For the second consecutive year, booth space reservations for the 2011 SEMA Show are up, indicating continuing signs of economic recovery. Exhibitor contract submissions are up 23% and net square feet requested is up 5%.

Candidates for the 2011 SEMA Board of Directors election have been announced. In addition to the 17 members vying for a seat on the Board, this year’s election includes voting for the chairman-elect. The chairman-elect plays a critical role in the industry, serving as chairman-elect for two years...

The European Commission proposed earlier this week to ban “conventionally fuelled cars” from all center cities throughout the 27 national European Union (E.U.) by 2050. Insisting citizens could walk, bike or take public transportation, E.U. Transport Commisioner Siim Kallas announced to a packed...

NEWS NUGGETS POINTS LEADER LINE HOPES TO MAKE IT THREE-FOR-THREE AS SERIES HEADS TO LAS VEGAS: To say that the start of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for Pro Stock points leader Jason Line has been anything but a surprise may be the understatement of the century. Back-to-back wins...

The photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com contains more than 2,000 photos of the vehicles that helped the SEMA Show shine in 2010. The database of images can be search through various key words, including vehicle make, vehicle model, model year and more.

The following are 15 facts regarding China's SUV market. You can learn more about this growing market by attending the SEMA China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE) China Business Development Conference in Beijing, September 7–10, 2011.

What is the best litigation-avoidance strategy? It’s not to litigate. Your job is to focus on closing deals, customer retention and increasing ROI—not lawsuits with your suppliers. So what is the best strategy? Develop well drafted supplier contracts, terms, agreements and related documents.

In response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) withdrawal of a proposal to require employers with 10 or more workers to record certain work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in their OSHA 300 Log, a series of teleconferences has been scheduled to obtain feedback...

SEMA is supporting Nevada legislation to repeal a 2009 increase in the valuation of older vehicles for the purpose of assessing the yearly government services tax. The 2009 increase raised the tax assessment from 5% to 15% of the initial value of a vehicle nine years old and older.

SEMA is opposing Iowa legislation to change labeling requirements on gas pumps across the state to only require labeling for unblended gasoline and E85. Current law in Iowa requires labeling when gasoline is blended with ethanol, in any amount.