Posts Tagged ‘automotive parts’

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Find Export Opportunities in the Automotive Parts Industry!

September 3, 2014

Kellie Holloway is a Senior International Trade Specialist based in Portland, Oregon, and Member of the Commercial Service’s Global Automotive Team.

image of machinery working on an auto frame

More than one-third of U.S. auto parts exports went to Mexico in 2013. Automotive Meetings 2015 will connect more U.S. suppliers to prime export opportunities in the Mexican market!

One great thing about trade is that it presents opportunities for growth and success for companies in all industries throughout the world.

That’s readily apparent in the automotive industry, where growth in exports throughout North America is creating opportunity for businesses across the continent.

In the United States, auto parts manufacturers achieved $77.5 billion in exports in 2013, and more than a third of those exports – $26.6 billion – went to Mexico. That is a 9.2 percent increase from 2012, and it is a result of Mexico’s continued growth as one of the world’s top five auto exporters.

As Mexico’s automotive exports continue to grow, they will need more and more quality American-made parts fueling their auto manufacturing supply chain, and we at the International Trade Administration want to help form connections between Mexico’s top producers and the most high-quality suppliers in the United States.

One way we’ll support those connections is through the Automotive Meetings event in Queretaro, Mexico February 23-25, 2015. We will connect American suppliers directly to procurement, supply chain, and engineering teams from some of the top vehicle production sites in Mexico.

This could be a great event for any U.S. auto company looking to expand its exports!

To better serve our U.S. clients, we are also hosting two free webinars in advance of the Automotive Meetings event, which will help you learn more about the event in Queretaro, and how to best take advantage of it. The next webinar is Nov. 4, 2014.

auto webinar

U.S. auto exports support thousands of jobs throughout the country, and our team is committed to helping more and more businesses find success in exporting.

If your auto parts company is ready to start exporting, follow our team at @cs_autoteam, visit your nearest Export Assistance Center, or find more information about our services on our website.

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SEMA and ITA Partner to Expand Exports of Automotive Specialty Equipment

September 18, 2012

This post contains external links. Please review our external linking policy.

Liz Couch is an International Economist with the Office of Transportation and Machinery’s Automotive Team

The U.S. automotive specialty parts industry is known for being innovative and creative, and the industry association that supports these companies is no different. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) recently came up with a new, resourceful way to help its members to increase their exports. SEMA, with the help of a partnership with the International Trade Administration (ITA), has purchased and imported a Toyota HiLux truck as part of a new SEMA program to offer members access to vehicles that are popular for customizing and sold worldwide, but are not sold in the United States.

The program will give SEMA’s members the opportunity to take measurements needed to develop, manufacture and export customized aftermarket products to over 100 countries where the HiLux is sold. What makes this program so valuable is that the majority of SEMA members are small and medium-sized companies, and they would not typically have access to vehicles only sold overseas. SEMA has already held three group measuring sessions and the vehicle will be transported over the next year to individual company sites for those requiring more time.

I had the opportunity to recently attend a two-day measuring session in California where 36 companies participated. It was great to witness the development process first-hand and to hear manufacturers’ enthusiasm for this program.

SEMA members inspect the Toyota HiLux during a recent measuring session held in California. (Photo Commerce)

SEMA members inspect the Toyota HiLux during a recent measuring session held in California. (Photo Commerce)

Last year, SEMA received ITA’s Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) award, which provides non-profit industry groups with financial and technical assistance over a 3-year period to go towards projects to help U.S. companies begin or expand their exports.

Award recipients contribute a minimum of two-thirds of their project’s cost, and agree to sustain the project afterwards. SEMA’s MDCP award enabled the Association to embark on its measuring program.

In addition, SEMA, in partnership with ITA, has educated its members about exporting to China and the Middle East, and organized Business Development Conferences to both regions. SEMA’s projects have had the support and assistance along the way from my office, both our domestic and overseas Commercial Service offices, and our country desk specialists.

This has truly been a public-private partnership working towards increasing exports for small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers and supporting the National Export Initiative (NEI). The potential for U.S. specialty parts manufacturers to expand their reach and share their ingenuity and passion for customized vehicles with the world is truly exciting!

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