Soaring gas prices caused the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to increase the standard business-mileage deduction by $.045, from $.51 to $.55½ for all business miles driven between July 1 and December 31, 2011. It is unusual for the IRS to make a mid-year adjustment.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation to overhaul the federal patent system. The Senate passed a slightly different version of the bill last March. The two bills must now be reconciled into a single measure. President Obama has indicated his support for the reform measures.

The SEMA Action Network’s (SAN) monthly legislative newsletter, Driving Force, took home the gold medallion in the “Best Single Issue: Newsletter” category during the 20th International Automotive Media Awards, which took place June 20 at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.

SEMA-supported legislation to provide historical vehicle owners a one-time registration fee of $100 upon initial registration was passed by the New York Senate. The bill will now be considered by the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Legislation that would give small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill has already been passed by the California Assembly. Introduced by Assemblymember...

The list of products sought by Chinese buyers from throughout the country is growing. Buyers are already confirmed to attend the 2011 SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference taking place in Beijing, China, September 7–10.

A delegation of 11 officials from five Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), visited SEMA for a day of discussion on the specialty-equipment market in the United States.

The influential Brazilian consumer magazine Fullpower is launching two vehicle projects and seeks partners for its builds.

In a closely watched case, a German court has for the second time in two years sided with a consumer who sued for the right to install aftermarket carbon-fiber wheels on his motorcycle.