By SEMA News Editors

New Hampshire Lawmakers Reject Increased Race Track Fees

The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted to effectively kill House Bill 346 (HB 346), which would have increased the maximum annual licensing fee that towns can charge local race tracks from $100 to $500.  

PRI opposed HB 346, warning that it would have imposed unnecessary financial burdens on race tracks across the state. By allowing local governments to increase licensing fees fivefold, the legislation threatened to create a patchwork of inconsistent costs, making it harder for tracks--many of which are small, family-run businesses--to stay competitive. 

PRI continues to advocate for policies that support the health of grassroots racing and the motorsports industry. The defeat of HB 346 ensures that New Hampshire's race tracks can continue to operate without additional financial strain, preserving the state's vibrant racing community. 

For more information, contact Christian Robinson, PRI's senior director of state government affairs, at christianr@sema.org.  

Photo courtesy of Jill Torres and New Hampshire Motor Speedway/Speedway Motorsports

Brembo, Michelin Partner to Share Knowledge, Fine-Tune Offerings

Brembo, the Italian brake supplier, and Michelin, the French tire manufacturer, have formed a new partnership to merge their technologies and insights.

Through the partnership, the companies combined Michelin's connected solutions software to provide tire grip data to Brembo's SENSIFY braking system. Engineers used the tire insights to fine-tune the braking system.

In the first testing phase, Michelin's tire models and algorithms were integrated with Brembo's intelligent braking models and vehicle simulations in a fully virtual environment. In the second phase, physical tests were conducted on tracks at Michelin's Research Center, where the simulation results were confirmed.

The tests demonstrated braking distance reductions up to 13 feet during ABS events, with the same tires in various conditions.

For more information, visit brembo.com or michelin.com

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) has named Craig Metcalf of Küat Innovations LLC as the network's newest spotlight member.  

Get to know Metcalf in his interview with SEMA News below.  

SEMA News: What is the best advice you have ever received?  

Craig Metcalf: When you start doing more, you realize how much more there is to do.

SN: What keeps you in the industry?  

CM: Professionally, the industry is new to Küat, and there is much to learn!

SN: How do you prepare for an important meeting?  

CM: Stay calm and collective; focus on the goal.

SN: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who would it be?  

CM: Any of my Küat coworkers. I would enjoy the time and learn something new.

Fill out an FLN member spotlight form to be eligible to be featured on FLN's social media, SEMA News and FLN member updates.  

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transmitting to Congress the Clean Air Act waiver granted to California for the state's Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, SEMA--on behalf of its members and the nation's community of automotive enthusiasts--urges federal lawmakers to swiftly strike down the waiver using their authority under the Congressional Review Act.

SEMA thanks President Donald Trump and the EPA for ensuring this policy is given the scrutiny and consideration it is owed due to its broad applicability to the nation's economy and individual freedoms.

"During the November election, voters resoundingly rejected candidates who support electric-vehicle (EV) mandates, only to see their voice suppressed in the final days of the Biden administration when a waiver was granted to California to prop up its radical, economy-killing Advanced Clean Cars II policy. Today, Congress has the opportunity to make right by the American people," said Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of SEMA. "SEMA calls on lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to use their Congressional Review Act authority to stand up for American ingenuity and innovation, for the power of the free market, and for the individual freedoms of people to choose which vehicle is right for their lifestyle and needs. Congress must reject the Advanced Clean Cars II waiver and stop California's regulatory land grab in its tracks."

SEMA is not anti-EV; rather, it champions a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. The association will continue efforts to preserve Americans' rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to design, manufacture and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, SEMA, through its Driving Force Action Super PAC, educated voters about the damaging impact of EV mandates and the profound importance of empowering the automotive aftermarket to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.

For more information, visit sema.org.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transmitting to Congress the Clean Air Act waiver granted to California for the state's Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, SEMA--on behalf of its members and the nation's community of automotive enthusiasts--urges federal lawmakers to swiftly strike down the waiver using their authority under the Congressional Review Act.

SEMA thanks President Donald Trump and the EPA for ensuring this policy is given the scrutiny and consideration it is owed due to its broad applicability to the nation's economy and individual freedoms.

"During the November election, voters resoundingly rejected candidates who support electric-vehicle (EV) mandates, only to see their voice suppressed in the final days of the Biden administration when a waiver was granted to California to prop up its radical, economy-killing Advanced Clean Cars II policy. Today, Congress has the opportunity to make right by the American people," said Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of SEMA. "SEMA calls on lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to use their Congressional Review Act authority to stand up for American ingenuity and innovation, for the power of the free market, and for the individual freedoms of people to choose which vehicle is right for their lifestyle and needs. Congress must reject the Advanced Clean Cars II waiver and stop California's regulatory land grab in its tracks."

SEMA is not anti-EV; rather, it champions a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. The association will continue efforts to preserve Americans' rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to design, manufacture and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, SEMA, through its Driving Force Action Super PAC, educated voters about the damaging impact of EV mandates and the profound importance of empowering the automotive aftermarket to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.

For more information, visit sema.org.

By SEMA News Editors

Troy, Michigan-based J.D. Power--one of the global providers of consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics--has announced vehicle problems after three years of ownership have reached the highest level since 2009, according to the J.D. Power "2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study" released last week.

Compared with 2024, the industry currently experiences a 6% increase in problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is 12 PP100 worse than a year ago, resulting in an industry average of 202 PP100. The rise in problems is attributable to mass-market brands experiencing a 16 PP100 increase related in part to software defects. A lower score indicates higher vehicle quality.

The results of this year's study are not unexpected, said J.D. Power, given the results of its "2022 Initial Quality Study," which tracked problems early in the ownership period of '22 model-year vehicles. That year, initial vehicle quality notably declined from 2021, and problems also reached a record high. Three years later, the issues continue to be problematic for owners, according to findings of the 2025 VDS, J.D. Power said.

"While the increase in problems this year may be a thorn in the side of automakers and owners, it's important to remember that today's three-year-old vehicles were built during a time when the industry was grappling with major disruptions," said Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. "Supply chain issues, record-high vehicle prices, and personnel disruption in the wake of the pandemic were problematic."

The study, now in its 36th year, covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain, and seats.

Following are some key findings of the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study:

• Problems related to software defects increase: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity remains the top problem in the industry for a second consecutive year, increasing to 8.4 PP100 from 6.3 PP100 in 2024. Built-in Bluetooth systems (4.6 PP100) and Wi-Fi (2.4 PP100) are also among the top problems related to software defects this year. While software defects comprise only 9% of the total problems owners experience, as vehicles become more software-reliant, this risk becomes more prominent.
• Personal device integration falls short: Of the top 10 problems industry-wide, half are related to smartphone integration, usage or connectivity. Keeping pace with the rate of change in smartphone technology is a challenge for the auto industry. Over-the-air (OTA) updates provide automakers the opportunity to overcome out-of-date software, with 36% of owners indicating they performed an OTA on their vehicle during the first three years of ownership. However, only 30% of these owners say there was an improvement after the update, while 56% of owners say there was no noticeable improvement.
• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) get better as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) get worse: BEVs have improved 33 PP100 year over year, while PHEVs have declined 26 PP100, making PHEVs the most problematic of all vehicle fuel types. Hybrid vehicles experience the fewest problems (199 PP100), followed by gas-powered vehicles (200 PP100); BEVs (223 PP100); diesel (233 PP100); and PHEVs (242 PP100). The gap between gas-powered vehicles and BEVs has narrowed significantly this year.
• New-model launches struggle: Of the 27 new models that launched in the '22 model year, only four have performed better than their segment average for dependability in the "2025 VDS." New models launched in 2022 average 241 PP100 in the "2025 VDS," whereas carryover models have 196 PP100 and perform better in all nine vehicle categories.

Highest-Ranked Brands

Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a third consecutive year, with a score of 140 PP100. Among premium brands, Cadillac (169 PP100) ranks second and Porsche (186 PP100) ranks third.

Buick ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 143 PP100. Mazda (161 PP100) ranks second and Toyota (162 PP100) ranks third. 

Toyota Motor Corporation has the top overall model in the study with its Toyota Avalon. Toyota and General Motors Company (GM) receive the most model-level awards, with six each. Model-level award recipients for Toyota Motor Corporation are Lexus GX, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Sienna and Tacoma. Model-level award recipients for GM are Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Acadia. Nissan Motor Co, Ltd., receives two model-level awards for Nissan Kicks and Nissan Murano.

The "2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study" is based on responses from 34,175 original owners of '22 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded from August through November 2024.

For more information on J.D. Power's "U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study," visit here. 

Information and image courtesy of J.D. Power

By SEMA News Editors

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings nationwide. Below are some of the latest postings.

Goodridge

Senior Engineer in Mooresville, North Carolina

The senior engineer will be primarily responsible for on-time, on-quality and on-budget engineering activities, from initial feasibility to production sign-off, ensuring products and processes always remain safe. This position will be a key point of contact for customers and other external stakeholders, responding to technical queries, participating in multi-disciplinary meetings and representing the business on customer and supplier visits.

QA1

Director--Sales (Performance Aftermarket) in Lakeville, Minnesota

In this leadership role, the selected candidate will oversee the sales strategy and growth of QA1 brands, including QA1, Detroit Speed, SpeedTech Performance and Proforged. The selected candidate will lead and mentor a team of 20-plus sales and customer service professionals, ensuring the company meets revenue and business goals while driving success across multiple sales channels.

KW Automotive North America

Customer Service Representative in Clovis, California

The customer service representative will provide customer support through multiple channels, including phone, email, social media, live chat and in-person interactions. This role focuses on retaining existing business, networking to develop new accounts and assisting customers with product inquiries, installation questions and technical troubleshooting. Basic mechanical knowledge is required.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) is hosting a virtual General Membership Meeting on Thursday, March 6, at 10:00 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST, during which select committee leaders will share updates about FLN's member benefits.

The meeting is open to current and prospective members and will enable attendees to discover resources designed to help young professionals succeed in the automotive specialty-equipment industry. Attendees will hear about networking events, volunteer opportunities, recognition programs and webinars designed to support professional growth. Additionally, details will be shared about the FLN Professional Development Programs taking place in May at the SEMA Garage in Detroit, Michigan.

FLN membership is free and open to individuals under the age of 40 who work for a SEMA member company. If this sounds like you, don't miss this opportunity to take action in the industry and grow your network by getting more involved.

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

Ultra4 racecars have undergone remarkable advancements over the years, evolving from dedicated rock crawlers struggling to reach 60 mph to high-performance racecars capable of exceeding 130 mph. These intricate machines are now known for their ability to dominate in some of the most thrilling desert races, short course competitions and high-stakes endurance challenges that exist today.  

On Thursday, March 6, at 9:00 a.m. PST, the SEMA Wheel, Tire, Suspension & Brake Council (WTSBC) will host a Coffee and Conversation virtual event discussing the evolution of the Ultra4 racecar. Attendees will engage in open dialogue with featured guests who are experts in the Ultra4 racing field, providing a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge with others and gain new perspectives.

During the conversation, attendees will connect with:  

• Matt Harris -- vice president and general manager, Method Race Wheels/Custom Wheelhouse 
• Mike Messina -- general manager-racing division, Brembo 
• Brian McCroskey -- senior manager-special projects, Bilstein/Thyssenkrup 
• Jeremy Purick -- Rock Krawler Suspension
• Jason Weidman -- brand manager-wheels, Wheel Group 

WTSBC Coffee and Conversations offer a great chance to network virtually with professionals in the wheel, tire, suspension and brake sectors. You'll be able to share your insights, discuss common challenges and build valuable relationships with industry peers. 

Register here.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Natalie Wagschal, marketing specialist at PC Bennett Solutions, as the network's newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.  

Get to know Bennett in her interview with SEMA News below.  

SEMA News: How many years have you been in the industry and what was your first industry job?  

NW: My first automotive job was working for a window tint manufacturer and then I moved to real estate for a year and then got back into the automotive space with PC Bennett. 

SN: What is the most challenging part of running your business or job?  

NW: The most challenging part of my job is keeping up with all the new trends going on in the world, as well as being able to resonate with everyone and getting the content out there that people want to see. 

SN: What are three qualities that got you to where you are today?  

NW: Creativity, dedication and honesty. Creativity has gotten me the job I have today by thinking outside the box and coming up with great ideas to market. Dedication has brought me to where I am today by working towards goals and reaching them. Lastly, honesty has gotten me to where I am due to speaking about what is on my mind and having conversations that people might be too scared to have but need to have to succeed. 

SN: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?  

NW: The biggest challenges that I have faced are being heard as a woman, being talked over, and not being taken seriously. However, one accomplishment that comes with that is being able to step out of my own bubble sometimes and not take being talked over. This means being able to speak my end and be heard and then be rewarded for my ideas. This has really come out in the past year, where I have not backed down, really spoken out, and tried to be heard. This has helped me become a lot more comfortable in the workplace. 

SN: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry?  

NW: My mentor in this industry is my CEO, Patricia Bennett. She has taught me so much in the past two years and has helped me along the way. She introduced me to the SBN and helped me feel so welcome. 

SN: What is the best career advice you have received?  

NW: The best career advice I received is not to give up even when times get tough. Not every day is going to be rainbows and sunshine, but if you can persevere through it, you can come out on top and be thankful for all of your accomplishments. 

SN: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry?  

NW: I did not have any specific industry in mind once starting my career, but as soon as I started dating my fiancé, who has a car obsession, it all just fell into place. We have done a lot of automotive things together, and he has taught me a lot along the way. The automotive industry is such a great and welcoming community--that is what keeps me here. 

SN: Who was the most influential person on your career/goals?  

NW: The most influential person to me is my fiancé and family. They have pushed me to be my best in every aspect of life. 

Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and recognized on the sema.org/she-is-sema website.  

By SEMA News Editors

Holley Performance Brands

Truck and Off-Road Performance Packages

Holley Performance Brands has introduced a new range of modern truck and off-road performance packages featuring products from Holley’s truck and off-road brands, including Flowmaster, ADS and Baer. Packages are currently available for the '21 and newer Ford Bronco, '14 and newer Chevrolet Silverado, '14 and newer GMC Sierra and '05 and newer Toyota Tacoma platforms.

holley.com

Overland Vehicle Systems

OVS Bed Extension

Overland Vehicle Systems has introduced its latest solution for cargo management, the OVS Bed Extension, designed for both mid-size and full-size short bed trucks. Features and specifications include a composite base material with rubberized diamond plate overlay, 2-in. roller bearings, 1,250 lbs. max load capacity, 304 marine-grade stainless steel hardware, adjustable anchor points and more.

overlandvehiclesystems.com

Timbren

SES Kit for '17-'25 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

Timbren has launched the GMRZR2, a new suspension enhancement system designed for the '17-'25 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 to improve ride quality, prevent sag and enhance stability while towing or hauling.

timbren.com

Releasing a new product? Contact editors@sema.org.