Here is a brief look at some of news and updates from around the specialty-equipment industry. Companies featured this week: Royal Purple, National Performance Warehouse, AMP Research, Motorz, Racepak, Mickey Thompson and more.

A SEMA-supported bill (HR 1462) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The current RFS mandates that an increasing amount of ethanol or other biofuels be blended into gasoline each year—levels that are now becoming unattainable in a free...

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements...

Legislation has been introduced in North Carolina to impose a fine on any person who equips a car with headlamps that “change the original design.” The SEMA-opposed bill conflicts with the Federal “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.”

SEMA is opposing two pieces of Idaho legislation to increase annual registration fees for motor vehicles having a gross weight of 8,000 lbs. or less. The fee increase would vary depending on the age of the vehicle. The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual...

With opposition from SEMA, legislation that threatened to disallow the use of year-of-manufacture license plates in Connecticut after July 1, 2013, was amended in committee to continue to allow use of these plates.

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol could be considered this week by the Florida House of Representatives with a vote by all members.

Legislation to require the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to provide, for one year, a specially designed vintage reproduction registration plate to qualifying vehicle owners was approved by both the Maryland Senate and House and sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law.

The “Affordable Care Act” is sowing confusion for many SEMA members. The new health care law is being phased-in over a number of years and January 2014 is the deadline for larger companies to offer coverage or pay a penalty.

In today’s market, competition for a dealer’s business can be stiff and selling to vehicle dealers can be challenging. It stands to reason that to be successful, your company needs to excel and differentiate itself from the pack.