SEMA 2026: What BlackVue and Thinkware Just Announced, and What Actually Matters for San Diego Drivers

The SEMA Show is running this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and both of our two most-requested camera brands used it to roll out real hardware, not just concept talk. If you've been putting off a dash cam install waiting to see what's coming, this is the update worth reading before you decide.

BlackVue's cabin camera is aimed at rideshare drivers

BlackVue used SEMA to put its new ELITE 10 Cabin front and center. The company announced the official launch of the ELITE 10 Cabin, a flagship dual-channel dash cam featuring the world's first True Color 4K Infrared interior camera. The idea is simple: most interior cameras either look washed out in color mode or switch to grainy black-and-white at night. This one uses automatic IR filter switching to capture natural color inside the cabin during the day and clean infrared video in total darkness, without a visible glow that disturbs passengers.

The interior lens also carries a 160-degree ultra-wide field of view, which is wide enough to cover rear-seat activity and side-window entries without a blind spot. That matters a lot for anyone who drives for Uber or Lyft out of the airport, the Gaslamp, or Mission Valley bars on a Friday night. An interior camera turns a he-said-she-said dispute into settled footage.

It also pairs with a dedicated battery for long-term coverage. When connected to the BlackVue Ultra Battery, it can provide continuous parking protection for up to 12 months. That's the same logic behind every parking mode kit we install: a camera is only as useful as its power source, which is exactly why we hardwire to the fuse box instead of relying on a plug that only works while the engine is running.

FLEETA: BlackVue's answer for small fleets, without the enterprise contract

BlackVue also used the show to push its FLEETA fleet platform. Unlike the big telematics players, FLEETA is built specifically for small operations. Pricing starts low, there's no long-term contract, and it's designed to scale from a single vehicle up rather than requiring a fleet-wide buy-in. That's a meaningfully different pitch than Lytx, Samsara, or Motive, which are built around multi-year contracts and large commercial fleets with compliance requirements like ELD.

To be clear, FLEETA is still a paid cloud add-on, not something we sell or manage. But it's worth knowing it exists if you run a landscaping crew, a small delivery outfit, or a handful of work trucks and want live GPS and remote video access without signing up for an enterprise platform built for 500 vehicles. For most small fleets we work with, a standalone hardwired camera that just records reliably, with no subscription at all, is still the simplest and most cost-effective answer. FLEETA is there if you decide you want the cloud layer on top.

Thinkware brought nine models, led by two worth knowing

Thinkware's SEMA booth was busy too. The lineup is headlined by the new ARC 800, which uses AI-based image processing to capture more detail in low light while the vehicle is parked, and the flagship U3000 PRO, which pairs 4K front and 2K rear recording with dual STARVIS 2 sensors, dual HDR, and a 60 GHz dual-radar parking mode. The U3000 PRO also supports an optional LTE module for remote monitoring and alerts.

The dual-radar parking mode is the detail that actually matters for San Diego installs. Standard motion-based parking mode can false-trigger constantly in a beach lot, a swaying palm tree, a passing jogger, a seagull. Radar-based detection is better at distinguishing an actual nearby object from background movement, which means fewer wasted clips filling up your microSD card and a better chance the one clip you need is actually there.

What this means if you're deciding on a camera right now

None of this changes our basic advice. A front-only setup is still the right starting point for most daily drivers. If you carry passengers for money, an interior-facing channel like the ELITE 10 Cabin earns its keep fast. If you park on the street or in open lots overnight, parking mode with a dedicated battery or hardwire kit is the feature to prioritize over resolution specs. And if you're shopping between brands, remember that Viofo, Thinkware, and BlackVue all make solid hardware at different price points. The spec sheet matters less than whether the camera is actually wired in correctly, positioned within the legal mounting zones, and powered in a way that won't drain your car battery.

We've covered the legal placement rules in detail in our post on where you can actually mount a dash cam in California, and you can browse more of our coverage on the Dash Cams SD blog.

We hardwire dash cams anywhere in San Diego County, clean installs with no visible wires and no plugs. Bring your own camera or let us help you pick one that fits how you actually drive. Get a free quote at dashcamssd.com or email hello@dashcamssd.com.

SAN DIEGO, CA