By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola testified before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in opposition to the agency's recently proposed new federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model years '27-'32, which are intended to dramatically increase sales of electric vehicles (EVs). Watch the testimony in the video below.
The EPA maintains its proposal would lead to EVs making up two-thirds of new passenger vehicles sold in the United States by 2032. Click here to sign a letter opposing the EPA's proposal, which provides an opportunity to personalize the letter and explain how the agency's push to an all-electric future will impact your business.
"While the automobile's roots are tied to the internal combustion engine (ICE), SEMA prides itself on maintaining a forward-looking vision that embraces new technology, including EVs and other zero-emissions vehicles," said Spagnola. "The specialty automotive aftermarket has led the way on alternative fuel innovations, from replacing older engine technologies with newer, cleaner versions to converting older ICE vehicles to new electric, hydrogen and other alternative fuels. Sadly, the EPA's plans to reduce greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants do not factor this in.
"SEMA and its members have serious concerns with this proposal, which aggressively seeks to lower carbon emissions under timelines that effectively make electric vehicles the de facto choice option for automakers to meet the requirements. Government shouldn't pick winners and losers. This far too-fast mandate will create a seismic shift for small businesses who don't have the capacity to make the shift this quickly, especially when they're not receiving billions in government funds like the large automakers are to fund their electric vehicle programs. To put this in perspective, 33% of consumer spending on performance and accessory products goes toward upgrading ICE engines and drivetrains. That's nearly $17 billion of the $51 billion specialty aftermarket industry. That's $17 billion of impact largely on small business."
Click here to sign a letter opposing the EPA's multipollutant standards. For more information, visit sema.org/EPA-Proposed-Greenhouse-Gas-Rules or contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.