Pre-register today to join the thousands of retailers, distributors and exhibitors from around the world at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

A Commerce Department report released two weeks ago showed capital spending plans rose 2.1% in May from April, and was 18.4% above its level a year ago. And despite jitters that some measure of economic recovery has slowed, The Wall Street Journal reports that companies including 3M and Cummins have stepped up equipment and manufacturing spending in anticipation of increased demand. 3M will spend an additional $3 billion on manufacturing this year, including a new Singapore plant to make films for solar panels.

This Friday, industry professionals and enthusiasts across the country will gather tocelebrate collector cars. The U.S. Senate declared July 9, 2010, as “Collector Car Appreciation Day” when it passed Senate Resolution 513(S. Res. 513) at the request of SEMA and the Automotive RestorationMarket Organization (ARMO) council.

News and updates from SEMA's council and committees.

SEMA Cares Chairman Joel Ayres out to prove that even truck accessory guys can race.

Attention SEMA Exhibitors! Are you introducing an industry-changing new product? If so, we want to know about it. SEMA News is offering a sneak peek of new-product introductions planned for the 2010 SEMA Show, November 2–5 in Las Vegas.

The California Air Resources Board has issued a proposed rule that would require all automobile service providers to check tire pressures for every vehicle being maintained or repaired at their facility as of September 1, 2010. The regulation would apply to auto maintenance/repair providers but not to auto parts distributers/retailers, auto body/paint facilities, auto glass installers or wreckers/dismantlers. The deadline for commenting on the rule is July 6, 2010.  

The United States Senate included a provision to allow businesses to write-off 50% of the cost of newly purchased depreciable property as part of a larger bill (HR 5297) to provide banks with access to funds intended for small business loans. The SEMA-supported legislation has already been passed by the House and is now being debated by the U.S. Senate.