Why is SEMA closed to the public?

[Whelan]

I realize it's to bring product makers and the industry together. But what good is that if most of the stuff there never gets made while we the consumer sit here and drool for it. It makes no sense to me. I would totally think it to be worth their while to have a one day open to the public. If even to see what interest they gain in certain products or features, heck maybe even sell some of them if they made enough for a stock. I dunno, it just strikes me as BS that we can't see what's there other than in pictures. Special Equipment my ***. If it's so special, why would it not be available for us. Case in point the Vibe that they made with the wicked body kit that never ever became available. Just blows my mind. You made the product, so you have a shell or original to make a copy from, so what is stopping you when you know you have demand???

[engineertwin2]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »You made the product, so you have a shell or original to make a copy from, so what is stopping you when you know you have demand???This is a frustration for me too - they finally opened up some of the other shows (not in the automotive industry) that have been popular.As for having a shell - they actually probably don't. They build the one-offs to get research and design money from the manufacturers, but anything they actually build for the show is built as a prototype and thus probably doesn't have any molds for replication.