SEMA has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suspend the partial waiver issued last October to permit the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) for model-year 2007 and newer vehicles. While issuing the waiver, the EPA confirmed that there was insufficient test data to permit E15 to be used in model-year 2000 and older light-duty motor vehicles. SEMA has consistently voiced concern that ethanol increases water formation, which can then create formic acid and corrode metals, plastics and rubber. The agency is still gathering data for the ’01–’06 vehicles. The EPA’s ruling responded to a request from the ethanol industry to raise the ethanol content in gasoline from 10% (E10) to 15%.

In comments submitted to the EPA, SEMA opposed a proposed rule on how to label gas pumps to help prevent vehicle misfueling. SEMA cited E10 as an example in which the EPA has not satisfied its mission to provide adequate information to the public on whether the fuel they are buying contains ethanol. There are no uniform nationwide requirements. Labeling rules are subject to state regulation. Some states do not require labels, and the rules for other states vary depending upon the content percentage. SEMA recommended that the EPA create national labeling requirements for both E15 and E10, and that the E15 warning label be placed as close as possible to the pump’s product-selection mechanism. Click here to read SEMA’s comments.

Consumers will not see E15 at the pump any time soon. Several lawsuits have been filed against the EPA contending that the agency did not have the authority to issue a partial waiver. Legislation may also be introduced in Congress to overturn the waiver. SEMA will continue to oppose E15 until there are conclusive scientific findings that demonstrate that it will not harm automobiles of any age as a result of corrosion or other chemical incompatibilities. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network, millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate these automobiles. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

A House Natural Resources Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Forest Service’s draft rule for managing the country’s 193 million acres for national forests and grasslands. Previous versions of the “Planning Rule” have been rejected by the courts in recent years. Among the organizations invited to testify at the hearing was the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). SEMA has partnered with BRC in opposition to the proposed "Planning Rule" on grounds that it does not adequately protect access for motorized recreation and will be a source of ongoing litigation.  

During the hearing, a number of Subcommittee members expressed concern that the proposed Planning Rule was too vague to prevent future lawsuits and incorporated undefined terms. For example, while maintaining the viability of wildlife populations has always been a requirement, critics expressed dismay that the traditional definition of “species” would be expanded beyond vertebrates to cover virtually any type of animal and plant, including slugs. Opponents, including SEMA and the BRC, do not believe the rule adequately defines how to differentiate between conflicting goals. Many in the off-road community fear the rule may be applied in a protectionist fashion rather than accommodating multiple-use activities, a stated intent.

The issue is of importance to SEMA-member companies that market products to the off-road community based on their ability to have access to Forest Service roads and trails. The Congressional panel urged the Forest Service to revise the Planning Rule so as to provide a clearer explanation of guidelines and to ensure a “full mix of recreational opportunities.” 

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

A House Natural Resources Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Forest Service’s draft rule for managing the country’s 193 million acres for national forests and grasslands. Previous versions of the “Planning Rule” have been rejected by the courts in recent years. Among the organizations invited to testify at the hearing was the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). SEMA has partnered with BRC in opposition to the proposed "Planning Rule" on grounds that it does not adequately protect access for motorized recreation and will be a source of ongoing litigation.  

During the hearing, a number of Subcommittee members expressed concern that the proposed Planning Rule was too vague to prevent future lawsuits and incorporated undefined terms. For example, while maintaining the viability of wildlife populations has always been a requirement, critics expressed dismay that the traditional definition of “species” would be expanded beyond vertebrates to cover virtually any type of animal and plant, including slugs. Opponents, including SEMA and the BRC, do not believe the rule adequately defines how to differentiate between conflicting goals. Many in the off-road community fear the rule may be applied in a protectionist fashion rather than accommodating multiple-use activities, a stated intent.

The issue is of importance to SEMA-member companies that market products to the off-road community based on their ability to have access to Forest Service roads and trails. The Congressional panel urged the Forest Service to revise the Planning Rule so as to provide a clearer explanation of guidelines and to ensure a “full mix of recreational opportunities.” 

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued draft regulations to set fuel economy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for model year (MY) 2017–2025 vehicles. The fleetwide average will rise from 35.5 mpg at the end of 2016 to 54.5 mpg for MY 2025—a nearly 5% annual increase with slightly lower standards for light-duty trucks. The government estimates that the standards will cost about $157 billion to implement, with net benefits ranging from $252 billion to $358 billion. It is also estimated that the rules would add $2,000 to the price of a new passenger car sold in 2025, but save more than $6,000 in fuel costs over the vehicle’s lifetime. In order to obtain the fuel savings, the automakers will rely on improvements of conventional technologies, including more efficient engines and transmissions and higher-strength, light-weight materials. Some manufacturers may also pursue more advanced fuel-saving technologies, such as hybrid vehicles, clean diesel engines, plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles and electric vehicles.

The fuel-economy standards were agreed to in principal earlier this summer by most of the automakers. The agreement preserves California’s authority to regulate CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases while creating a single national standard. CO2 emissions and fuel economy are linked since carbon dioxide is a byproduct of fossil-fuel combustion. Although the agreement is intended to preserve vehicle affordability, choice and safety, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has expressed concern about the added costs to consumers and whether buyers will have access to vehicles that meet their needs.  

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued draft regulations to set fuel economy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for model year (MY) 2017–2025 vehicles. The fleetwide average will rise from 35.5 mpg at the end of 2016 to 54.5 mpg for MY 2025—a nearly 5% annual increase with slightly lower standards for light-duty trucks. The government estimates that the standards will cost about $157 billion to implement, with net benefits ranging from $252 billion to $358 billion. It is also estimated that the rules would add $2,000 to the price of a new passenger car sold in 2025, but save more than $6,000 in fuel costs over the vehicle’s lifetime. In order to obtain the fuel savings, the automakers will rely on improvements of conventional technologies, including more efficient engines and transmissions and higher-strength, light-weight materials. Some manufacturers may also pursue more advanced fuel-saving technologies, such as hybrid vehicles, clean diesel engines, plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles and electric vehicles.

The fuel-economy standards were agreed to in principal earlier this summer by most of the automakers. The agreement preserves California’s authority to regulate CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases while creating a single national standard. CO2 emissions and fuel economy are linked since carbon dioxide is a byproduct of fossil-fuel combustion. Although the agreement is intended to preserve vehicle affordability, choice and safety, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has expressed concern about the added costs to consumers and whether buyers will have access to vehicles that meet their needs.  

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

The U.S. House of Representatives passed SEMA-supported legislation to reduce the cost of burdensome regulations on business owners and job creators. The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 would require federal agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis when issuing new rules. Although a few laws already permit such analysis, the legislation would overturn the prohibition contained in other laws, such as the Clean Air Act, Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Endangered Species Act.

The data and evidence gathered in the analysis would be subject to judicial review. Agencies would generally be required to adopt the “least costly” approach to achieve policy goals established by Congress. A companion bill faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Senate and a presidential veto over concerns that it could make it more difficult for agencies to enact regulations. 

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

The U.S. House of Representatives passed SEMA-supported legislation to reduce the cost of burdensome regulations on business owners and job creators. The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 would require federal agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis when issuing new rules. Although a few laws already permit such analysis, the legislation would overturn the prohibition contained in other laws, such as the Clean Air Act, Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Endangered Species Act.

The data and evidence gathered in the analysis would be subject to judicial review. Agencies would generally be required to adopt the “least costly” approach to achieve policy goals established by Congress. A companion bill faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Senate and a presidential veto over concerns that it could make it more difficult for agencies to enact regulations. 

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