President Obama signed into law legislation that will permit low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. The low-volume provision allows small automakers to construct up to 325 such replica cars per year subject to federal regulatory oversight.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

It’s a new era for the kit-car industry. President Obama signed into law legislation that will permit low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. The SEMA-supported provision is part of a larger highway construction bill. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the “Low-Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015” in June—legislation that SEMA has pursued since 2011. It received strong bipartisan support and was inserted into the highway bill.

“With this new law, Congress has demonstrated that it understands the importance of enabling U.S. companies to produce classic-themed vehicles that are virtually impossible to build under the current one-size-fits-all regulatory framework,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “This program will create auto-sector jobs and meet consumer demand for cars that help preserve our American heritage.”

The low-volume provision allows small automakers to construct up to 325 such replica cars per year subject to federal regulatory oversight. Replica cars resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago. The United States currently has just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass produce millions of vehicles. The law recognizes the unique challenges faced by companies that produce a small number of custom cars.

The measure establishes a separate regulatory structure within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for replica car manufacturers. The companies are required to register with NHTSA and EPA and submit annual reports on the vehicles they produce. The vehicles are required to meet current model-year emissions standards, although companies are permitted to install engines from other EPA-certified vehicles to help achieve that requirement.

“This law gives enthusiasts the opportunity to buy turn-key replica cars while preserving their option to build one from a kit,” said SEMA Chairman of the Board Doug Evans. “It recognizes the unique circumstances associated with limited-production replica vehicles, such as the ’32 Roadster and ’65 Cobra, which are primarily used in exhibitions, parades and occasional transportation. With enactment of this new law, kit-car companies and SEMA-member companies that supply equipment and components can take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

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

President Obama signed into law legislation that will permit low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. The low-volume provision allows small automakers to construct up to 325 such replica cars per year subject to federal regulatory oversight.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

It’s a new era for the kit-car industry. President Obama signed into law legislation that will permit low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. The SEMA-supported provision is part of a larger highway construction bill. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the “Low-Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015” in June—legislation that SEMA has pursued since 2011. It received strong bipartisan support and was inserted into the highway bill.

“With this new law, Congress has demonstrated that it understands the importance of enabling U.S. companies to produce classic-themed vehicles that are virtually impossible to build under the current one-size-fits-all regulatory framework,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “This program will create auto-sector jobs and meet consumer demand for cars that help preserve our American heritage.”

The low-volume provision allows small automakers to construct up to 325 such replica cars per year subject to federal regulatory oversight. Replica cars resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago. The United States currently has just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass produce millions of vehicles. The law recognizes the unique challenges faced by companies that produce a small number of custom cars.

The measure establishes a separate regulatory structure within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for replica car manufacturers. The companies are required to register with NHTSA and EPA and submit annual reports on the vehicles they produce. The vehicles are required to meet current model-year emissions standards, although companies are permitted to install engines from other EPA-certified vehicles to help achieve that requirement.

“This law gives enthusiasts the opportunity to buy turn-key replica cars while preserving their option to build one from a kit,” said SEMA Chairman of the Board Doug Evans. “It recognizes the unique circumstances associated with limited-production replica vehicles, such as the ’32 Roadster and ’65 Cobra, which are primarily used in exhibitions, parades and occasional transportation. With enactment of this new law, kit-car companies and SEMA-member companies that supply equipment and components can take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

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

President Obama signed into law legislation that will permit low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. The low-volume provision allows small automakers to construct up to 325 such replica cars per year subject to federal regulatory oversight.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

It’s a new era for the kit-car industry. President Obama signed into law legislation that will permit low-volume car manufacturers to produce turn-key replica vehicles for customers nationwide. The SEMA-supported provision is part of a larger highway construction bill. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the “Low-Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015” in June—legislation that SEMA has pursued since 2011. It received strong bipartisan support and was inserted into the highway bill.

“With this new law, Congress has demonstrated that it understands the importance of enabling U.S. companies to produce classic-themed vehicles that are virtually impossible to build under the current one-size-fits-all regulatory framework,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “This program will create auto-sector jobs and meet consumer demand for cars that help preserve our American heritage.”

The low-volume provision allows small automakers to construct up to 325 such replica cars per year subject to federal regulatory oversight. Replica cars resemble production vehicles manufactured at least 25 years ago. The United States currently has just one system for regulating automobiles, which was established in the ’60s and designed for companies that mass produce millions of vehicles. The law recognizes the unique challenges faced by companies that produce a small number of custom cars.

The measure establishes a separate regulatory structure within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for replica car manufacturers. The companies are required to register with NHTSA and EPA and submit annual reports on the vehicles they produce. The vehicles are required to meet current model-year emissions standards, although companies are permitted to install engines from other EPA-certified vehicles to help achieve that requirement.

“This law gives enthusiasts the opportunity to buy turn-key replica cars while preserving their option to build one from a kit,” said SEMA Chairman of the Board Doug Evans. “It recognizes the unique circumstances associated with limited-production replica vehicles, such as the ’32 Roadster and ’65 Cobra, which are primarily used in exhibitions, parades and occasional transportation. With enactment of this new law, kit-car companies and SEMA-member companies that supply equipment and components can take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

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

Windows 10’s official release mid-summer was greeted with mostly well-deserved glowing reviews, but business users need to tread carefully before powering it up for the first time. The reason: Amid many great improvements, Microsoft has auto-programmed the newest version of its operating system to vacuum up as much of your personal data as possible and even listen in on your PC’s microphone.

The reason: Amid many great improvements, Microsoft has auto-programmed the newest version of its operating system to vacuum up as much of your personal data as possible and even listen in on your PC’s microphone.

Moreover, Windows 10 is also auto-programmed to use your PC’s computing power to help redistribute Windows 10 updates and apps around the Internet to other users. Plus, Windows 10 will also allow your machine’s WiFi to be used by your neighbors and other businesses close to your own if you’re not careful.

For some companies, peak efficiency is derived from adding a private-labeling operation to their product offerings.

In the automotive specialty-equipment market, as in other industries, products manufactured by one company and then sold to and offered under another company’s brand are known as private-label goods. In the grocery industry, for instance, a food producer may process, package and label a given product for sale under a chain store’s own label. The store’s private-label brand then becomes known as a commodity unto itself.

https://www.sema.org/sema-news/2015/12/private-labeling

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2014, 2015 and 2016, while relying on expanded sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets.  The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The law was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil but has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA is working to enact legislation to repeal the EPA regulation authorizing E15 sales, cap the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline at 10% and eliminate a mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply every year.  SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto, boat, food and energy industries to support passage of the legislation.  For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2014, 2015 and 2016, while relying on expanded sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets.  The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The law was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil but has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA is working to enact legislation to repeal the EPA regulation authorizing E15 sales, cap the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline at 10% and eliminate a mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply every year.  SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto, boat, food and energy industries to support passage of the legislation.  For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2014, 2015 and 2016, while relying on expanded sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets.  The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The law was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil but has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA is working to enact legislation to repeal the EPA regulation authorizing E15 sales, cap the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline at 10% and eliminate a mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply every year.  SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto, boat, food and energy industries to support passage of the legislation.  For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2014, 2015 and 2016, while relying on expanded sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets.  The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The law was intended to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil but has translated into ever-increasing corn production so that the ethanol byproduct can be blended into gasoline. Ethanol, especially in higher concentrations such as E15, can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials. 

SEMA is working to enact legislation to repeal the EPA regulation authorizing E15 sales, cap the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline at 10% and eliminate a mandate that 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into the U.S. fuel supply every year.  SEMA has joined with more than 50 other organizations from the auto, boat, food and energy industries to support passage of the legislation.  For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA has created a new website resource to help the motorsports community understand state and federal law governing trailers and tow vehicles. The website provides guidance on how racing enthusiasts can avoid citations for a trailer that is too long, a trailer that is not properly registered with the DOT or for other related issues. The webpage divides the resource material into three sections: a comparison of state laws, folders containing laws/regulations for each individual state and an explanation of federal laws triggered by commercial activity or vehicle weight. The material is posted on the SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) resources menu under “motorsports trailers.”

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