The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), in collaboration with SEMA’s Government Affairs team, has released a new update examining how recent EPA actions under the Trump Administration could impact the automotive aftermarket.
Since early 2025, the EPA, under Administrator Lee Zeldin, has moved aggressively to reduce regulatory burdens on U.S. manufacturing, energy, and automotive sectors. While many of these deregulatory moves are designed to streamline operations, it’s important for aftermarket companies to understand what these changes do and do not affect.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) remains federal law, and its tampering prohibition banning the sale or use of defeat devices has not changed. However, the EPA now has more discretion in how it enforces the CAA and how it recognizes compliance programs. This opens potential opportunities for the aftermarket industry to strengthen relationships with regulators and help define clear, practical compliance pathways.
SEMA continues to work closely with the EPA to gain formal acknowledgment of the SEMA Certified-Emissions Program, which would provide manufacturers with a federally recognized means to demonstrate emissions compliance, helping keep compliant products on the market while protecting innovation.
For a detailed overview of the Trump EPA’s deregulation efforts, enforcement priorities, and implications for the aftermarket, click here.
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