By Becca Butler

Applications for the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition are still being accepted at www.semaignited.com. This one-of-a-kind automotive competition features builders from across the nation who have a display, feature or booth vehicle at the SEMA Show. Participants will showcase their vehicles during the annual event and a panel of top automotive experts will narrow it down to an elite 10. Finalists will then vote among themselves to be named the winner.

New this year will be the introduction of the Young Guns (under 35) category and Open Division (everyone else). Builders with vehicles from all market segments are encouraged to enter one or more categories. For more information and to enter the competition, visit www.semaignited.com.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a joint technical report that will be used to determine the feasibility of meeting a fleet-wide average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The report concludes that the average may actually be in the 50- to 52.6-mpg range.

NHTSA corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards are linked to the EPA’s greenhouse gas standards since the amount of fossil fuel burned directly corresponds to carbon emissions. CAFE standards are based on the size and class of vehicles, allowing SUVs to have standards that are different from passenger cars. To achieve the standards, the automakers are pursuing various engine/transmission technologies, using aluminum, carbon fiber and other materials to reduce weight, and making vehicles more aerodynamic among other pursuits. 

NHTSA will conduct a review of the CAFE program next year with the possibility for adjusting the CAFE targets for the 2021–2015 time period. NHTSA’s current fleet target of 54.5 mpg assumed that gas prices would be higher and, in turn, more consumers would buy smaller, fuel-efficient cars. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a joint technical report that will be used to determine the feasibility of meeting a fleet-wide average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The report concludes that the average may actually be in the 50- to 52.6-mpg range.

NHTSA corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards are linked to the EPA’s greenhouse gas standards since the amount of fossil fuel burned directly corresponds to carbon emissions. CAFE standards are based on the size and class of vehicles, allowing SUVs to have standards that are different from passenger cars. To achieve the standards, the automakers are pursuing various engine/transmission technologies, using aluminum, carbon fiber and other materials to reduce weight, and making vehicles more aerodynamic among other pursuits. 

NHTSA will conduct a review of the CAFE program next year with the possibility for adjusting the CAFE targets for the 2021–2015 time period. NHTSA’s current fleet target of 54.5 mpg assumed that gas prices would be higher and, in turn, more consumers would buy smaller, fuel-efficient cars. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a joint technical report that will be used to determine the feasibility of meeting a fleet-wide average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The report concludes that the average may actually be in the 50- to 52.6-mpg range.

NHTSA corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards are linked to the EPA’s greenhouse gas standards since the amount of fossil fuel burned directly corresponds to carbon emissions. CAFE standards are based on the size and class of vehicles, allowing SUVs to have standards that are different from passenger cars. To achieve the standards, the automakers are pursuing various engine/transmission technologies, using aluminum, carbon fiber and other materials to reduce weight, and making vehicles more aerodynamic among other pursuits. 

NHTSA will conduct a review of the CAFE program next year with the possibility for adjusting the CAFE targets for the 2021–2015 time period. NHTSA’s current fleet target of 54.5 mpg assumed that gas prices would be higher and, in turn, more consumers would buy smaller, fuel-efficient cars. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Leaders within the Utah Congressional delegation introduced a Public Lands Initiative (PLI) bill to finalize land-use designations covering more than 18 million acres of land in seven eastern and southern Utah counties. Spearheaded by U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the proposal is the product of three years of work and more than 1,200 meetings with stakeholder groups, including local communities, off-road groups, environmentalists, logging, grazing and energy interests. Of particular interest to the off-road community, the PLI creates motorized recreation zones in San Juan and Grand Counties encompassing more than 375,000 acres, along with a 93-mile red rock OHV trail connecting towns in Emery, Grand and San Juan Counties.

SEMA supports the PLI’s collaborative approach to making final designations in order to provide certainty regarding how land is managed, including wilderness, conservation and recreation areas. Without the legislation, 1.4 million acres of land may soon be designated by President Obama as the Bears Ears National Monument. Such a listing would prohibit new roads or trails and require drafting of a new land management plan that could lead to more road closures.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Leaders within the Utah Congressional delegation introduced a Public Lands Initiative (PLI) bill to finalize land-use designations covering more than 18 million acres of land in seven eastern and southern Utah counties. Spearheaded by U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the proposal is the product of three years of work and more than 1,200 meetings with stakeholder groups, including local communities, off-road groups, environmentalists, logging, grazing and energy interests. Of particular interest to the off-road community, the PLI creates motorized recreation zones in San Juan and Grand Counties encompassing more than 375,000 acres, along with a 93-mile red rock OHV trail connecting towns in Emery, Grand and San Juan Counties.

SEMA supports the PLI’s collaborative approach to making final designations in order to provide certainty regarding how land is managed, including wilderness, conservation and recreation areas. Without the legislation, 1.4 million acres of land may soon be designated by President Obama as the Bears Ears National Monument. Such a listing would prohibit new roads or trails and require drafting of a new land management plan that could lead to more road closures.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Leaders within the Utah Congressional delegation introduced a Public Lands Initiative (PLI) bill to finalize land-use designations covering more than 18 million acres of land in seven eastern and southern Utah counties. Spearheaded by U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the proposal is the product of three years of work and more than 1,200 meetings with stakeholder groups, including local communities, off-road groups, environmentalists, logging, grazing and energy interests. Of particular interest to the off-road community, the PLI creates motorized recreation zones in San Juan and Grand Counties encompassing more than 375,000 acres, along with a 93-mile red rock OHV trail connecting towns in Emery, Grand and San Juan Counties.

SEMA supports the PLI’s collaborative approach to making final designations in order to provide certainty regarding how land is managed, including wilderness, conservation and recreation areas. Without the legislation, 1.4 million acres of land may soon be designated by President Obama as the Bears Ears National Monument. Such a listing would prohibit new roads or trails and require drafting of a new land management plan that could lead to more road closures.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A version of SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and replica custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles remains pending in the New Jersey Assembly. Supporters are urged to contact Chairman John Wisniewski of the Assembly Transportation Committee to request an immediate hearing on the bill.

The measure defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1948, and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation the body of the vehicle most closely resembles.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A version of SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and replica custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles remains pending in the New Jersey Assembly. Supporters are urged to contact Chairman John Wisniewski of the Assembly Transportation Committee to request an immediate hearing on the bill.

The measure defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1948, and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation the body of the vehicle most closely resembles.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A version of SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and replica custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles remains pending in the New Jersey Assembly. Supporters are urged to contact Chairman John Wisniewski of the Assembly Transportation Committee to request an immediate hearing on the bill.

The measure defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1948, and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation the body of the vehicle most closely resembles.  

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.