Auto Industry News: SEMA 2023 Highlights, UAW Future Plans, & Tesla Trial Wins

This week, nearly all eyes were on Vegas, where the 2023 SEMA Show rolled into town with innovative products, crazy builds, and an all-new music festival. More than a few sights stayed trained on Detroit, however, as the UAW’s six-week strike came to an end and rank-and-file workers voted in new record contracts. Union president Shawn Fain has his own eyes on Toyota and Tesla, with the goal “to organize like we’ve never organized before,” while Tesla’s eyes stare approvingly at its lawyers – who helped the automaker win the first U.S. trial related to its Autopilot driver assistance technology. The Engine Block has everything you need to know this week.

SEMA Hits Vegas Bigger Than Ever

The 2023 SEMA show came to a close this past weekend, serving up aftermarket excitement for every flavor of automotive enthusiasm. From classic muscle and epic rock-crawlers to futuristic EVs and wild Frankenstein builds, it was all on display across 1.2 million sq ft of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

According to show organizers, roughly 160,000 people showed up with more than 2,200 vendors across 140 different countries – record numbers for the show and nearly a 20% increase over last year’s attendance. The boost is partly owed to the event shifting from an industry-only event to one with more public-friendly components.

Last year, show organizers announced they would be adding more festival-type events, with the plan being to turn the traditional SEMA Show into an “all-city” experience over the next 5 years. This year’s all-new SEMA Fest placed them one step closer to that goal. Held on the Las Vegas Festival Grounds directly after the trade show, the two-day festival celebrated motorsports and car culture while serving up a star-studded roster of musical talent. (This is in addition to the usual SEMA after-party fun that takes place under the “SEMA Ignited” umbrella.)

With big expos and classic auto shows struggling to stay relevant as marketing grows more niche and segmented, it looks like city-wide carnivals might just become the new norm.

Enough about the show’s format though. Let’s get to the builds — as they’re always a highlight of the show and this year was no exception. Check out some of the coolest ones that caught our eye below, and stay tuned in the coming weeks as we unpack our favorite new product debuts.

Ringbrothers 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II “Paramount”

When do the Ringbrothers not deliver? The Wisconsin-based custom car builders brought three incredible vehicles to this year’s SEMA show, including a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible, 1969 Dodge Charger, and the stunning 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II pictured here.

Dubbed “Paramount,” the aristocratic classic blends power and luxury to create the ultimate sleeper. Ringbrothers maintained the original bodywork and clean lines of the Rolls, ensuring first glances wouldn’t tell the whole story – mainly that of the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood, making 640 horsepower and 635 pound-feet of torque. Helping to harness all that power is a custom Roadster Shop RideLine Stage 3 chassis riding on a custom suspension with Fox RS SV six-inch coilovers, plus a Bowler Tru-Street 10-speed automatic gearbox, carbon-fiber driveshaft, and a Ford 9-inch rear end.

ENEOS Jaguar E-Type 2JZ

If you love the idea of blending style and power but were hoping for something slightly more… unhinged… then ENEOS delivered. Japan’s largest oil company – along with the help of drifter Faruk Kugay – turned up the dial on engine swaps by stuffing the Supra’s beloved 3.0-liter turbocharged 2JZ inline-six under the hood – well, bonnet – of a 1969 Jaguar XK-E 2+2.

The 2JZ has been heavily modified with a new factory head casting, fuel system, pistons and rods, as well as a larger Borg Warner turbo and a new performance intercooler. To stay ahead of any conversion issues and help put the power to the pavement, the vehicle also received the rear subframe, suspension and differential from an E60 BMW and the ZF five-speed manual transmission from an E36 BMW M3. Special 3D-printed fender flares helped the Jag fit its custom-built 17.0-inch wheels and high-performance tires.

According to ENEOS, the Frankenstein project will see 750 hp once the final dyno tuning is complete.

RealTruck McQueen/Steeda F-150

Looking for a little less luxury and a little more off-road grunt? How about a Steve McQueen-inspired F-150? Engineered by McQueen Racing in collaboration with Steeda, the special edition Ford boasts a substantial 6-inch lift kit, high-performance shocks, larger wheels and tires, and a bevy of appearance upgrades complements of aftermarket juggernaut RealTruck. The star of the show, however, is the Whipple Stage-2 supercharger that pushes the factory Coyote 5.0-liter V-8 engine to up to an astounding 775 hp and 715 lb.-ft of torque. Better yet, this one’s available for purchase at select Ford dealers.

Andy Leach’s 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

While it didn’t take top honors in the Battle of the Builders (that award went to Leach’s other finalist, the gorgeous custom 1960 Buick Invicta featured at the top of this article), this classic Jeep did manage to steal our hearts. Debuting in the Keystone Automotive booth, the rugged build boasts old school charm in an upgraded package. Under the reworked body is a Chevrolet LT4 crate engine backed by a Bowler Performance Transmission 4L80E with an Atlas transfer case, all riding on a custom 4×4 chassis from the Roadster Shop.

Toyota FJ Bruiser

Toyota returned to the SEMA show with a massive 19-vehicle array showcasing several one-of-a-kind specialty builds – including the seriously cool and wonderfully named FJ Bruiser pictured here. A salute to the indomitable Land Cruiser’s roots, this King of the Hammers inspired concept started its life as a 1966 FJ45 pickup that Toyota transformed into a rock-crawling beast. In addition to a custom-fabricated full tube chassis and roll cage, the Bruiser wears a full trailing arm suspension with Fox shocks and Eibach springs, 42-inch BF Goodrich Krawler T/A KX tires, and a 358 cu.in. V-8 yanked out of a NASCAR Cup Car, good for 725 hp.

What Else You Need To Know This Week

Here are a few additional headlines we’re watching and think you should too.

UAW Looks Ahead With Bold Vision

The six-week United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit 3 has officially ended, but already union president Shawn Fain is thinking about the next one – and he has big plans. In a recent message to members, Fain invited unions around the country to align their contract expirations with the UAW’s April 30, 2028 deadline. His hope is to coordinate a nationwide strike across various industries “to truly take on the billionaire class and rebuild the economy so that it starts to work for the benefit of the many.”

While the move would be hard to pull off, it aims to embolden other unions and the overall labor movement. Already, nonunion workers are benefitting from the UAW’s efforts, including at U.S.-based Toyota factories which offered its hourly manufacturers a 9% raise mere days after the historic Detroit 3 contracts were signed. According to Fain, the decision to increase wages could have happened months ago. “They did it now because the company knows we’re coming for them,” he said.

Indeed, the union prez said his sights are set not only on organizing workers at Toyota, but also Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Honda, and Nissan. “When we return to the bargaining table in 2028, it won’t just be with the Big Three. It will be the Big Five or Big Six,” he said.

Tesla Wins First Jury Trial Re: Autopilot

On Tuesday, Tesla successfully defended its Autopilot technology in the first lawsuit against the software to go to trial. The California jury ultimately sided with the automaker, rejecting claims that a manufacturing defect in Autopilot mode caused the crash. The incident in question occurred four years ago when a Tesla Model 3 veered off a California freeway, hit a tree, and caught fire, resulting in the driver’s death. Two surviving passengers brought the suit, seeking $400 million in damages.

While this victory may bolster Tesla’s confidence in its driver-assistance technology (and save it a hefty payout), the company still faces federal probes into whether Autopilot defects have contributed to multiple fatalities. However, as Reuters reporters Dan Levine and Hyunjoo Jin point out, the court results “show Tesla’s arguments are gaining traction: when something goes wrong on the road, the ultimate responsibility rests with drivers.”

Cruise Under Pressure

Speaking of government investigations into next-gen driving technology, robotaxi company Cruise is feeling the discomfort of federal heat. The increased scrutiny came after a very publicized incident in which a Cruise vehicle struck and dragged a pedestrian who had already been injured in a hit-and-run. In the aftermath, the company chose to suspend all driverless operations and “take steps to rebuild public trust.”

Now, it appears the company’s board of directors is getting involved. The group has enlisted external legal and technology experts to look into the company’s response to accidents and subsequent regulatory investigations. According to The New York Times, company insiders are pointing fingers at an unhealthy tech industry culture that favors speed over safety as it tries to outpace its competitors.

Despite the allegations – and CEO Kyle Vogt’s hints that potential layoffs are on the horizon – both he and GM CEO Mary Barra remain optimistic about Cruise’s potential to generate $1 billion in annual revenue by 2025 and $50 billion by 2030. Although, that recent UAW labor contract may limit resources for such endeavors, intensifying the pressure on Vogt to get operations up and on track.

The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Check back Wednesday for tips on getting your work truck winter-ready, and then come around on Friday for a rundown on which exterior lighting upgrades you really need for your overlanding rig.