Malcolm Johnson, CEO of Bryn Dana, at the 2011 SEMA China Business Development program explaining how to use his products to buyers. Later this month, Johnson is holding a training session in Van Nuys, California.

Bryn Dana International is hosting a training seminar, October 26–27, at its Matrix/ColorBond training facility in Van Nuys, California, for top buyers from China. Bryn Dana’s CEO Malcolm Johnson first met these representatives from CARNET during SEMA's one-on-one 2011 SEMA China Business Development program in Beijing. The Bryn Dana International seminar is designed to train its dealers in the repair of automotive carpet, vinyl, leather and hard plastics, which is common in the United States, but not yet available in China.

	Malcolm Johnson, CEO of Bryn Dana, at the 2011 SEMA China Business Development program explaining how to use his products to buyers. Later this month, Johnson is holding a training session in Van Nuys, California.

Bryn Dana International is hosting a training seminar, October 26–27, at its Matrix/ColorBond training facility in Van Nuys, California, for top buyers from China. Bryn Dana’s CEO Malcolm Johnson first met these representatives from CARNET during SEMA's one-on-one 2011 SEMA China Business Development program in Beijing. The Bryn Dana International seminar is designed to train its dealers in the repair of automotive carpet, vinyl, leather and hard plastics, which is common in the United States, but not yet available in China.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to increase the regulation of flame-retardant chemicals known as polybrominated diphenylether (PBDEs) that are added to plastics and many other materials. PBDEs decrease the likelihood of fires and, once started, slow the chemical reactions that drive oxygen-dependent fires. PBDEs are found in polystyrene, polyurethane foam, wire and cable insulation, electrical connectors and many other materials. They appear in a wide variety of products, including automotive carpets and fabrics and electronic circuit boards. 

The EPA is proposing to effectively phase-out decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) by December 2013. The EPA would also regulate six other chemicals, including octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act’s Significant New Use Rule. This means companies that process the chemicals after 2013 would be required to notify and be subject to EPA approval at least 90 days in advance of producing a new product and, for octaBDE, pentaBDE and decaBDE, conduct health and environmental tests. 

The EPA has expressed concern that these PBDEs may pose liver, thyroid or other human health risks. Although many of the chemicals are no longer manufactured or used in the United States, they still appear in imported products or materials used to produce the goods. As of 2006, California already prohibits the manufacture, distribution and processing of octaBDE and pentaBDE. 

The EPA contends that only one small company will be impacted by its rule. SEMA is seeking to verify that claim with respect to its members. If your company is currently using decaBDE, octaBDE, pentaBDE, tetrabromodiphenyl ether (tetraBDE), hexabromodiphenyl ether (hexaBDE), heptabromodiphenyl ether (heptaBDE) or nonabromodiphenyl ether nonaBDE), or working with products or component parts that may contain any of these chemicals, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to increase the regulation of flame-retardant chemicals known as polybrominated diphenylether (PBDEs) that are added to plastics and many other materials. PBDEs decrease the likelihood of fires and, once started, slow the chemical reactions that drive oxygen-dependent fires. PBDEs are found in polystyrene, polyurethane foam, wire and cable insulation, electrical connectors and many other materials. They appear in a wide variety of products, including automotive carpets and fabrics and electronic circuit boards. 

The EPA is proposing to effectively phase-out decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) by December 2013. The EPA would also regulate six other chemicals, including octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act’s Significant New Use Rule. This means companies that process the chemicals after 2013 would be required to notify and be subject to EPA approval at least 90 days in advance of producing a new product and, for octaBDE, pentaBDE and decaBDE, conduct health and environmental tests. 

The EPA has expressed concern that these PBDEs may pose liver, thyroid or other human health risks. Although many of the chemicals are no longer manufactured or used in the United States, they still appear in imported products or materials used to produce the goods. As of 2006, California already prohibits the manufacture, distribution and processing of octaBDE and pentaBDE. 

The EPA contends that only one small company will be impacted by its rule. SEMA is seeking to verify that claim with respect to its members. If your company is currently using decaBDE, octaBDE, pentaBDE, tetrabromodiphenyl ether (tetraBDE), hexabromodiphenyl ether (hexaBDE), heptabromodiphenyl ether (heptaBDE) or nonabromodiphenyl ether nonaBDE), or working with products or component parts that may contain any of these chemicals, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

California legislation to allow driverless cars to be operated on public roads for testing purposes, provided that each vehicle has a fully licensed and bonded operator in the driver’s seat to take control if necessary, was signed into law. With the goal of eventually permitting autonomous vehicles to be driven on California roadways, the bill instructs the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to adopt regulations that govern the licensing, bonding, testing and operation of such vehicles. The bill also instructs the DMV to adopt the new regulations as soon as practicable, but no later than January 1, 2015. 

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

California legislation to allow driverless cars to be operated on public roads for testing purposes, provided that each vehicle has a fully licensed and bonded operator in the driver’s seat to take control if necessary, was signed into law. With the goal of eventually permitting autonomous vehicles to be driven on California roadways, the bill instructs the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to adopt regulations that govern the licensing, bonding, testing and operation of such vehicles. The bill also instructs the DMV to adopt the new regulations as soon as practicable, but no later than January 1, 2015. 

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

In 2007, California began requiring car manufacturers to give electronic key replacement information to registered locksmiths so lost electronic keys could be replaced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To allow manufacturers adequate time to comply, a six-year exception was made for manufacturers that provide a replacement key overnight. Legislation to permanently exempt certain vehicle manufacturers from the requirement to provide locksmiths with electronic key code information was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill would also have made permanent the requirement that exempted manufacturers operate a request line whereby owners could obtain a replacement key within one day of the request or via overnight delivery from the manufacturer. The governor claimed that the 24/7 standard for car key replacement should apply uniformly to all manufacturers.  

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

In 2007, California began requiring car manufacturers to give electronic key replacement information to registered locksmiths so lost electronic keys could be replaced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To allow manufacturers adequate time to comply, a six-year exception was made for manufacturers that provide a replacement key overnight. Legislation to permanently exempt certain vehicle manufacturers from the requirement to provide locksmiths with electronic key code information was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill would also have made permanent the requirement that exempted manufacturers operate a request line whereby owners could obtain a replacement key within one day of the request or via overnight delivery from the manufacturer. The governor claimed that the 24/7 standard for car key replacement should apply uniformly to all manufacturers.  

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

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation to establish the California Legacy License Plate Program. Under the new law, the DMV will create and issue a series of specialized license plates that replicate plates from the state's past. Previously, classic car owners could only revive well-maintained old plates that match the vintage of their vehicle. Among other things, the new law will bring a retro look to modern license plates by allowing consumers to choose from one of three classic designs from the ’50s–’60s (black lettering on yellow background or yellow lettering on black background) and ’70s–’80s (yellow lettering on blue background). The law requires that at least 7,500 applications for any one particular plate must be received by the DMV by January 1, 2015. 

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

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation to establish the California Legacy License Plate Program. Under the new law, the DMV will create and issue a series of specialized license plates that replicate plates from the state's past. Previously, classic car owners could only revive well-maintained old plates that match the vintage of their vehicle. Among other things, the new law will bring a retro look to modern license plates by allowing consumers to choose from one of three classic designs from the ’50s–’60s (black lettering on yellow background or yellow lettering on black background) and ’70s–’80s (yellow lettering on blue background). The law requires that at least 7,500 applications for any one particular plate must be received by the DMV by January 1, 2015. 

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