In addition to exclusive OEM measuring sessions, scanning services, advanced tools and equipment, a certified emissions lab, and a modern training center, the Detroit garage will include expanded services and offer new SEMA benefits through the ADAS Research and Development Center. The ADAS Center represents a new venture for SEMA, where manufacturers will be able to obtain static calibration of on-board vehicle ADAS systems (radars and cameras). With access to OEM-quality equipment and procedures, manufacturers will be able to easily troubleshoot software/hardware obstacles, as well as work on dynamic testing in conjunction with local facilities.

“The SEMA Garage Detroit facility opens up new doors and opportunities,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM relations and product development. “We will be able to take our current offerings to a whole new level by making the services accessible to new members, incorporating new technology, and collaborating with key partners in the area.”

The Michigan garage is three times larger than the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, which opened in 2013 and has provided more than 1,000 SEMA manufacturers exclusive access to new vehicles and CAD files, facilitated rapid prototyping, and assisted in obtaining California Air Resources Board executive orders, which are written documentations of compliance with CARB emissions standards.

SEMA Garage Detroit will undergo extensive facilities improvements and include new equipment, such as emissions and horsepower testing for all-wheel-drive and diesel vehicles, vehicle lifts, full sets of tools, fabrication equipment, an alignment rack, 3D scanning tools, and engineering software. The lab will be purpose-built to accommodate a 48-inch all-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer and include a new emissions test bench. With equipment that meets CARB’s new 1066 testing requirement standards, SEMA Garage Detroit will be able to perform all required CARB and EPA test procedures.

“The SEMA Garage is a game changer for manufacturers,” said Spagnola. “By utilizing the tools and resources in the SEMA Garage, manufacturers no longer rely on trial and error for their product development. They are also able to navigate the complex process of obtaining required certifications and meet compliance.”

The SEMA Garage Michigan is scheduled to be open for members in early 2022. For more information, visit www.semagarage.com.