By Linda Spencer

Participating SEMA members will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China.

From high-performance suspensions to under-the-hood goodies, the specialty-equipment market's luxury segment has a lot of potential for SEMA members. Learn more about these opportunities and meet with potential customers by participating in the SEMA China Business Development Tour in Beijing, September 11–14, 2013. This event will allow participants to gain insight into the growing specialty market for the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. Participants will learn what products sell, what products are in demand and for which applications through networking opportunities with retailers and wholesalers.

Benefits for participating SEMA members include:

• A first-hand look at the developing specialty-equipment market. The delegation will visit off-road and street-performance shops.
• Meetings with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China at a SEMA Hall within a major Beijing-based trade show—the China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE). This event is organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
• Program costs include hotel, meals, interpreters, access to buyers from throughout China (flights to and from the United States are not included). Qualified exhibitors will receive a U.S. grant of up to $1,000 to defray the costs of participation.

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org, or visit the SEMA China Business Development Tour online registration page.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA is opposing South Carolina legislation to increase biennial registration fees for motor vehicles. The bill would increase the registration fees for private passenger vehicles, excluding trucks, from $24 to $36 for persons under age 65. For persons 65 years old and older, the fees for private passenger vehicles, excluding trucks, would rise from $20 to $32.

In addition, the measure would increase the registration fees for property-carrying vehicles 6,000 lbs. or less from $30 to $42 for persons 65 years old and older. For all other property-carrying vehicles, the fees would rise incrementally depending on the vehicle weight. For example, the fees for trucks weighing between 4,001 lbs. and 5,000 lbs. would increase from $40 to $53. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA is opposing South Carolina legislation to increase biennial registration fees for motor vehicles. The bill would increase the registration fees for private passenger vehicles, excluding trucks, from $24 to $36 for persons under age 65. For persons 65 years old and older, the fees for private passenger vehicles, excluding trucks, would rise from $20 to $32.

In addition, the measure would increase the registration fees for property-carrying vehicles 6,000 lbs. or less from $30 to $42 for persons 65 years old and older. For all other property-carrying vehicles, the fees would rise incrementally depending on the vehicle weight. For example, the fees for trucks weighing between 4,001 lbs. and 5,000 lbs. would increase from $40 to $53. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA is opposing South Carolina legislation to increase biennial registration fees for motor vehicles. The bill would increase the registration fees for private passenger vehicles, excluding trucks, from $24 to $36 for persons under age 65. For persons 65 years old and older, the fees for private passenger vehicles, excluding trucks, would rise from $20 to $32.

In addition, the measure would increase the registration fees for property-carrying vehicles 6,000 lbs. or less from $30 to $42 for persons 65 years old and older. For all other property-carrying vehicles, the fees would rise incrementally depending on the vehicle weight. For example, the fees for trucks weighing between 4,001 lbs. and 5,000 lbs. would increase from $40 to $53. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-opposed legislation to increase property taxes paid by owners of antique motor vehicles died when the West Virginia legislature adjourned for the year. Under the bill, each of these cars would have been assessed at $5,000 for purposes of the tax, which would have penalized antique vehicle owners whose cars are worth less than $5,000. The actual maximum tax paid would have been $150. West Virginia law defines an "Antique motor vehicle" to mean any motor vehicle that is more than 25 years old and is owned solely as a collector's item. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-opposed legislation to increase property taxes paid by owners of antique motor vehicles died when the West Virginia legislature adjourned for the year. Under the bill, each of these cars would have been assessed at $5,000 for purposes of the tax, which would have penalized antique vehicle owners whose cars are worth less than $5,000. The actual maximum tax paid would have been $150. West Virginia law defines an "Antique motor vehicle" to mean any motor vehicle that is more than 25 years old and is owned solely as a collector's item. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the House of Representatives on a 77–39 vote. Currently, the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard requires that all gasoline sold or offered for sale by a terminal supplier, importer, blender or wholesaler in Florida contain 9%–10% ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume. The bill will now be sent to two Senate committees for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the House of Representatives on a 77–39 vote. Currently, the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard requires that all gasoline sold or offered for sale by a terminal supplier, importer, blender or wholesaler in Florida contain 9%–10% ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume. The bill will now be sent to two Senate committees for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol was approved by the House of Representatives on a 77–39 vote. Currently, the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard requires that all gasoline sold or offered for sale by a terminal supplier, importer, blender or wholesaler in Florida contain 9%–10% ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume. The bill will now be sent to two Senate committees for consideration. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By Linda Spencer

	Sixty-five companies have measured the Ford Ranger T6—a difficult-to-access vehicle, popular around the world but not sold in the United States. This vehicle arrived in the United States in mid-February and is in the country under a one-year temporary import program.

SEMA-member manufacturers are invited to measure the ’13 Ford Ranger at Dearborn, Michigan-based Link Engineering, May 14, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

 
SEMA, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, has brought the ’13 Ford Ranger T6 to the United States. The one-ton pickup is being sold throughout the world, but not in the United States or Canada.

The new Ford Ranger—a body-on-frame, Australian-designed, midsized pickup is offered in three cab bodystyles—Double, Super and Regular. The vehicle available to members is a 4x4 Double cab with a 2.5L five-speed gasoline engine. The SEMA vehicle, which was imported from the Middle East, was assembled in South Africa.

This is the second vehicle to be imported as part of the International Vehicle Measuring Program, which makes available difficult-to-access vehicles so that members can measure them and create export-ready product.

Register now! For questions on how to measure the Ranger or Toyota HiLux, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.