Tue, 08/16/2011 - 10:20
beetle
The all-new ’12 Volkswagen Beetle.
mazda
The ’12 Mazda3 4DR.
Conveniently, SEMA will be holding back-to-back measuring sessions, starting August 23–24 with the ’12 Volkswagen Beetle and continuing August 25 with the ’12 Mazda3 4DR and 5DR.

These sessions will provide SEMA-member specialty-parts manufacturers hands-on access to these new vehicles in order to gather surface data in preparation for designing, developing and manufacturing aftermarket parts and accessories. This is also an opportunity to speak directly with both automakers' engineers and technical staff.

The all-new ’12 Volkswagen Beetle will be on display for two days, August 23–24, from 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (PDT) at the Volkswagen of America Inc. Ontario Learning Center in Ontario, California. It is equipped with either a 2.5L five-cylinder or 2.0L TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Each is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The deadline to register is Friday, August 19.

The ’12 Mazda3 4DR and 5DR will be on display August 25, from 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PDT) at the Mazda North American Operations, Western Region Training Center in Irvine, California. It features a new front fascia, new 16- and 17-in. alloy wheel designs, revised fog lights and door mirrors and new engine/transmission combinations. The deadline to register is Friday, August 22.

For questions, contact Bill Wolf at 909/978-6744 or billw@sema.org.
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 17:00
keystone
Sixteen of the best all-around Mustangs will shoot for the King of the Street title at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Keystone Automotive NMRA Ford Nationals Heads to Bowling Green, Kentucky
The Keystone Automotive NMRA Ford Nationals will head to Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 29–October 2, 2011. With more than 400 race cars attending last year, 500–600 are expected to pack the raceway this year.

5.0 Mustang will also host its King of the Street competition where 16 of the best all-around Mustangs shoot for the title. Posi Performance will also bring a special Terminator/GT500 shootout for a battle of blue oval supercars. The World Finals features a car show, swap meet and vendor midways.

The NMRA also offers entry level drag-racing classes. True Street is for 15 second cars down with more than nine awards given away on Sunday. Open Comp, Modular Muscle, Super Stang are classes for a new racer with a mild to wild race car. For rules information, visit www.nmradigital.com/rules.

cardey
David Cardey scores his second win in three appearances at Victorville Raceway Park. Photo credit: Doug Allen

David Cardey Scores Win at Victorville Raceway Park
Riverside, California, racing star "Dynamite" David Cardey scored his second win in three appearances at Victorville Raceway Park, Saturday, August 6. The 35-year-old racer won his eight-lap heat race by more than a full straightaway. For the 30-lap main event, Cardey was on the outside of the front row and most insiders predicted he would walk away with an easy victory. However, Cardey and the inside pole sitter got together as they came off turn four heading for the start. Cardey caught the right rear of the pole sitter and did a wheelie. Somehow he managed to keep the car under control and only slipped to the fourth spot.

He was back to third by the time the snarling pack entered turn three for the first time. By the time the field hit turn three on the second circuit, he steered the bright ride No. 59 car to the inside line in an effort to pass the second-place car and leader. He nabbed second and briefly poked his nose into the lead, but as they exited turn four, the pole sitter inched ahead of Cardey before they got together for the second time in two laps. Both drivers somehow managed to recover before a yellow could come out and Cardey was in the lead.

Cardey drove away from the field and established a massive lead. Several yellows and one red flag interrupted his march to the checkered, but every time the green came back out, he motored away from the competition. With just five laps remaining, a lapper went around directly in front of Cardey, but he hit the brakes and missed the spinning race car.

For the restart, the field bunched up behind Cardey again, but he pulled away to score another Victorville Raceway Park win. To see video highlights of Cardey's win, visit the Loud Pedal Video web site.

Cardey will return to action with the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars at Perris Auto Speedway August 20.

axel
Axel Andreason

Industry Mourns the Loss of JR Motorsports Veteran Axel Andreason
Axel Andreason, machine shop specialist and long-time race engine guru, died in the early morning of Sunday, August 7, 2011. Andreason came on board with JR Motorsports in 1998. He had a colorful and varied past in auto racing around the Midwest for more than 40 years.

“Axel was known for his vast array of automotive knowledge; he loved to make people feel comfortable and always wanted to share his experience with those wanting to learn."

Over the decades, Andreason was a fixture at races and local car shows in addition to being a Corvette enthusiast and collector. He is survived by his wife Jean in Des Moines, Iowa, and his daughter Kristin, who currently resides in the Chicago area.

Ambrose Earns First Sprint Cup Series Win With Roush Yates FR9 Power at the Glen
Tasmania's Marcos Ambrose, driving for Richard Petty Motorsports, drove the No. 9 DEWalt Tools and Roush Yates FR9-powered Ford Fusion to victory lane at the rain-postponed Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International.

It was Ambrose's first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, sixth Sprint Cup Series points win of the 2011 season for Roush Yates Engines, and Ford's first road course win at the Glen since 1996 (Geoff Bodine). It was also the first win for Ford-backed Richard Petty Motorsports, which reorganized and switched to Fords prior to the 2010 season.

ambrose
Marcos Ambrose drove the No. 9 DEWalt Tools and Roush Yates FR9-powered Ford Fusion to victory lane at Watkins Glen International.


The Roush Yates Ford FR9 engine has helped deliver three first-time winners this season, which include the Wood Brothers' Trevor Bayne, Roush Fenway's David Ragan, and now RPM's Ambrose.

Ambrose, who started from the No. 3 position on the Glen's 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course, was ecstatic in victory.

Ambrose's Petty teammate A.J. Allmendinger finished 8th while points leader Carl Edwards came in 12th and will leave the track tied for the top spot with Kyle Busch.

Robby Woods Earns A Pair of Podium Finishes at Glen Helen Raceway
Robby Woods came to Glen Helen Raceway last weekend with a score to settle. While Woods currently resides in the top 10 in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) premier Pro2 Unlimited class, his first visit to historic Glen Helen Raceway this season did not meet his expectations. LOORRS' return to Glen Helen started on Friday with Woods qualifying third amongst 15 of the best off-road racers on the planet.

woods
Robby Woods earned his second podium finish in as many days in his No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist/Superchips Chevrolet at Glen Helen Raceway last weekend.

Woods started on outside of the fourth row and quickly slipped past Jeremy McGrath on the second turn to move up to third place. He patiently followed Rob Naughton for three laps, pushing Naughton until Woods saw the opportunity to strike. At this point, there was only one driver ahead of the No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist/Superchips Chevrolet—Brian Deegan. After six laps of cat-and-mouse, the pressure finally got to Deegan, who blew through a turn. Woods matted the throttle to pass Deegan in mid-air and move into the lead at the mandatory caution half way through the race.

Late in the race, Woods had a 12-truck-length lead on the competition and was overdue for his first Pro2 Unlimited victory. The right rear tire let go with four laps remaining, though, and without enough time left to get into the hot pits, Woods watched his lead evaporate and he crossed the finish line in second place. However, he set the fast lap on Saturday in a truck that he designed and built himself.

Woods came into Sunday’s race intent on going even faster than he had on Saturday. After passing Deegan, Woods was in second place when he overshot the table top jump and nearly endo’ed the No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist / Superchips Chevrolet. This pushed him all the way back to 10th place, but when Carl Renezeder and Rodrigo Ampudia got tied up on the last lap, Woods saw his opportunity to capitalize and shot into second to earn his second podium finish in as many days.

The next round of LOORRS racing will be held outside of Phoenix at Speedwold Off Road Park on September 24–25th. Woods was already on the podium at Speedworld earlier this year, and it could very well be the location of his first Pro2 Unlimited victory. You can follow Woods and the No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist/Superchips Chevrolet on his quest for the LOORRS Pro2 Unlimited series championship at www.robbywoods.com or on Facebook.

 

SCCA
Registration is now open for the 2011 SCCA RallyCross National Championship. Photo credit: Jerry Doctor

Registration For SCCA RallyCross National Championship Now Open
Entries are now being accepted for the 2011 SCCA RallyCross National Championship at Tulsa Raceway Park (TRP), October 7–9. The event makes its first appearance at TRP, moving from Fountain, Colorado, for 2011. The Northeast Oklahoma region will play host to the event, though many of the event's operations will be handled by officials from around the country, the RallyCross Board and the SCCA national staff in the same fashion as other SCCA national championship events, including the Tire Rack Solo National Championship and SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

Entry fees for the national championship event are $120, with online registration available through Tuesday, October 4. Registration for the 2011 RallyCross National Championship is available on www.motorsportsreg.com, or via paper registration at www.scca.com/rally and selecting “RallyCross National Championship” from the left-hand menu. A link to online registration is available from the event page, as well as a pdf entry form to download should entrants prefer to mail or fax their form. A direct link to event registration is available here.

For more information on the 2011 RallyCross National Championship, visit www.scca.com/rally.

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 17:00
keystone
Sixteen of the best all-around Mustangs will shoot for the King of the Street title at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Keystone Automotive NMRA Ford Nationals Heads to Bowling Green, Kentucky
The Keystone Automotive NMRA Ford Nationals will head to Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 29–October 2, 2011. With more than 400 race cars attending last year, 500–600 are expected to pack the raceway this year.

5.0 Mustang will also host its King of the Street competition where 16 of the best all-around Mustangs shoot for the title. Posi Performance will also bring a special Terminator/GT500 shootout for a battle of blue oval supercars. The World Finals features a car show, swap meet and vendor midways.

The NMRA also offers entry level drag-racing classes. True Street is for 15 second cars down with more than nine awards given away on Sunday. Open Comp, Modular Muscle, Super Stang are classes for a new racer with a mild to wild race car. For rules information, visit www.nmradigital.com/rules.

cardey
David Cardey scores his second win in three appearances at Victorville Raceway Park. Photo credit: Doug Allen

David Cardey Scores Win at Victorville Raceway Park
Riverside, California, racing star "Dynamite" David Cardey scored his second win in three appearances at Victorville Raceway Park, Saturday, August 6. The 35-year-old racer won his eight-lap heat race by more than a full straightaway. For the 30-lap main event, Cardey was on the outside of the front row and most insiders predicted he would walk away with an easy victory. However, Cardey and the inside pole sitter got together as they came off turn four heading for the start. Cardey caught the right rear of the pole sitter and did a wheelie. Somehow he managed to keep the car under control and only slipped to the fourth spot.

He was back to third by the time the snarling pack entered turn three for the first time. By the time the field hit turn three on the second circuit, he steered the bright ride No. 59 car to the inside line in an effort to pass the second-place car and leader. He nabbed second and briefly poked his nose into the lead, but as they exited turn four, the pole sitter inched ahead of Cardey before they got together for the second time in two laps. Both drivers somehow managed to recover before a yellow could come out and Cardey was in the lead.

Cardey drove away from the field and established a massive lead. Several yellows and one red flag interrupted his march to the checkered, but every time the green came back out, he motored away from the competition. With just five laps remaining, a lapper went around directly in front of Cardey, but he hit the brakes and missed the spinning race car.

For the restart, the field bunched up behind Cardey again, but he pulled away to score another Victorville Raceway Park win. To see video highlights of Cardey's win, visit the Loud Pedal Video web site.

Cardey will return to action with the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars at Perris Auto Speedway August 20.

axel
Axel Andreason

Industry Mourns the Loss of JR Motorsports Veteran Axel Andreason
Axel Andreason, machine shop specialist and long-time race engine guru, died in the early morning of Sunday, August 7, 2011. Andreason came on board with JR Motorsports in 1998. He had a colorful and varied past in auto racing around the Midwest for more than 40 years.

“Axel was known for his vast array of automotive knowledge; he loved to make people feel comfortable and always wanted to share his experience with those wanting to learn."

Over the decades, Andreason was a fixture at races and local car shows in addition to being a Corvette enthusiast and collector. He is survived by his wife Jean in Des Moines, Iowa, and his daughter Kristin, who currently resides in the Chicago area.

Ambrose Earns First Sprint Cup Series Win With Roush Yates FR9 Power at the Glen
Tasmania's Marcos Ambrose, driving for Richard Petty Motorsports, drove the No. 9 DEWalt Tools and Roush Yates FR9-powered Ford Fusion to victory lane at the rain-postponed Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International.

It was Ambrose's first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, sixth Sprint Cup Series points win of the 2011 season for Roush Yates Engines, and Ford's first road course win at the Glen since 1996 (Geoff Bodine). It was also the first win for Ford-backed Richard Petty Motorsports, which reorganized and switched to Fords prior to the 2010 season.

ambrose
Marcos Ambrose drove the No. 9 DEWalt Tools and Roush Yates FR9-powered Ford Fusion to victory lane at Watkins Glen International.


The Roush Yates Ford FR9 engine has helped deliver three first-time winners this season, which include the Wood Brothers' Trevor Bayne, Roush Fenway's David Ragan, and now RPM's Ambrose.

Ambrose, who started from the No. 3 position on the Glen's 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course, was ecstatic in victory.

Ambrose's Petty teammate A.J. Allmendinger finished 8th while points leader Carl Edwards came in 12th and will leave the track tied for the top spot with Kyle Busch.

Robby Woods Earns A Pair of Podium Finishes at Glen Helen Raceway
Robby Woods came to Glen Helen Raceway last weekend with a score to settle. While Woods currently resides in the top 10 in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) premier Pro2 Unlimited class, his first visit to historic Glen Helen Raceway this season did not meet his expectations. LOORRS' return to Glen Helen started on Friday with Woods qualifying third amongst 15 of the best off-road racers on the planet.

woods
Robby Woods earned his second podium finish in as many days in his No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist/Superchips Chevrolet at Glen Helen Raceway last weekend.

Woods started on outside of the fourth row and quickly slipped past Jeremy McGrath on the second turn to move up to third place. He patiently followed Rob Naughton for three laps, pushing Naughton until Woods saw the opportunity to strike. At this point, there was only one driver ahead of the No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist/Superchips Chevrolet—Brian Deegan. After six laps of cat-and-mouse, the pressure finally got to Deegan, who blew through a turn. Woods matted the throttle to pass Deegan in mid-air and move into the lead at the mandatory caution half way through the race.

Late in the race, Woods had a 12-truck-length lead on the competition and was overdue for his first Pro2 Unlimited victory. The right rear tire let go with four laps remaining, though, and without enough time left to get into the hot pits, Woods watched his lead evaporate and he crossed the finish line in second place. However, he set the fast lap on Saturday in a truck that he designed and built himself.

Woods came into Sunday’s race intent on going even faster than he had on Saturday. After passing Deegan, Woods was in second place when he overshot the table top jump and nearly endo’ed the No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist / Superchips Chevrolet. This pushed him all the way back to 10th place, but when Carl Renezeder and Rodrigo Ampudia got tied up on the last lap, Woods saw his opportunity to capitalize and shot into second to earn his second podium finish in as many days.

The next round of LOORRS racing will be held outside of Phoenix at Speedwold Off Road Park on September 24–25th. Woods was already on the podium at Speedworld earlier this year, and it could very well be the location of his first Pro2 Unlimited victory. You can follow Woods and the No. 99 Lucas Slick Mist/Superchips Chevrolet on his quest for the LOORRS Pro2 Unlimited series championship at www.robbywoods.com or on Facebook.

 

SCCA
Registration is now open for the 2011 SCCA RallyCross National Championship. Photo credit: Jerry Doctor

Registration For SCCA RallyCross National Championship Now Open
Entries are now being accepted for the 2011 SCCA RallyCross National Championship at Tulsa Raceway Park (TRP), October 7–9. The event makes its first appearance at TRP, moving from Fountain, Colorado, for 2011. The Northeast Oklahoma region will play host to the event, though many of the event's operations will be handled by officials from around the country, the RallyCross Board and the SCCA national staff in the same fashion as other SCCA national championship events, including the Tire Rack Solo National Championship and SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

Entry fees for the national championship event are $120, with online registration available through Tuesday, October 4. Registration for the 2011 RallyCross National Championship is available on www.motorsportsreg.com, or via paper registration at www.scca.com/rally and selecting “RallyCross National Championship” from the left-hand menu. A link to online registration is available from the event page, as well as a pdf entry form to download should entrants prefer to mail or fax their form. A direct link to event registration is available here.

For more information on the 2011 RallyCross National Championship, visit www.scca.com/rally.

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:16

 

schwartz
Chuck Schwartz

SEMA will be presenting two new exhibitor series webinars exploring critical information to help SEMA Show exhibitors make good choices so they can optimize their Show experience. The first part will be presented by 2010 SEMA Hall of Famer Chuck Schwartz of ConvEXX, Tuesday, August 23, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT). The second will be presented by Jennifer Carr of ConvExx, Tuesday, August 30, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Getting the most mileage from your booth should be the No. 1 objective when planning your Show. But where do you start? This session will provide the necessary tools to prepare for the SEMA Show. Learn how to build a booth, tips for staffing a booth, navigating the Exhibitor Manual and how to present your product and yourself, saving money and time.

For instance, did you know that you should always build your booth before you arrive in Las Vegas? Take photos and video of it. Leave it assembled for a few days, show it to people who do not work for your company and ask them honestly if they would stop by your booth if they were a buyer.

Need tips for staff working the booth? This webinar is loaded with tips (including not chewing gum in the booth).

How should you promote your booth pre-Show?

Learn all this and more as your questions get answered by SEMA Show experts.

Don't miss this informative session on Tuesday, August 23, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT). Participate live or download this archived webinar after the live event and listen to it when it’s convenient.

Register here for this free webinar.

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:16

 

schwartz
Chuck Schwartz

SEMA will be presenting two new exhibitor series webinars exploring critical information to help SEMA Show exhibitors make good choices so they can optimize their Show experience. The first part will be presented by 2010 SEMA Hall of Famer Chuck Schwartz of ConvEXX, Tuesday, August 23, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT). The second will be presented by Jennifer Carr of ConvExx, Tuesday, August 30, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Getting the most mileage from your booth should be the No. 1 objective when planning your Show. But where do you start? This session will provide the necessary tools to prepare for the SEMA Show. Learn how to build a booth, tips for staffing a booth, navigating the Exhibitor Manual and how to present your product and yourself, saving money and time.

For instance, did you know that you should always build your booth before you arrive in Las Vegas? Take photos and video of it. Leave it assembled for a few days, show it to people who do not work for your company and ask them honestly if they would stop by your booth if they were a buyer.

Need tips for staff working the booth? This webinar is loaded with tips (including not chewing gum in the booth).

How should you promote your booth pre-Show?

Learn all this and more as your questions get answered by SEMA Show experts.

Don't miss this informative session on Tuesday, August 23, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT). Participate live or download this archived webinar after the live event and listen to it when it’s convenient.

Register here for this free webinar.

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:16

 

schwartz
Chuck Schwartz

SEMA will be presenting two new exhibitor series webinars exploring critical information to help SEMA Show exhibitors make good choices so they can optimize their Show experience. The first part will be presented by 2010 SEMA Hall of Famer Chuck Schwartz of ConvEXX, Tuesday, August 23, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT). The second will be presented by Jennifer Carr of ConvExx, Tuesday, August 30, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Getting the most mileage from your booth should be the No. 1 objective when planning your Show. But where do you start? This session will provide the necessary tools to prepare for the SEMA Show. Learn how to build a booth, tips for staffing a booth, navigating the Exhibitor Manual and how to present your product and yourself, saving money and time.

For instance, did you know that you should always build your booth before you arrive in Las Vegas? Take photos and video of it. Leave it assembled for a few days, show it to people who do not work for your company and ask them honestly if they would stop by your booth if they were a buyer.

Need tips for staff working the booth? This webinar is loaded with tips (including not chewing gum in the booth).

How should you promote your booth pre-Show?

Learn all this and more as your questions get answered by SEMA Show experts.

Don't miss this informative session on Tuesday, August 23, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT). Participate live or download this archived webinar after the live event and listen to it when it’s convenient.

Register here for this free webinar.

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:27

 

  tanaka
  SPC Chairman Tyler Tanaka of PostRelease will moderate the PWA educational seminar, "Social Media Trends Impacting Your Business."

Register now for the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) educational seminar, "Social Media Trends Impacting Your Business," powered by the Street Performance Council (SPC) and moderated by SPC Chairman Tyler Tanaka of PostRelease, at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, Sunday, September 18, 2011, from 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Social media is not a fad. It has changed the way businesses engage their customers and potential customers. It has become vital to build and protect your brand as well as generate leads and sales. It can also be an effective customer service tool. The challenge is staying knowledgeable on vital and emerging trends. With limited time and resources, where should your company invest? What could social media look like in the next year? The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) and SPC have assembled a panel of industry veterans to give a high-level overview of social media trends. Don't miss this informative panel discussion.

To register for this educational seminar, send an e-mail with your name, company, number of attendees and their names to Roxanne Ries at roxanne@pwa-par.org by August 25. PWA needs a head count to secure the room for this seminar. Upon receipt, you will receive a confirmation reserving your seat(s).

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:27

 

  tanaka
  SPC Chairman Tyler Tanaka of PostRelease will moderate the PWA educational seminar, "Social Media Trends Impacting Your Business."

Register now for the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) educational seminar, "Social Media Trends Impacting Your Business," powered by the Street Performance Council (SPC) and moderated by SPC Chairman Tyler Tanaka of PostRelease, at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, Sunday, September 18, 2011, from 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Social media is not a fad. It has changed the way businesses engage their customers and potential customers. It has become vital to build and protect your brand as well as generate leads and sales. It can also be an effective customer service tool. The challenge is staying knowledgeable on vital and emerging trends. With limited time and resources, where should your company invest? What could social media look like in the next year? The SEMA Education Institute (SEI) and SPC have assembled a panel of industry veterans to give a high-level overview of social media trends. Don't miss this informative panel discussion.

To register for this educational seminar, send an e-mail with your name, company, number of attendees and their names to Roxanne Ries at roxanne@pwa-par.org by August 25. PWA needs a head count to secure the room for this seminar. Upon receipt, you will receive a confirmation reserving your seat(s).

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 13:58

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have established fuel-efficiency and carbon dioxide (CO2) standards for work trucks, buses and other medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The first-time standards begin in model-year ’14 and cover a diverse range of vehicle types and uses. The vehicles are divided into three major categories: combination tractors (semi-trucks), heavy-duty pickups and vans and vocational vehicles (e.g. delivery trucks and transit buses). There are additional subcategories, which are intended to provide a flexible structure for achieving specific goals.

The fuel-efficiency standards will also be intended to reduce CO2 emissions, since carbon dioxide is a direct byproduct when carbon-based fuels are burned. In general, the standards are expected to achieve 10%–20% savings in fuel consumption by model-year ’18. Between 2014 and 2018, the reductions are projected to save 530 million barrels of oil and reduce CO2 emissions by 270 million metric tons. 

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

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 13:58

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have established fuel-efficiency and carbon dioxide (CO2) standards for work trucks, buses and other medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The first-time standards begin in model-year ’14 and cover a diverse range of vehicle types and uses. The vehicles are divided into three major categories: combination tractors (semi-trucks), heavy-duty pickups and vans and vocational vehicles (e.g. delivery trucks and transit buses). There are additional subcategories, which are intended to provide a flexible structure for achieving specific goals.

The fuel-efficiency standards will also be intended to reduce CO2 emissions, since carbon dioxide is a direct byproduct when carbon-based fuels are burned. In general, the standards are expected to achieve 10%–20% savings in fuel consumption by model-year ’18. Between 2014 and 2018, the reductions are projected to save 530 million barrels of oil and reduce CO2 emissions by 270 million metric tons. 

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