The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is updating its “Green Guides,” which are intended to help marketers avoid misleading environmental claims. The Guides were first issued in 1992 but have not been revised since 1998. The Guides cover: 1) general principles that apply to all environmental marketing claims; 2) consumer perception of claims and marketing substantiation of claims; and 3) avoiding consumer deception.

A recent consumer marketing study found that most people thought a “green” product was recyclable, biodegradable, made from recycled materials or made with renewable materials. Since very few products, if any, have all of these attributes, the FTC’s Guide revisions are intended to clarify and limit the claims. The proposed revisions would require companies to provide more specific information about claims, such as renewable energy, carbon offsets and biodegradability. A new section in the Guides would require third-party certification of a product’s environmental claims to be treated as an endorsement with qualification language that is clear, prominent and specific. The FTC is expected to finalize the updates next year.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is updating its “Green Guides,” which are intended to help marketers avoid misleading environmental claims. The Guides were first issued in 1992 but have not been revised since 1998. The Guides cover: 1) general principles that apply to all environmental marketing claims; 2) consumer perception of claims and marketing substantiation of claims; and 3) avoiding consumer deception.

A recent consumer marketing study found that most people thought a “green” product was recyclable, biodegradable, made from recycled materials or made with renewable materials. Since very few products, if any, have all of these attributes, the FTC’s Guide revisions are intended to clarify and limit the claims. The proposed revisions would require companies to provide more specific information about claims, such as renewable energy, carbon offsets and biodegradability. A new section in the Guides would require third-party certification of a product’s environmental claims to be treated as an endorsement with qualification language that is clear, prominent and specific. The FTC is expected to finalize the updates next year.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Masters Entertainment Group Inc. has announced a new programming concept as its latest national television series. The 13-week series “What’s in the Garage” will debut on Fox Sports Network (FSN) National in the second quarter of 2011 and be televised on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and repeat on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. nationwide. AUTOGEEK.NET will serve as the program’s series entitlement sponsor.

“The idea behind the series came from traveling across the country and seeing so many garages with beautifully restored vehicles sitting in the driveways,” said Butch McCall, executive vice president of Masters. “The question we always ask ourselves is ‘I wonder what other cars they have in the garage?’”

The series will discover what people have in their garage by actually going to their homes and into their garages.

“We want people to send us an e-mail, along with a photo and tell us what they have in their garage,” McCall stated. “Be sure to give us your address and, who knows, we could be coming to your door asking, “What’s in the Garage?”

The series will be archived on Masters Entertainment Group’s Internet Television Network. “If our audience misses an episode they can log on and catch up on the vehicles they missed. They can also download any episode free of charge,” McCall continued.

“As a ‘car guy,’ I’m excited to help bring this new show to an ever-growing population of fellow car enthusiasts. Traveling to new locations and checking out ‘What’s in the Garage’ of authentic, grassroots car guys and bringing their cars and story to our viewers is going to be a blast,” said Mike Phillips, director of training for AUTOGEEK.NET.

If you are interested in having your car featured on “What’s in the Garage,” send an e-mail to masters@masterstv.com describing your car, with a photo, and your address.

A Wisconsin-proposed regulation to prohibit the registration of certain imported collector vehicles has been put on hold. Members of the Senate Transportation Committee voted by ballot to send the proposed rule, Trans 123, back to the Department of Transportation for revisions due to the vocal opposition of Wisconsin enthusiast groups, including members of the SEMA Action Network (SAN). Under an agreement reached with department officials, the rule will not be resubmitted but will be considered by lawmakers in the 2011 legislative session. The measure threatened to prohibit the registration of imported vehicles manufactured after 1967 that did not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

U.S. law specifically exempts imported vehicles that are 25 years old and older from these standards. The Wisconsin proposal would have been inconsistent with federal law and prohibited the registration of vehicles coming in from other states that have already been proven safe on U.S. roadways. SAN also objected to the proposal on the grounds that it provided no way for vehicle owners to prove a vehicle’s safety other than conforming exclusively to the FMVSS and failed to take into account the fact that these vehicles are usually brought into this country by collectors and are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven.

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

A Wisconsin-proposed regulation to prohibit the registration of certain imported collector vehicles has been put on hold. Members of the Senate Transportation Committee voted by ballot to send the proposed rule, Trans 123, back to the Department of Transportation for revisions due to the vocal opposition of Wisconsin enthusiast groups, including members of the SEMA Action Network (SAN). Under an agreement reached with department officials, the rule will not be resubmitted but will be considered by lawmakers in the 2011 legislative session. The measure threatened to prohibit the registration of imported vehicles manufactured after 1967 that did not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

U.S. law specifically exempts imported vehicles that are 25 years old and older from these standards. The Wisconsin proposal would have been inconsistent with federal law and prohibited the registration of vehicles coming in from other states that have already been proven safe on U.S. roadways. SAN also objected to the proposal on the grounds that it provided no way for vehicle owners to prove a vehicle’s safety other than conforming exclusively to the FMVSS and failed to take into account the fact that these vehicles are usually brought into this country by collectors and are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven.

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

This collection of photos from www.enjoythedrive.com highlights some of the most exotic custom creations that were on display at the 2009 SEMA Show. Custom rods, buggies, choppers, scooters, side-by-sides and more one-of-a-kind metal make appearances in this collection.

The photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com is searchable by exhibitor's name, vehicle make, vehicle model, category and more.   

This collection of photos from www.enjoythedrive.com highlights some of the most exotic custom creations that were on display at the 2009 SEMA Show. Custom rods, buggies, choppers, scooters, side-by-sides and more one-of-a-kind metal make appearances in this collection.

The photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com is searchable by exhibitor's name, vehicle make, vehicle model, category and more.   

	The WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang recently received a Street Scene body kit and grilles.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang is cruising through its custom build with the installation of a Street Scene body kit and grilles, including a urethane front fascia, side skirts, a rear valance, a three-piece rear wing, side ducts, window ducts, a main center light mount grille and lower valance grilles that give the vehicle a mean, tough road-racing look. Additional SEMA manufacturers have also completed components of the build, which include a Hotchkis Suspension sway bar package, a ACT double-disk clutch with lightened flywheel and Forgeline 20-inch DE3S wheels.

“We’ve chosen a road-race theme for this year’s WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang and with our build partners, have given it an aggressive stance without giving up its ride characteristics,” said Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and manager of the vehicle build. “We couldn’t be more proud to partner with WD-40 as it’s an integral part of the builds we undertake each year, from building grilles and fabricating mirrors, to maintaining all the tools that allow us to disassemble and reassemble our cars.”

Proceeds from the vehicle’s auction at Barrett-Jackson will go to Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities. Check out the WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang in the SEMA Show Grand Lobby and stop by the WD-40 booth (#12539) for additional vehicle information and cool prizes.

	The WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang recently received a Street Scene body kit and grilles.

The WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang is cruising through its custom build with the installation of a Street Scene body kit and grilles, including a urethane front fascia, side skirts, a rear valance, a three-piece rear wing, side ducts, window ducts, a main center light mount grille and lower valance grilles that give the vehicle a mean, tough road-racing look. Additional SEMA manufacturers have also completed components of the build, which include a Hotchkis Suspension sway bar package, a ACT double-disk clutch with lightened flywheel and Forgeline 20-inch DE3S wheels.

“We’ve chosen a road-race theme for this year’s WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang and with our build partners, have given it an aggressive stance without giving up its ride characteristics,” said Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and manager of the vehicle build. “We couldn’t be more proud to partner with WD-40 as it’s an integral part of the builds we undertake each year, from building grilles and fabricating mirrors, to maintaining all the tools that allow us to disassemble and reassemble our cars.”

Proceeds from the vehicle’s auction at Barrett-Jackson will go to Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities. Check out the WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang in the SEMA Show Grand Lobby and stop by the WD-40 booth (#12539) for additional vehicle information and cool prizes.

	Paint, Body & Equipment is this year's largest-growing category with 128% more exhibitors confirmed for 2010.

The 2010 SEMA Show, to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 2–5, 2010, attracts more than 100,000 automotive specialty-products industry leaders from more than 100 countries and also provides a unique opportunity for buyers and exhibitors to connect.

Of the Show’s 12 categories, Paint, Body & Equipment and Tools & Equipment happen to be two of the fastest growing for this year. So far, 123 paint and body companies—including 66 first-timers—and 119 tools and equipment companies—of which 42 are first-timers—are exhibiting in the North Hall.

Paint, Body & Equipment

A relatively new Show category, Paint, Body & Equipment is the fastest-growing section, with 128% more exhibitors confirmed for 2010. In addition, there are hundreds of other companies throughout the SEMA Show this year that will showcase their products to the paint and body market, including such long-standing exhibitors as House of Kolor, PPG, Sherwin Williams, 3M and more.

“The paint and body market has increasingly become an important market,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communications and events. “That’s why the Paint, Body & Equipment section of the Show was expanded in just its second year of existence. That’s also why we are partnering with industry experts to provide this audience with quality education and networking opportunities.”

The SEMA Show educational program will include several sessions specifically targeting the paint and body market. SEMA Show organizers are collaborating with representatives from the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) to develop the educational program and schedule meetings for SCRS members during the SEMA Show.

The Collision Industry Conference (CIC), which focuses on the paint and body market, is also hosting its meetings in Las Vegas during the SEMA Show.

“We’re working closely with SCRS, I-CAR and CIC to make it simple and easy for industry professionals in the automotive paint market to get the most value out of being at the SEMA Show,” MacGillivray said. “With meetings, education and quality exhibitors all available to this market, we’re confident that the return on the participants’ investments is sure to be huge.”

View the list of all companies exhibiting in the paint and body section here.

Tools & Equipment

Manufacturers in the tools and equipment section will highlight a wealth of wrenches, lathes, grinders and air guns. The section will also house heavier-duty products, such as engine-building equipment, dynamometers and wheel-alignment systems as well as air-conditioning units, body shop accessories, hoists and lifts. Get a first-hand view of what’s new by visiting the North Hall to see what you might incorporate to make your own shop more efficient and more profitable.

In 2009, 23,191 buyers went to Las Vegas specifically interested in tools and equipment.

For 2010, there are 119 exhibitors in the Tools & Equipment section.

View the list of all companies exhibiting in the Tools & Equipment section here.

Here’s an example of what two attendees had to say about the Tools & Equipment section at last year's Show:

“We specialize in Audi and Volkswagen parts. I’m looking around for tools or anything I haven’t seen before. This is my first time to the SEMA Show, and the New Products Showcase is very cool. I like the way it’s laid out by categories, and I’m amazed at all the things I didn’t know about.”

—Jason Fennessey, Speedlife Motorsports

“The acquisition costs for specialized tools and equipment are coming down to more realistic levels due to increased efficiencies in manufacturing and distribution, thus allowing more enthusiasts access to these tools and equipment. In the past, many specialized tools were available only through one company at inflated prices. Now, with several companies competing for the business, the enthusiast has more than one choice.”

—L.J. Lobsinger Jr., national sales and marketing manager for Specialty Auto Parts USA Inc.