By SEMA Washington D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service has set the standard business-mileage deduction at 58 cents per mile for 2019. The rate is up 3.5 cents from 2018. The mileage calculation includes the cost of fuel, along with other vehicle fixed and variable operating expenses, such as depreciation, insurance, tires, etc.

Companies and individuals who use their automobiles (including vans, pickups and panel trucks) for business have the option of using the standard rate in lieu of keeping records of their actual expenses.

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington D.C., Staff

The Internal Revenue Service has set the standard business-mileage deduction at 58 cents per mile for 2019. The rate is up 3.5 cents from 2018. The mileage calculation includes the cost of fuel, along with other vehicle fixed and variable operating expenses, such as depreciation, insurance, tires, etc.

Companies and individuals who use their automobiles (including vans, pickups and panel trucks) for business have the option of using the standard rate in lieu of keeping records of their actual expenses.

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has requested public comments on technologies available to assist in connecting vehicles to other vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I) and pedestrians (V2P). These communications are collectively known as V2X.

In recent years, the DOT has focused on Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology as it establishes standardized performance requirements for V2V messages operating in the 5.9GHz band. In an effort to remain technology neutral, however, the DOT is seeking public comments on Cellular-V2X, 5G New Radio and any other technologies that are being developed for the same purpose.

The DOT has posed a number of questions such as: What are the advantages and disadvantages of each technology? What is the timeframe for deployment of technologies not yet in production? Can all of the technologies operate in the same spectrum without interference? Will it be possible for the technologies to be interoperable (ex: DSRC vehicles speaking with C-V2X vehicles)?  What are the cybersecurity concerns for each technology, especially if they are interoperable? Comments are due January 25, 2019.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has requested public comments on technologies available to assist in connecting vehicles to other vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I) and pedestrians (V2P). These communications are collectively known as V2X.

In recent years, the DOT has focused on Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) technology as it establishes standardized performance requirements for V2V messages operating in the 5.9GHz band. In an effort to remain technology neutral, however, the DOT is seeking public comments on Cellular-V2X, 5G New Radio and any other technologies that are being developed for the same purpose.

The DOT has posed a number of questions such as: What are the advantages and disadvantages of each technology? What is the timeframe for deployment of technologies not yet in production? Can all of the technologies operate in the same spectrum without interference? Will it be possible for the technologies to be interoperable (ex: DSRC vehicles speaking with C-V2X vehicles)?  What are the cybersecurity concerns for each technology, especially if they are interoperable? Comments are due January 25, 2019.

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

By Rachel Tatum

Kyle Tucker was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition for his ’69 Chevy Camaro.

Go behind the scenes of SEMA Show 2018, the world’s most prestigious automotive event, in the all new “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” television special, premiering Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Motor Trend TV Network. Now in its fifth year, the competition and the program have evolved to be more exciting and impressive than ever before. Here’s what’s new and different about the upcoming program:

Featuring Future Stars

Several young, up-and-coming builders are featured. The "SEMA: Battle of the Builders" television program spotlights the expanded Young Guns

The SEMA: Battle of the Builders television program spotlights the expanded Young Guns program.

program. In addition to young builders (age 27 and younger) with vehicles sponsored by SEMA Show exhibitors, 14 young builders from throughout the country were discovered and given the opportunity to showcase their cars and talents at the 2018 SEMA Show. They competed alongside the other contestants in the most recent Battle of the Builders competition. 

Celebrity Social Media Judges

Some of today’s most recognized social influencers participated as judges in this year’s Battle of the Builders competition. Sarah Raegan Greenwood (Sarah-n-Tuned); Emelia Hartford (@ms.emelia); Jack Milne (DURTYMAX, JACK); Chris Petruccio (Krispy Media); Chris Steinbacher (B is to Build); and Dustin Williams (@dustinw) collaborated to select the top Young Guns from the competition. 

Category Winners

This year’s competition names the Top Four winners, with one winner representing each category. So the competition included a winner in the hot rod category, as well as a winner in the truck/off road category, the sport compact category and the Young Guns category. It’s the most diverse vehicle builders’ competition yet.

Mark your calendars and tune in to Motor Trend TV on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT for the premiere of the new “SEMA: Battle of the Builders.”

By Rachel Tatum

Kyle Tucker was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition for his ’69 Chevy Camaro.

Go behind the scenes of SEMA Show 2018, the world’s most prestigious automotive event, in the all new “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” television special, premiering Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Motor Trend TV Network. Now in its fifth year, the competition and the program have evolved to be more exciting and impressive than ever before. Here’s what’s new and different about the upcoming program:

Featuring Future Stars

Several young, up-and-coming builders are featured. The "SEMA: Battle of the Builders" television program spotlights the expanded Young Guns

The SEMA: Battle of the Builders television program spotlights the expanded Young Guns program.

program. In addition to young builders (age 27 and younger) with vehicles sponsored by SEMA Show exhibitors, 14 young builders from throughout the country were discovered and given the opportunity to showcase their cars and talents at the 2018 SEMA Show. They competed alongside the other contestants in the most recent Battle of the Builders competition. 

Celebrity Social Media Judges

Some of today’s most recognized social influencers participated as judges in this year’s Battle of the Builders competition. Sarah Raegan Greenwood (Sarah-n-Tuned); Emelia Hartford (@ms.emelia); Jack Milne (DURTYMAX, JACK); Chris Petruccio (Krispy Media); Chris Steinbacher (B is to Build); and Dustin Williams (@dustinw) collaborated to select the top Young Guns from the competition. 

Category Winners

This year’s competition names the Top Four winners, with one winner representing each category. So the competition included a winner in the hot rod category, as well as a winner in the truck/off road category, the sport compact category and the Young Guns category. It’s the most diverse vehicle builders’ competition yet.

Mark your calendars and tune in to Motor Trend TV on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT for the premiere of the new “SEMA: Battle of the Builders.”

By Rachel Tatum

Kyle Tucker was crowned the winner of the fifth-annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition for his ’69 Chevy Camaro.

Go behind the scenes of SEMA Show 2018, the world’s most prestigious automotive event, in the all new “SEMA: Battle of the Builders” television special, premiering Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Motor Trend TV Network. Now in its fifth year, the competition and the program have evolved to be more exciting and impressive than ever before. Here’s what’s new and different about the upcoming program:

Featuring Future Stars

Several young, up-and-coming builders are featured. The "SEMA: Battle of the Builders" television program spotlights the expanded Young Guns

The SEMA: Battle of the Builders television program spotlights the expanded Young Guns program.

program. In addition to young builders (age 27 and younger) with vehicles sponsored by SEMA Show exhibitors, 14 young builders from throughout the country were discovered and given the opportunity to showcase their cars and talents at the 2018 SEMA Show. They competed alongside the other contestants in the most recent Battle of the Builders competition. 

Celebrity Social Media Judges

Some of today’s most recognized social influencers participated as judges in this year’s Battle of the Builders competition. Sarah Raegan Greenwood (Sarah-n-Tuned); Emelia Hartford (@ms.emelia); Jack Milne (DURTYMAX, JACK); Chris Petruccio (Krispy Media); Chris Steinbacher (B is to Build); and Dustin Williams (@dustinw) collaborated to select the top Young Guns from the competition. 

Category Winners

This year’s competition names the Top Four winners, with one winner representing each category. So the competition included a winner in the hot rod category, as well as a winner in the truck/off road category, the sport compact category and the Young Guns category. It’s the most diverse vehicle builders’ competition yet.

Mark your calendars and tune in to Motor Trend TV on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT for the premiere of the new “SEMA: Battle of the Builders.”

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.

• Outland
• Paramount Automotive
• Pedal Commander
• Pedders Suspension
• Powertrax
• Precision Gear
• Pro Comp Tires
• Raptor
• ReadyLift
• Remflex