The Specialty Equipment Market Association was established in 1963. It serves the industry with market research, as a legislative watchdog, as an educational outlet and as an advocate for the opening of international markets. Its membership has grown to include more than 7,300 companies, including manufacturers, WDs, jobbers, and retailers serving every automotive niche.

The Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) was founded in 1971 with goals very similar to those of SEMA. PWA's membership includes specialty automotive parts wholesalers who have banded together to deal with management, financial and legislative issues.

Each of the associations either has just installed or is about to install new leadership. Rick Rollins has assumed the chairmanship of the SEMA Board of Directors, and Donnie Eatherly will take the reins of PWA as its new president beginning in January. Both are industry veterans who share the unique perspective of years of volunteer experience in both associations.

Recently, SEMA News had the opportunity to speak with the two executives about how SEMA and PWA might work together.

The specialty-equipment market is divided into nine niches. For each of these, there are three segments, one of which is the wheel, tire and suspension category. Overall, the wheel, tire and suspension category rose nearly 2% in retail sales and 3% in manufacturer sales from 2007 to 2008. Light truck is the niche in which wheels, tires and suspension represent the largest percentage at $1.29 billion in manufacturer sales.

Read the latest on the wheel, tire and suspension market through "The Cool Necessities" article in the November issue of SEMA News.

The specialty-equipment market is divided into nine niches. For each of these, there are three segments, one of which is the wheel, tire and suspension category. Overall, the wheel, tire and suspension category rose nearly 2% in retail sales and 3% in manufacturer sales from 2007 to 2008. Light truck is the niche in which wheels, tires and suspension represent the largest percentage at $1.29 billion in manufacturer sales.

Read the latest on the wheel, tire and suspension market through "The Cool Necessities" article in the November issue of SEMA News.

The specialty-equipment market is divided into nine niches. For each of these, there are three segments, one of which is the wheel, tire and suspension category. Overall, the wheel, tire and suspension category rose nearly 2% in retail sales and 3% in manufacturer sales from 2007 to 2008. Light truck is the niche in which wheels, tires and suspension represent the largest percentage at $1.29 billion in manufacturer sales.

Read the latest on the wheel, tire and suspension market through "The Cool Necessities" article in the November issue of SEMA News.

The specialty-equipment market is divided into nine niches. For each of these, there are three segments, one of which is the wheel, tire and suspension category. Overall, the wheel, tire and suspension category rose nearly 2% in retail sales and 3% in manufacturer sales from 2007 to 2008. Light truck is the niche in which wheels, tires and suspension represent the largest percentage at $1.29 billion in manufacturer sales.

Read the latest on the wheel, tire and suspension market through "The Cool Necessities" article in the November issue of SEMA News.

The specialty-equipment market is divided into nine niches. For each of these, there are three segments, one of which is the wheel, tire and suspension category. Overall, the wheel, tire and suspension category rose nearly 2% in retail sales and 3% in manufacturer sales from 2007 to 2008. Light truck is the niche in which wheels, tires and suspension represent the largest percentage at $1.29 billion in manufacturer sales.

Read the latest on the wheel, tire and suspension market through "The Cool Necessities" article in the November issue of SEMA News.

The specialty-equipment market is divided into nine niches. For each of these, there are three segments, one of which is the wheel, tire and suspension category. Overall, the wheel, tire and suspension category rose nearly 2% in retail sales and 3% in manufacturer sales from 2007 to 2008. Light truck is the niche in which wheels, tires and suspension represent the largest percentage at $1.29 billion in manufacturer sales.

Read the latest on the wheel, tire and suspension market through "The Cool Necessities" article in the November issue of SEMA News.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has again postponed the effective date for the revised lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, from December 1, 2009 to December 1, 2012. The agency wants the extra time to confirm that there were no substantive changes included when the agency published the reorganized and simplified FMVSS 108 in 2007. The revised standard was originally scheduled to take effect in 2008.

The lighting standard has been amended many times since it was first adopted in 1967 in order to address technological advances and enhance safety. As a consequence, the old regulation was unnecessarily complex and difficult to understand.

The NHTSA will also use the additional time to address petitions from some industry groups for additional clarifications or revisions to FMVSS No. 108. Early compliance to the revised standard continues to be permitted. Both the old and new versions of 108 are published in one location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/49cfr571.108.pdf. The “new” version starts at page 76.

Questions or comments may be directed to Steve McDonald.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has again postponed the effective date for the revised lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, from December 1, 2009 to December 1, 2012. The agency wants the extra time to confirm that there were no substantive changes included when the agency published the reorganized and simplified FMVSS 108 in 2007. The revised standard was originally scheduled to take effect in 2008.

The lighting standard has been amended many times since it was first adopted in 1967 in order to address technological advances and enhance safety. As a consequence, the old regulation was unnecessarily complex and difficult to understand.

The NHTSA will also use the additional time to address petitions from some industry groups for additional clarifications or revisions to FMVSS No. 108. Early compliance to the revised standard continues to be permitted. Both the old and new versions of 108 are published in one location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/49cfr571.108.pdf. The “new” version starts at page 76.

Questions or comments may be directed to Steve McDonald.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has again postponed the effective date for the revised lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, from December 1, 2009 to December 1, 2012. The agency wants the extra time to confirm that there were no substantive changes included when the agency published the reorganized and simplified FMVSS 108 in 2007. The revised standard was originally scheduled to take effect in 2008.

The lighting standard has been amended many times since it was first adopted in 1967 in order to address technological advances and enhance safety. As a consequence, the old regulation was unnecessarily complex and difficult to understand.

The NHTSA will also use the additional time to address petitions from some industry groups for additional clarifications or revisions to FMVSS No. 108. Early compliance to the revised standard continues to be permitted. Both the old and new versions of 108 are published in one location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/pdf/49cfr571.108.pdf. The “new” version starts at page 76.

Questions or comments may be directed to Steve McDonald.