By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) named Diming Liao, general manager at Tianjin Yongdahang Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., as the council’s newest spotlight member. Get to know Liao in his interview with SEMA News below. 

SEMA News: What inspired you to pursue a career in the truck and off-road industry? 

Diming Liao: For me, the biggest motivation is the sense of achievement that combines mechanics with creativity. Since I was 12 years old, influenced by my father for the first time, we modified an Isuzu truck together and have been fascinated by car modification ever since.
 

Until 2012, when I owned my first Jeep Wrangler, I carried out comprehensive modifications to it, from parts to the entire vehicle’s transformation process. The modifications allowed me to personally give the vehicle a unique personality–whether it was power upgrades, exterior redesign or chassis tuning.
 

Every debugging and optimization was a dialogue with the mechanics, giving the cold metal warmth and personality. At the same time, the technological iteration in the automotive manufacturing and modification industries is very fast, constantly learning new processes, materials and technologies. This sense of continuous breakthroughs and challenges has kept me passionate about this profession.

SN: Why did you join the TORA council?

DL: I hope to share my modification experience and industry knowledge with more enthusiasts, while also generating new inspirations through communication. This identity allows me to listen to the needs of players from different backgrounds and deepen my understanding of the diversity of automotive culture–it is not just about technology, but also a way of life.

SN: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

DL: When I first entered the industry, I always wanted to pursue the gorgeous effect of product design, ignoring the basic specifications and safety bottom line. This sentence reminded me that the core of a good product is safety and reliability. So, the product I designed should balance practicality and safety, and be suitable for long-distance car travel.

SN: What is your dream truck or off-road vehicle? What is your daily driver?

DL: My dream car is a Ford F-150 Raptor, which combines the rugged aura of an American pickup truck with professional off-road performance. I have upgraded it with more robust front and rear bumpers, long-range suspension and all-terrain tires, allowing it to travel freely in deserts and Gobi, and also serve as a reliable companion for daily travel. On weekends, you are likely to see it on off-road routes in the suburbs, at riverbank campsites or at local pickup truck enthusiasts’ gatherings. I enjoy driving it to explore rarely visited landscapes and sharing modification experiences with fellow drivers.

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Fill out a TORA-member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the truck and off-road specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on TORA’s social media, SEMA News and future TORA member updates.