Although Detroit is known for being the capital of the U.S. automotive industry and the home of the Big Three automakers, the region’s economy is also driven by everything automotive, from tier-one suppliers to specialty aftermarket businesses. That nuance is not lost on U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI), who understands as well as any member of Congress the interconnected nature of the automakers and the aftermarket.
The laws and regulations that govern how SEMA members do business have a continuous impact on the way automotive specialty-equipment products are made, distributed and marketed. The charge of the SEMA government affairs office is to stay on top of all relevant state and federal legislation and regulations and advocate for industry positions to ensure the best possible outcome for SEMA’s membership. The following are a few examples of critical legislative/regulatory issues addressed by the SEMA government affairs team over the past year.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 5058/S.B. 5029) that would change how certain traffic infractions are enforced, including suspected exhaust noise violations.
The (virtual) Aftermarket IP Forum is coming up November 19-20, 2020.
With a new president and congress taking power in January, it’s critical that SEMA members consider joining SEMA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) to ensure the industry has a voice in the political process.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a preliminary ruling that Vietnamese tire producers were receiving unfair subsidies associated with the country’s “undervalued currency.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has decided to keep the antidumping duty (AD) order issued in August 2015 in place for certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the People’s Republic of China.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently issued a letter inviting companies to disclose by December 31, 2020, any unapproved hardware or software programs that impact emissions-control systems in vehicles sold in California.
You don’t have to keep up with the fast-paced and turbulent world of politics to know that there is a presidential election on November 3. President Donald Trump is facing former Vice President Joe Biden in a race to control the White House for the next four years. The president of the United States is the most consequential elected office in America, and the outcome of this race will greatly impact the direction of the country and the lives of its citizens.
South Dakota—Collector Car Appreciation Day: The South Dakota State Legislature issued a resolution commemorating Thursday, August 27, as Collector Car Appreciation Day in the state. The resolution was introduced by State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus member Representative Larry Zikmund, pictured here.