Advocating for the Industry

“Our members work hard to develop their products and run their businesses. In turn, our office works hard to help them thrive in the marketplace,” said Steve McDonald, SEMA vice president of government affairs. “As the nation and our industry still struggle with a challenging economic recovery, our charge is to stay on top of every relevant state and federal matter of consequence to our membership to ensure the best possible outcome.”

The SEMA staff in Washington, D.C., tracks and analyzes legislation and regulations, both state and federal, and then advocates positions to public officials on behalf of member companies. In addition to opposing bills that would potentially harm the automotive hobby or hinder SEMA-member companies, the staff proactively pursues opportunities to enact pro-industry initiatives.

State Legislation: SEMA staff works with state legislators to overhaul existing statutes and create brand-new programs that safeguard and expand the specialty-equipment aftermarket. Over the years, the state legislative program has brought a series of significant legislative and regulatory accomplishments for the industry and the vehicle enthusiast community on issues ranging from equipment standards, registration and titling classifications to emissions-test exemptions and hobbyist rights.

State Caucus: 2011 marks the sixth anniversary of the founding of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers with a passion for automobiles. In its daily efforts to promote and protect the auto hobby, SEMA partners with caucus members from across the country to raise the motor-vehicle hobby’s profile in state legislatures and in the public’s eyes. Approximately 515 state legislators from all 50 states are involved in the caucus.

Federal Legislation: SEMA is involved in a wide variety of issues on Capitol Hill that impact the industry, from regulatory reform to intellectual property protection and health-care coverage. Other legislative priorities include tackling energy and environmental issues in a fashion that takes jobs, safety, consumer choice and technology into consideration. SEMA also continues to pursue tax relief on measures that spur economic growth, along with permanent renewal of the research and development credit.

SEMA Action Network: The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is a partnership of vehicle clubs and enthusiasts who unite to protect their hobby. With the support of 21,000-plus car clubs, more than 58,000 individual contacts and 217-plus publications, the SAN has an estimated reach of 36 million enthusiasts in the United States and Canada. These members have been extremely effective in amplifying SEMA’s political voice on issues affecting the specialty-equipment auto parts industry.

Congressional Caucus: Founded in 1996, the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus is a coalition of lawmakers who love cars and recognize the importance of the industry to America. These members of Congress help raise the profile of the automotive specialty-equipment industry in Washington and around the country.

Political Action Committee: The SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) is a vital component of the SEMA legislative program. SEMA PAC helps support candidates for Congress on both sides of the aisle who support our industry. Through the SEMA PAC, individual SEMA members can pool their resources to give the industry a larger cumulative voice on Capitol Hill.

Congressional Visits: Under this initiative, SEMA’s congressional relations staff facilitates meetings with a U.S. representative or senator at a SEMA-member business’ facility. Other SEMA members in that district are invited to participate in roundtable discussions on topics of interest to the individual companies and the industry.

Get Involved: While the various components of the SEMA government affairs program have resulted in great success for the industry, it is essential that all SEMA-member companies and their employees be involved as well. You can stay current on the latest laws and regulations affecting the automotive aftermarket industry by visiting www.sema.org and clicking on the “Government Affairs” link. Contacting your lawmaker about bills in your state legislature or in the U.S. Congress is vital to our success. Lawmakers really do listen to their constituents. So does the SEMA government affairs staff.

California’s “Products in Progress” Program Clears the Way for Diesel Performance Parts Emissions Compliance

By Jim McFarland

However, the situation became more critical when light- and medium-duty diesels were added to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) smog-check program beginning January 1, 2010. Vehicles equipped with performance products for which EOs were required but not obtained would cause failures during the visual part of the inspection process.

Through the efforts of SEMA and some of its members, CARB initiated a “Products in Progress” (PIP) program in July 2010 in an effort to provide some time for diesel parts manufacturers to submit initial EO applications, obtain an engineering evaluation from CARB and be placed on the agency’s PIP webpage to begin testing. Specific test procedures must be performed on a chassis dynamometer in addition to chassis dyno verifications of power levels claimed by the applicant. Meanwhile, BAR’s smog-check stations were required to reference this list to identify diesel performance parts that would not cause failure of the smog-check’s visual portion while this testing process was underway. Applicants had been given one year to conduct the required emissions tests and obtain EOs (beginning July 1, 2010 and ending July 1, 2011).

Given the substantial delays in the issuance of CARB “test letters” to begin EO testing, some of the allotted test period passed before actual testing began—almost six months, in fact. To alleviate some of the pressures imposed by these delays, SEMA requested and received an extension of the deadline until September 30, 2011. The difficulty of these tests, limited emissions testing laboratory services available to conduct the tests and some measure of product redesign were all considerations in meeting the initial deadline. SEMA staff has been and continues to be directly involved in communications with CARB to ensure that affected members of diesel performance parts are properly represented with the agency.

It’s important to recognize and understand that contemporary diesel engines, powertrains and exhaust after-treatment technologies are becoming increasingly complex. These complexities translate into additional problems for manufacturers of performance diesel aftermarket products when it comes to meeting emissions compliance requirements. While it would be a less-demanding course for parts manufacturers to avoid spending the time and financial resources to market products for these vehicles, those companies that recognize legitimate regulatory requirements are working diligently to comply.

SEMA recognizes that many of its members are striving to make and sell emissions-compliant diesel products, given the fact that California is not the only market where emissions-legal parts are required. In fact, according to recent statements made by EPA officials, the agency accepts CARB EOs as “reasonable basis” for meeting federal anti-tampering policy. SEMA continues to be connected and committed to the compliance process, particularly at the certification level, to remain updated on changes that periodically occur in the regulations.

Another example of how SEMA has been helping members address compliance requirements is through information contained in its Black Book, which is available to SEMA members on the association’s website (www.sema.org/blackbook). Revised and updated from the original version, this material is a vital guide to obtaining CARB EOs for both diesel- and gasoline-fueled emissions-related products.

“In many cases, there has been confusion about the process by which requirements can be met and Executive Orders from the California Air Resources Board issued for applicable parts and systems,” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. “We’ve learned that there are ways to further simplify the process. So, to assist members in understanding the requirements and identify ways to minimize both cost and time in reaching compliance status, this revised material is a collection of information that addresses these issues in a very user-friendly way.”

Website links are included in the Black Book material to provide firsthand information from various compliance-related sources, including the CARB website (www.arb.ca.gov). All of this is available free of charge to SEMA members.  

California’s “Products in Progress” Program Clears the Way for Diesel Performance Parts Emissions Compliance

By Jim McFarland

However, the situation became more critical when light- and medium-duty diesels were added to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) smog-check program beginning January 1, 2010. Vehicles equipped with performance products for which EOs were required but not obtained would cause failures during the visual part of the inspection process.

Through the efforts of SEMA and some of its members, CARB initiated a “Products in Progress” (PIP) program in July 2010 in an effort to provide some time for diesel parts manufacturers to submit initial EO applications, obtain an engineering evaluation from CARB and be placed on the agency’s PIP webpage to begin testing. Specific test procedures must be performed on a chassis dynamometer in addition to chassis dyno verifications of power levels claimed by the applicant. Meanwhile, BAR’s smog-check stations were required to reference this list to identify diesel performance parts that would not cause failure of the smog-check’s visual portion while this testing process was underway. Applicants had been given one year to conduct the required emissions tests and obtain EOs (beginning July 1, 2010 and ending July 1, 2011).

Given the substantial delays in the issuance of CARB “test letters” to begin EO testing, some of the allotted test period passed before actual testing began—almost six months, in fact. To alleviate some of the pressures imposed by these delays, SEMA requested and received an extension of the deadline until September 30, 2011. The difficulty of these tests, limited emissions testing laboratory services available to conduct the tests and some measure of product redesign were all considerations in meeting the initial deadline. SEMA staff has been and continues to be directly involved in communications with CARB to ensure that affected members of diesel performance parts are properly represented with the agency.

It’s important to recognize and understand that contemporary diesel engines, powertrains and exhaust after-treatment technologies are becoming increasingly complex. These complexities translate into additional problems for manufacturers of performance diesel aftermarket products when it comes to meeting emissions compliance requirements. While it would be a less-demanding course for parts manufacturers to avoid spending the time and financial resources to market products for these vehicles, those companies that recognize legitimate regulatory requirements are working diligently to comply.

SEMA recognizes that many of its members are striving to make and sell emissions-compliant diesel products, given the fact that California is not the only market where emissions-legal parts are required. In fact, according to recent statements made by EPA officials, the agency accepts CARB EOs as “reasonable basis” for meeting federal anti-tampering policy. SEMA continues to be connected and committed to the compliance process, particularly at the certification level, to remain updated on changes that periodically occur in the regulations.

Another example of how SEMA has been helping members address compliance requirements is through information contained in its Black Book, which is available to SEMA members on the association’s website (www.sema.org/blackbook). Revised and updated from the original version, this material is a vital guide to obtaining CARB EOs for both diesel- and gasoline-fueled emissions-related products.

“In many cases, there has been confusion about the process by which requirements can be met and Executive Orders from the California Air Resources Board issued for applicable parts and systems,” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. “We’ve learned that there are ways to further simplify the process. So, to assist members in understanding the requirements and identify ways to minimize both cost and time in reaching compliance status, this revised material is a collection of information that addresses these issues in a very user-friendly way.”

Website links are included in the Black Book material to provide firsthand information from various compliance-related sources, including the CARB website (www.arb.ca.gov). All of this is available free of charge to SEMA members.  

California’s “Products in Progress” Program Clears the Way for Diesel Performance Parts Emissions Compliance

By Jim McFarland

However, the situation became more critical when light- and medium-duty diesels were added to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) smog-check program beginning January 1, 2010. Vehicles equipped with performance products for which EOs were required but not obtained would cause failures during the visual part of the inspection process.

Through the efforts of SEMA and some of its members, CARB initiated a “Products in Progress” (PIP) program in July 2010 in an effort to provide some time for diesel parts manufacturers to submit initial EO applications, obtain an engineering evaluation from CARB and be placed on the agency’s PIP webpage to begin testing. Specific test procedures must be performed on a chassis dynamometer in addition to chassis dyno verifications of power levels claimed by the applicant. Meanwhile, BAR’s smog-check stations were required to reference this list to identify diesel performance parts that would not cause failure of the smog-check’s visual portion while this testing process was underway. Applicants had been given one year to conduct the required emissions tests and obtain EOs (beginning July 1, 2010 and ending July 1, 2011).

Given the substantial delays in the issuance of CARB “test letters” to begin EO testing, some of the allotted test period passed before actual testing began—almost six months, in fact. To alleviate some of the pressures imposed by these delays, SEMA requested and received an extension of the deadline until September 30, 2011. The difficulty of these tests, limited emissions testing laboratory services available to conduct the tests and some measure of product redesign were all considerations in meeting the initial deadline. SEMA staff has been and continues to be directly involved in communications with CARB to ensure that affected members of diesel performance parts are properly represented with the agency.

It’s important to recognize and understand that contemporary diesel engines, powertrains and exhaust after-treatment technologies are becoming increasingly complex. These complexities translate into additional problems for manufacturers of performance diesel aftermarket products when it comes to meeting emissions compliance requirements. While it would be a less-demanding course for parts manufacturers to avoid spending the time and financial resources to market products for these vehicles, those companies that recognize legitimate regulatory requirements are working diligently to comply.

SEMA recognizes that many of its members are striving to make and sell emissions-compliant diesel products, given the fact that California is not the only market where emissions-legal parts are required. In fact, according to recent statements made by EPA officials, the agency accepts CARB EOs as “reasonable basis” for meeting federal anti-tampering policy. SEMA continues to be connected and committed to the compliance process, particularly at the certification level, to remain updated on changes that periodically occur in the regulations.

Another example of how SEMA has been helping members address compliance requirements is through information contained in its Black Book, which is available to SEMA members on the association’s website (www.sema.org/blackbook). Revised and updated from the original version, this material is a vital guide to obtaining CARB EOs for both diesel- and gasoline-fueled emissions-related products.

“In many cases, there has been confusion about the process by which requirements can be met and Executive Orders from the California Air Resources Board issued for applicable parts and systems,” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. “We’ve learned that there are ways to further simplify the process. So, to assist members in understanding the requirements and identify ways to minimize both cost and time in reaching compliance status, this revised material is a collection of information that addresses these issues in a very user-friendly way.”

Website links are included in the Black Book material to provide firsthand information from various compliance-related sources, including the CARB website (www.arb.ca.gov). All of this is available free of charge to SEMA members.