Legislation that originally sought to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “collector vehicles” was signed into law by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire. Under the new law, vehicles seeking registration as collector vehicles and the one-time registration fee would still only be required to be at least 30 years old—not 40 years old as the original bill required. The law also deletes provisions that would have created penalties for violating the limited-use provisions. However, the measure still requires the Department of Licensing to establish a method for law enforcement to readily access collector vehicle information using the collector vehicle’s plate number, which will aid in ensuring a plate is being used on its properly assigned vehicle. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally sought to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “collector vehicles” was signed into law by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire. Under the new law, vehicles seeking registration as collector vehicles and the one-time registration fee would still only be required to be at least 30 years old—not 40 years old as the original bill required. The law also deletes provisions that would have created penalties for violating the limited-use provisions. However, the measure still requires the Department of Licensing to establish a method for law enforcement to readily access collector vehicle information using the collector vehicle’s plate number, which will aid in ensuring a plate is being used on its properly assigned vehicle. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that threatened to prohibit the modification of any motor vehicle that altered the manufacturer's original suspension, steering or brake system unless the state highway patrol issued an inspection certificate was amended to remove those restrictions and signed into law by Governor Jack Dalrymple. The new law now only provides for a study of the state’s transportation laws to be conducted between the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions. This amended law represents a significant legislative victory for North Dakota enthusiasts and related businesses and is a direct result of SEMA’s vocal opposition. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that threatened to prohibit the modification of any motor vehicle that altered the manufacturer's original suspension, steering or brake system unless the state highway patrol issued an inspection certificate was amended to remove those restrictions and signed into law by Governor Jack Dalrymple. The new law now only provides for a study of the state’s transportation laws to be conducted between the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions. This amended law represents a significant legislative victory for North Dakota enthusiasts and related businesses and is a direct result of SEMA’s vocal opposition. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles was approved by the full Texas House of Representatives. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The measure also allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. However, with time running out on the 2011 Texas legislative session, the bill has not yet had a hearing and vote by the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill must also pass a vote by the full Texas Senate before being sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law.   

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation that would create a vehicle-registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles was approved by the full Texas House of Representatives. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The measure also allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. However, with time running out on the 2011 Texas legislative session, the bill has not yet had a hearing and vote by the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill must also pass a vote by the full Texas Senate before being sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law.   

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Looking for some of the coolest trucks and SUVs in the industry? Last year, more than 330 display trucks and SUVs made their way to Vegas for the 2010 SEMA Show. See them showing off their shiny skins in this photo collection located on www.enjoythedrive.com.

Not only does this site have a truck and SUV collection, it also contains images of the more than 2,000 vehicles on display at the Show in 2010. Looking for creation vehicles? The database of images is searchable by vehicle make, model, category and more.

Looking for some of the coolest trucks and SUVs in the industry? Last year, more than 330 display trucks and SUVs made their way to Vegas for the 2010 SEMA Show. See them showing off their shiny skins in this photo collection located on www.enjoythedrive.com.

Not only does this site have a truck and SUV collection, it also contains images of the more than 2,000 vehicles on display at the Show in 2010. Looking for creation vehicles? The database of images is searchable by vehicle make, model, category and more.

	SUVs accounted for 51.7% of all imports in China last year.

Registrations of imported cars in China surged 90.2% in 2010, according to the Japanese research company Fourin Inc., with imports topping 600,000 units last year.

SUVs accounted for 51.7% of all imports during that period, based on new-vehicle registration data, says Fourin’s China Automotive Intelligence Report No. 24, December, 2010. Why SUVs? “These models offer great performance on rough roads and higher safety than ordinary passenger cars,” says the report.

More than half the buyers of imported cars in China were young, rich men. Some 66.8% of the buyers were male; 88.3% used cash; more than 90% were private owners. Men in their 30s and younger accounted for 55% of the total, making China’s luxury-car purchase group the world’s youngest, according to Fourin. The largest portion of the imported cars—some 34.6%—cost more than 500,000 RMB ($75,900 USD).

Of China’s luxury-car consumers, Jenny Gu, a senior analyst with J.D. Power in Shanghai, told SEMA: “When demand becomes more diverse, some customers pursue trendy or niche markets. They like to be special, especially for those young elite or those who come back from foreign countries. They prefer import models. One reason is the design is the global trend. Also, there is a sense that the quality is better than locally produced models.”

Domestically, Chinese brands accounted for 31.7% of all units sold in 2010, taking top place. But that included more than a dozen local brands. Japanese brands, mainly Honda, Toyota and Nissan, accounted for 23.8% of all sales. European brands came in third at 22.7%; U.S. brands were fourth at 12.4%, according to J.D. Power.

By 2015, Chinese brands will account for 33.1% of the market; European brands 23.4%; Japanese brands 22.9%; and U.S. brands 12.0%, forecasts J.D. Power.

SEMA is organizing a trip to Beijing for member manufacturers to learn more about the Chinese market and the potential for their products. For more information or to sign up before the June 15 deadline, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/china.

	SUVs accounted for 51.7% of all imports in China last year.

Registrations of imported cars in China surged 90.2% in 2010, according to the Japanese research company Fourin Inc., with imports topping 600,000 units last year.

SUVs accounted for 51.7% of all imports during that period, based on new-vehicle registration data, says Fourin’s China Automotive Intelligence Report No. 24, December, 2010. Why SUVs? “These models offer great performance on rough roads and higher safety than ordinary passenger cars,” says the report.

More than half the buyers of imported cars in China were young, rich men. Some 66.8% of the buyers were male; 88.3% used cash; more than 90% were private owners. Men in their 30s and younger accounted for 55% of the total, making China’s luxury-car purchase group the world’s youngest, according to Fourin. The largest portion of the imported cars—some 34.6%—cost more than 500,000 RMB ($75,900 USD).

Of China’s luxury-car consumers, Jenny Gu, a senior analyst with J.D. Power in Shanghai, told SEMA: “When demand becomes more diverse, some customers pursue trendy or niche markets. They like to be special, especially for those young elite or those who come back from foreign countries. They prefer import models. One reason is the design is the global trend. Also, there is a sense that the quality is better than locally produced models.”

Domestically, Chinese brands accounted for 31.7% of all units sold in 2010, taking top place. But that included more than a dozen local brands. Japanese brands, mainly Honda, Toyota and Nissan, accounted for 23.8% of all sales. European brands came in third at 22.7%; U.S. brands were fourth at 12.4%, according to J.D. Power.

By 2015, Chinese brands will account for 33.1% of the market; European brands 23.4%; Japanese brands 22.9%; and U.S. brands 12.0%, forecasts J.D. Power.

SEMA is organizing a trip to Beijing for member manufacturers to learn more about the Chinese market and the potential for their products. For more information or to sign up before the June 15 deadline, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/china.