By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) is accepting product entries for its Hot Products Showcase, scheduled for April 17-19, 2024, at the Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The feature, which highlights new and innovative products from manufacturers in the restoration and hot-rod space, will be on display in a prime location between the stage and the grandstands. ARMO member companies that would like to enter the showcase have until April 5 to submit their products at this link.  

Open exclusively to ARMO member companies at no cost, the showcase gives manufacturers a unique opportunity to highlight their latest innovations in a dedicated, high-traffic area. With thousands of automotive consumers and enthusiasts on-site, it's the best place to maximize product exposure at one of the world's largest and most prominent collector car events. 

Manufacturers are only responsible for shipping their products in advance with a return label or dropping off and picking up their products on-site. ARMO sets up and takes down the products' display, providing the manufacturer with a seamless, minimal-effort experience.

All products are automatically entered for a chance to win a new product award, with the winners recognized via SEMA channels and honored at the ARMO Reception at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The awards provide added value to the showcase, expanding the member companies' brand and product reach.  

Learn more about the ARMO Hot Products Showcase, or enter your products by the April 5 deadline, at sema.org/armo-hot-products-showcase.

By SEMA News Editors

Holley Rebrands to Holley Performance Brands

Holley Performance Products, the Bowling Green, Kentucky-based manufacturer of high-performance products, is rebranding to Holley Performance Brands.

The change aims to underscore the company's expansion beyond its previous classic muscle and truck focus, Holley representatives said, and will allow Holley Performance Brands to better serve a wider customer base with specialized products and services, enhancing its market adaptability and consumer engagement.

In the coming weeks and months, Holley Performance Brands will transition to its new branding and update visual touchpoints across its branded and marketing assets. 

For more information, visit holley.com.

Skip Barber Acquires SRX, Hires Don Hawk as Chief Strategy Officer

The Skip Barber Racing School, headquartered in Alton, Virginia, announced today that it has acquired Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a short-track racing series featuring current and former racing legends.

Since the inaugural season of SRX in 2021, the Skip Barber Racing School has served as the official logistics partner for the series, responsible for the care, maintenance and transport of all series vehicles throughout the season.

Additionally, Former Superstar Racing Experience CEO Don Hawk will join the Skip Barber Racing School as the organization's new chief strategy officer.

Hawk will lead the growth and development of the Skip Barber Racing School brand, which includes racing schools, safe-driving academies, formula car race series and a professional race team operating in SRO and IMSA.

More details regarding the 2024 season will be revealed at a later date, according to the announcement.

For more information, visit skipbarber.com.

Meyer Distributing Names 2023 Manufacturers, Factory Reps and Person of the Year

Meyer Distributing--the wholesale distributor with 99 locations across the United States and Canada--has announced its 2023 manufacturer, factory reps and person of the year. 

"As a 100% family-owned and operated business, we realize how important and impactful it is to recognize strong partners," said Cody Ziegler, vice president of sales for Meyer Distributing. "[Last year] was another rewarding year across many of our business segments, and we want to give a shout-out to those folks. Hard work, determination and perseverance are just a few qualities needed to achieve goals and expectations despite any obstacles we might encounter."

Meyer Distributing has awarded the following:

• Truck Accessory Manufacturer of the Year: Access Bed Covers
• Performance Manufacturer of the Year: Air Lift Performance
• Tire & Wheel Manufacturer of the Year: Method Race Wheels
• RV & Towing Manufacturer of the Year: Blue Ox
• 4x4 & Off-Road Accessory Manufacturer of the Year: Hi-Lift Jack
• 4x4 & Off-Road Suspension Brand of the Year: Bilstein
• Commercial & Fleet Brand of the Year: Weather Guard
• Industrial Supply Brand of the Year: Streamlight Inc.
• Vehicle Detail & Protection Brand of the Year: Chemical Guys
• 12V & Audio Brand of the Year: Massive Audio
• Outdoor & Recreation Person of the Year: Jake Montoya
• Performance & Truck Factory Rep of the Year: Tony West
• Tire & Wheel Factory Rep of the Year: Alan Kung
• Marine Brand of the Year: Bob's Machine

For more information, visit meyerdistributing.com.

Got company news? Releasing a new product? Contact editors@sema.org.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The Kansas legislature passed a SEMA-supported bill to ensure consumers' choice of vehicle powerplants and fuel by preventing a state agency, county or city from limiting access to internal combustion engines. The bill now awaits final approval or veto by Governor Laura Kelly. 

SEMA believes that Kansans, not the government, should decide what vehicles are best for them and their families. This effort promotes consumer choice, fosters innovation and protects jobs. Kansas lawmakers passed a resolution last year, but this year’s bill will codify this into law.  

Use this link to send a letter to Governor Kelly supporting this pro-industry legislation. 

For more information, contact Colby Martin at SAN@sema.org. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The Kansas legislature passed a SEMA-supported bill to ensure consumers' choice of vehicle powerplants and fuel by preventing a state agency, county or city from limiting access to internal combustion engines. The bill now awaits final approval or veto by Governor Laura Kelly. 

SEMA believes that Kansans, not the government, should decide what vehicles are best for them and their families. This effort promotes consumer choice, fosters innovation and protects jobs. Kansas lawmakers passed a resolution last year, but this year’s bill will codify this into law.  

Use this link to send a letter to Governor Kelly supporting this pro-industry legislation. 

For more information, contact Colby Martin at SAN@sema.org. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report focused on how changes in vehicle technologies affect competition and consumer choice in the vehicle repair market. The "Vehicle Repair: Information on Evolving Vehicle Technologies and Consumer Choice" report was commissioned at the request of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce.

The GAO consulted and reviewed data provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), independent repair stakeholders, auto manufacturers, dealerships, consumer interest groups and other stakeholders such as cybersecurity experts. The report found that if independent repair shops face limitations in access to the data and tools needed for repair, consumers will have fewer repair choices, pay higher repair costs and face the inconvenience of longer wait times or having to travel further for repairs. 

SEMA is advocating for Congress to pass legislation to ensure that consumers and the specialty automotive aftermarket industry have the right to repair and modify motor vehicles. The SEMA-supported H.R. 906, the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act," is a bipartisan bill that would ensure that the aftermarket industry will continue to have access to the tools and repair information necessary to produce and install parts used to repair cars, trucks and SUV, including those with telematics. SEMA is advocating for the Energy and Commerce Committee to expand the bill to codify and protect our right to modify motor vehicles. Of note, we are seeking changes to the bill to: 

• Prevent vehicle manufacturers from employing any technological, legal or cryptographic barriers that impede the ability of an aftermarket parts manufacturer or a vehicle repair facility to produce or install aftermarket parts and software that are custom or modify a vehicle. 
• Ensure that motor vehicle owners and their designees can access cryptographic or technologically protected vehicle-generated data and safety-critical vehicle systems. 
• Amend how the bill defines "critical repair information and tools" to include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) recalibrations necessary to return a vehicle to operational specifications. 

The REPAIR Act was introduced by U.S. Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and has 50 bipartisan co-sponsors, including 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats. The U.S. House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce passed the REPAIR Act in November and the bill awaits consideration in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support and expand the REPAIR Act to protect our right to modify vehicles.  

For more information, contact Tiffany Cipoletti at tiffanyc@sema.org or visit sema.org/advocacy/right-to-repair. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report focused on how changes in vehicle technologies affect competition and consumer choice in the vehicle repair market. The "Vehicle Repair: Information on Evolving Vehicle Technologies and Consumer Choice" report was commissioned at the request of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce.

The GAO consulted and reviewed data provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), independent repair stakeholders, auto manufacturers, dealerships, consumer interest groups and other stakeholders such as cybersecurity experts. The report found that if independent repair shops face limitations in access to the data and tools needed for repair, consumers will have fewer repair choices, pay higher repair costs and face the inconvenience of longer wait times or having to travel further for repairs. 

SEMA is advocating for Congress to pass legislation to ensure that consumers and the specialty automotive aftermarket industry have the right to repair and modify motor vehicles. The SEMA-supported H.R. 906, the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act," is a bipartisan bill that would ensure that the aftermarket industry will continue to have access to the tools and repair information necessary to produce and install parts used to repair cars, trucks and SUV, including those with telematics. SEMA is advocating for the Energy and Commerce Committee to expand the bill to codify and protect our right to modify motor vehicles. Of note, we are seeking changes to the bill to: 

• Prevent vehicle manufacturers from employing any technological, legal or cryptographic barriers that impede the ability of an aftermarket parts manufacturer or a vehicle repair facility to produce or install aftermarket parts and software that are custom or modify a vehicle. 
• Ensure that motor vehicle owners and their designees can access cryptographic or technologically protected vehicle-generated data and safety-critical vehicle systems. 
• Amend how the bill defines "critical repair information and tools" to include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) recalibrations necessary to return a vehicle to operational specifications. 

The REPAIR Act was introduced by U.S. Representative Neal Dunn (R-FL) and has 50 bipartisan co-sponsors, including 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats. The U.S. House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce passed the REPAIR Act in November and the bill awaits consideration in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support and expand the REPAIR Act to protect our right to modify vehicles.  

For more information, contact Tiffany Cipoletti at tiffanyc@sema.org or visit sema.org/advocacy/right-to-repair. 

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

After advocacy from small businesses across the country that represent the specialty automotive aftermarket and other key stakeholders, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying its most aggressive tailpipe emissions-reduction requirements from model-year '27 to model-year '30. The EPA's final rule also slightly increased the average tailpipe emissions for light-duty vehicles, increasing the standard to 85 grams/mile from 82 grams/mile for model-year '32. 

While the agency's final rulemaking provides automakers with additional time to ramp up production of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs), currently, only electric vehicles (EVs) and five plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) meet the easier 85 grams/mile standard. It is estimated that 67% of new vehicles sold would have to be EVs by 2032 to meet this standard. Automakers could also comply with the final rule if EVs account for 56% of new vehicle sales and PHEVs comprise 13% of model-year '32 sales. SEMA opposes the EPA's final standards for the model-year '27 to '32 light- and medium-duty vehicles, which ultimately still force automakers to sell EVs and PHEVs to comply with this rulemaking and further limits internal combustion engine (ICE) technology options.

The EPA's final rulemaking embraces "Alternative 3" from the agency's April 2023 proposed rulemaking. The chart below outlines the emissions reductions in the final rulemaking vs. those outlined in the agency's initial preferred proposal:

In response to the EPA's final rulemaking, SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola said, "The EPA has taken a small step in the right direction by providing automakers and specialty aftermarket businesses additional time to develop innovative solutions to reduce emissions. While I am proud of our industry's role in helping to delay the EPA's most aggressive EV mandates, there is still much work to do to get government regulators to embrace technology-neutral solutions that will reduce emissions while limiting adverse impacts on small businesses and consumer choice."

"SEMA has long advocated that government mandates, including those designed to support the sale of EVs and eliminate the sale of ICE vehicles, are the wrong approach to reducing motor-vehicle emissions. The federal government and states should take an 'all of the above' approach to vehicle technology, incentivize innovation and allow the market to determine the best ways to reach improved emissions goals," noted Spagnola.

SEMA, its members and car enthusiasts across the country were vocal in opposing the EPA's initial rule after it was proposed in April 2023. More than 7,500 SEMA members and automotive enthusiasts wrote to the EPA last year in opposition to the then-proposed rulemaking's efforts to effectively mandate the production and sale of EVs.

The EPA's final multipollutant regulation will create a seismic shift in the automotive industry. Small, independent businesses, including aftermarket parts manufacturers, retailers, distributors, installers, and even local repair businesses, will be adversely impacted if this rulemaking, which is expected to face legal challenges, is implemented. Notably, one-third of consumer spending on performance and accessory products goes toward upgrading ICE vehicles and drivetrains, and 25% of SEMA manufacturers produce ICE-related components. This final rule will reduce consumer choice and increase the costs of purchasing new vehicles. It will also disrupt the used-car market as used ICE engine vehicle inventory will begin to decline, thus increasing prices and making it less affordable for those who need the used-vehicle market for its typical affordability and accessibility.

Specialty automotive aftermarket businesses continue to lead the way with innovative solutions to reduce vehicle emissions. Aftermarket manufacturers are at the forefront of adapting ICE technologies to run alternative fuels and converting older vehicles into cleaner technologies. The EPA's regulation embraces a strategy that favors one technology solution at the expense of thousands of small businesses and hundreds of thousands of workers across the country. 

By SEMA News Editors

In partnership with Honda Motors, the SEMA Garage has announced a measuring session for the all-new '24 Honda Ridgeline.

SEMA members will have the opportunity to test-fit prototypes, 3D scan, measure and have an up-close experience before the vehicle's public release. Take advantage of this exclusive event, scheduled for March 26-27, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

'24 Honda Ridgeline Measuring Session
March 26-27, 2024
SEMA Garage Diamond Bar, CA
1577 Valley Vista Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
View on Google Maps.
Click here to RSVP!

Spots are limited for this exclusive event; sign up today! For more information, visit the RSVP link or contact measuringsessions@sema.org.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office 

After a several-month delay, Maine's Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) voted against adopting a SEMA-opposed proposal requiring that 82% of new vehicles sold in the state be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) by 2032. A vote had been scheduled for December 2023 but was postponed due to a severe winter storm.

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection has voted against the proposal to align the state with California's latest clean-car rules. 

Drafted in response to a citizen petition from an environmental group, the rule aimed to tighten emissions standards for new passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles sold in Maine, aligning the state with California's latest clean-car rules, which the state has historically followed.

While the BEP debated adopting California's clean-car rules, lawmakers concurrently held a hearing on a bill (L.D. 2261) that would reclassify the proposal as a "major" regulation, providing the legislature with final approval before it could become law.

SEMA believes that Mainers, not the government, should decide what vehicles are best for them and their families. And, in the case of Maine, it rebukes the push by 150 citizens who attempted to determine policy for the rest of the state. The automotive industry is embracing new technology to make cars cleaner and more efficient, including hydrogen, new synthetic fuels, alternative fuels and improvements to the internal combustion engine. The government should allow the market to continue to innovate all forms of technology that significantly reduce vehicle emissions.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office 

After a several-month delay, Maine's Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) voted against adopting a SEMA-opposed proposal requiring that 82% of new vehicles sold in the state be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) by 2032. A vote had been scheduled for December 2023 but was postponed due to a severe winter storm.

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection has voted against the proposal to align the state with California's latest clean-car rules. 

Drafted in response to a citizen petition from an environmental group, the rule aimed to tighten emissions standards for new passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles sold in Maine, aligning the state with California's latest clean-car rules, which the state has historically followed.

While the BEP debated adopting California's clean-car rules, lawmakers concurrently held a hearing on a bill (L.D. 2261) that would reclassify the proposal as a "major" regulation, providing the legislature with final approval before it could become law.

SEMA believes that Mainers, not the government, should decide what vehicles are best for them and their families. And, in the case of Maine, it rebukes the push by 150 citizens who attempted to determine policy for the rest of the state. The automotive industry is embracing new technology to make cars cleaner and more efficient, including hydrogen, new synthetic fuels, alternative fuels and improvements to the internal combustion engine. The government should allow the market to continue to innovate all forms of technology that significantly reduce vehicle emissions.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.