By SEMA Editors

Bob Airheart, a 1993 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee and industry innovator, has passed away.

Although Airheart operated his own rep agency, the Airheart name is also well known in the brake industry, notably for industrial and high-speed applications. Trains, buses and race cars have all been stopped by Airheart, a company owned and operated by Bob until it was sold.

PWA (now the Custom Automotive Network) awarded Airheart its Person of the Year Award in 1980 for his outstanding contributions to the warehouse distributors and in appreciation of his conscientious dedication as an individual member of the specialty-equipment industry.

Airheart has also worked for Hurst as well as Cragar as a national sales manager.

By the SEMA D.C. office 

Join SEMA Political Action Committee (PAC) for networking, cocktails and late-night snacks following the SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala, Friday, July 21 in Anaheim, California. While SEMA provides valuable industry resources and services, the PAC adds a critical dimension to public and government affairs by actively engaging with lawmakers, lobbying for favorable legislation, and safeguarding our future through political involvement.

By law, SEMA is not allowed to use association funds to impact the electoral process. This is where SEMA PAC comes in. The PAC is a resource allowing SEMA members to pool their personal funds to contribute to candidates and lawmakers supporting our industry.

Interested in the event or have questions? Contact PAC Manager Alicia Steger at alicias@sema.org or 202-796-2252 to reserve your spot.

The suggested contribution for this event is $125 per individual. If you have already contributed to the SEMA PAC in 2023, this event may be complimentary as a part of your PAC membership benefits. View the complete SEMA PAC membership benefits here.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials passed H.R. 1435, the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act," and H.R. 4468, the "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act." These SEMA-supported bills seek to preserve vehicle choice for consumers and prevent the federal government and the State of California from choosing only one form of technology (such as electric vehicles) over the many others to achieve their emission reduction goals. 

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and 17 U.S. House Republicans introduced H.R. 4468 in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model years '27 to '32, which is designed to result in electric vehicles (EVs) making up 67% of all new vehicles sales by 2032. The SEMA-supported CARS Act would prevent the EPA from finalizing the proposed emissions standards on light- and medium-duty vehicles. 

The EPA's proposal intends to lower carbon emissions in a way that essentially forces BEVs to become the only option for automakers to produce. Given the subsidies in place for EV purchases and production, EVs become the de facto choice to achieve the rulemaking's climate goals, as other options, such as hydrogen, new synthetic fuels, and multiple renewables, do not enjoy a level playing field of subsidies.

SEMA and more than 100 stakeholder organizations recently sent President Joe Biden a letter expressing concerns about the EPA's Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards. The letter stated, "EPA's proposals inhibit the marketplace from identifying the most efficient, lowest-cost opportunities to reduce GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions from vehicles and greatly restrict consumer choice." SEMA will continue to engage in any proposed regulatory action that may lead to internal combustion engine (ICE) bans. You can read the joint letter here. 

SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola provided official comments to the EPA in opposition to the agency's proposed new federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model-years 27-'32. In addition, SEMA's grassroots efforts have generated more than 7,700 comments by our member companies and enthusiasts from around the country. 

SEMA has strongly supported H.R. 1435, the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act," a bill prohibiting the EPA from issuing a waiver to California for regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with ICE in the state by 2035. Rep. John Joyce's (R-PA) bill is essential to stopping California's plan to ban new ICE vehicles, which requires the EPA to waive provisions in the Clean Air Act for the mandate to go into effect. U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), the co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, introduced S. 2090, a Senate companion bill to H.R. 1435. 

Click here to send a letter to your Congress members asking them to support the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act by co-sponsoring the bill.

For more information on these efforts, visit sema.org/advocacy/ice-bans.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials passed H.R. 1435, the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act," and H.R. 4468, the "Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act." These SEMA-supported bills seek to preserve vehicle choice for consumers and prevent the federal government and the State of California from choosing only one form of technology (such as electric vehicles) over the many others to achieve their emission reduction goals. 

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and 17 U.S. House Republicans introduced H.R. 4468 in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model years '27 to '32, which is designed to result in electric vehicles (EVs) making up 67% of all new vehicles sales by 2032. The SEMA-supported CARS Act would prevent the EPA from finalizing the proposed emissions standards on light- and medium-duty vehicles. 

The EPA's proposal intends to lower carbon emissions in a way that essentially forces BEVs to become the only option for automakers to produce. Given the subsidies in place for EV purchases and production, EVs become the de facto choice to achieve the rulemaking's climate goals, as other options, such as hydrogen, new synthetic fuels, and multiple renewables, do not enjoy a level playing field of subsidies.

SEMA and more than 100 stakeholder organizations recently sent President Joe Biden a letter expressing concerns about the EPA's Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards. The letter stated, "EPA's proposals inhibit the marketplace from identifying the most efficient, lowest-cost opportunities to reduce GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions from vehicles and greatly restrict consumer choice." SEMA will continue to engage in any proposed regulatory action that may lead to internal combustion engine (ICE) bans. You can read the joint letter here. 

SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola provided official comments to the EPA in opposition to the agency's proposed new federal emissions standards for motor vehicles model-years 27-'32. In addition, SEMA's grassroots efforts have generated more than 7,700 comments by our member companies and enthusiasts from around the country. 

SEMA has strongly supported H.R. 1435, the "Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act," a bill prohibiting the EPA from issuing a waiver to California for regulations that would ban the sale or use of new motor vehicles with ICE in the state by 2035. Rep. John Joyce's (R-PA) bill is essential to stopping California's plan to ban new ICE vehicles, which requires the EPA to waive provisions in the Clean Air Act for the mandate to go into effect. U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), the co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, introduced S. 2090, a Senate companion bill to H.R. 1435. 

Click here to send a letter to your Congress members asking them to support the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act by co-sponsoring the bill.

For more information on these efforts, visit sema.org/advocacy/ice-bans.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The Automotive Service Association, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, and Alliance for Automotive Innovation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the right to repair that updates a 2014 national MOU between automakers and the independent repair industry. The agreement now includes telematics data needed to diagnose and repair vehicles and covers all vehicle technologies and powertrains.

While the MOU is a step in the right direction, it is non-binding and provides access only to telematics and data that is available through the OBDII port. Automakers would provide access through OEM-controlled systems and tools per the agreement. The MOU does not provide vehicle owners and the aftermarket with direct access to telematic and repair data. Simply put, the MOU does not provide the full protections needed to maintain a competitive repair and modification market in the future. Accordingly, SEMA and our coalition partners continue to advocate for Congress to pass the REPAIR Act. Bipartisan support for the REPAIR Act continues to grow, as lawmakers understand the importance of protecting the right to repair in federal law through an enforceable statute. 

The REPAIR Act is important to repair and replacement businesses, although SEMA still has more work to do to ensure that the legislation extends to protect the right to modify. SEMA is committed to protecting the right to modify vehicles by prohibiting automakers from locking down ECUs and ensuring aftermarket companies have access to the information needed to recalibrate vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) after they have been modified.

The REPAIR Act is the only bill that addresses vehicle maintenance and repair restrictions. Specifically, the REPAIR Act will:  

• Preserve consumer access to high-quality, affordable vehicle repair by ensuring that vehicle owners and their repairers of choice have access to necessary repair and maintenance tools and data as vehicles continue to become more advanced. 
• Ensure cybersecurity by allowing vehicle manufacturers to secure vehicle-generated data and requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standards for how vehicle-generated data necessary for repair can be accessed securely.  
• Provide transparency for consumers by requiring vehicle owners to be informed that they can choose where and how to get their vehicle repaired. 
• Create a stakeholder advisory committee and provide them with the statutory authority to provide recommendations to the FTC on how to address emerging barriers to vehicle repair and maintenance.  
• Provide ongoing enforcement by establishing a process for consumers and independent repair facilities to file complaints with the FTC regarding alleged violations of the requirements in the bill and a requirement that the FTC act within five months of a claim. 

Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative that asks them to support the REPAIR Act by cosponsoring the bill. For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By the SEMA D.C. office

The Automotive Service Association, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, and Alliance for Automotive Innovation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the right to repair that updates a 2014 national MOU between automakers and the independent repair industry. The agreement now includes telematics data needed to diagnose and repair vehicles and covers all vehicle technologies and powertrains.

While the MOU is a step in the right direction, it is non-binding and provides access only to telematics and data that is available through the OBDII port. Automakers would provide access through OEM-controlled systems and tools per the agreement. The MOU does not provide vehicle owners and the aftermarket with direct access to telematic and repair data. Simply put, the MOU does not provide the full protections needed to maintain a competitive repair and modification market in the future. Accordingly, SEMA and our coalition partners continue to advocate for Congress to pass the REPAIR Act. Bipartisan support for the REPAIR Act continues to grow, as lawmakers understand the importance of protecting the right to repair in federal law through an enforceable statute. 

The REPAIR Act is important to repair and replacement businesses, although SEMA still has more work to do to ensure that the legislation extends to protect the right to modify. SEMA is committed to protecting the right to modify vehicles by prohibiting automakers from locking down ECUs and ensuring aftermarket companies have access to the information needed to recalibrate vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) after they have been modified.

The REPAIR Act is the only bill that addresses vehicle maintenance and repair restrictions. Specifically, the REPAIR Act will:  

• Preserve consumer access to high-quality, affordable vehicle repair by ensuring that vehicle owners and their repairers of choice have access to necessary repair and maintenance tools and data as vehicles continue to become more advanced. 
• Ensure cybersecurity by allowing vehicle manufacturers to secure vehicle-generated data and requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standards for how vehicle-generated data necessary for repair can be accessed securely.  
• Provide transparency for consumers by requiring vehicle owners to be informed that they can choose where and how to get their vehicle repaired. 
• Create a stakeholder advisory committee and provide them with the statutory authority to provide recommendations to the FTC on how to address emerging barriers to vehicle repair and maintenance.  
• Provide ongoing enforcement by establishing a process for consumers and independent repair facilities to file complaints with the FTC regarding alleged violations of the requirements in the bill and a requirement that the FTC act within five months of a claim. 

Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative that asks them to support the REPAIR Act by cosponsoring the bill. For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA has a strong reputation for driving and supporting change within the automotive industry. Our collective passion and ability to advance the industry will best be realized through diverse communities that embrace and champion diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

The SEMA Board recently directed the formation of a new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee to prepare a DEI plan for the Association and how SEMA connects with the industry.

SEMA Vice President of People and Culture Jaelyn Young will chair the committee, which will be comprised of representation from SEMA's membership, the Board of Directors and SEMA staff and include a professional DEI consultant and advisor.

To ensure our efforts are far-reaching, we are asking if there are interested SEMA members with a passion and expertise for diversity, equity and inclusion that would like to apply to be considered for the committee. We are anticipating significant interest, and the committee chair will be vetting all interested members before making final recommendations to the SEMA Board.

Please email Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org if you are interested in being involved or have any questions.

By Laura Pitts

The 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is gearing up to be one of the best events to date, thanks in part to a new, fully customizable education program. Attendees can take advantage of the robust SEMA Show Education schedule to create a best-in-class professional development experience during the SEMA Show (October 30-November 3) and throughout the year.

Highlighting the lineup of world-class seminars is the SEMA Women in Automotive Symposium, designed to provide a resource for women to network, mentor and participate in professional development programs geared toward helping them accelerate and advance in their careers and business. This inaugural event--taking place in Room N258 on Wednesday, November 1, from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.--will help women address common challenges faced by women in the industry, find solutions, gain new tools, and learn essential skills to drive business and career advancement.

(From left to right) Julia Landauer, Amanda Busick and Carolyn Jackson.

Executives, general managers, middle managers, department heads, emerging leaders, diversity managers and related automotive professionals will benefit from several sessions, beginning with an inspiring opening keynote called "Drive: How to Gain and Maintain a Competitive Advantage" led by two-time racing champion and entrepreneur Julia Landauer, who has 21 years of competition under her belt, most recently starting the No. 44 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Away from the track, Landauer is a sought-after motivational speaker, having participated in TEDx Talk and as a contestant on Season 26 of CBS' reality TV show "Survivor." She has purposefully built her brand to be where technology, community and racing intersect while advocating for STEM education and women's empowerment as a motivational speaker. Landauer will encourage the audience to take ownership of every aspect of their lives and cover topics such as authenticity, leadership, teamwork, fear management and embracing discomfort.

Following will be a power networking luncheon and fireside chat called "Communication Secrets, Secrets of Success and Maintaining a Success Mindset." This session will be led by FOX Sports Reporter Amanda Busick and feature Carolyn Jackson, vice president, brand strategy, Barrett-Jackson. This interactive session will see Busick interview Jackson for career insights and thoughts on the tenacity and determination of a committed and dynamic team, a leadership state of mind, empowerment and challenges, plus the achievements of her career as a top female executive in the automotive industry. Audience members will also have an exclusive (and invaluable) opportunity to ask questions, so come prepared!

(From left to right) Melanie White, Jacki Lutz, Deanna Singh and Shaundra Dineen.

Rapid-fire-style workshops are next on the schedule, with four 15-minute sessions designed to help attendees engage, discover and connect with subject-matter experts and thought leaders on small-business strategies and industry topics, including:

• "Becoming A Woman-Owned Certified-Enterprise," led by Melanie White, CEO and owner of Hellwig Products.
• "Self-Branding: The ACTION Behind Building Your Personal Brand," led by Jacki Lutz, senior manager marketing communications, corporate at Sensata Technologies.
• "The Power of Mentorship, Sponsorship and Allyship as a Strategy for Success," led by Deanna Singh, managing partner at Uplifting Impact.
• "Make the Jump! Four Steps to Becoming the Authority in Your Industry," led by Shaundra Dineen, award-winning motivational speaker and podcaster.

The program concludes with a moderated conversation with industry executives in a session designed to teach how action leaders are working toward gender equity and insights into the most significant challenges (and opportunities!) facing the industry today. 

"The further you advance in your career, the more important it becomes to hear directly from senior executives about the critical issues on their radar--and how you can also prepare to address such challenges as you progress through the ranks. We're looking forward to providing this opportunity, and so much more, to the women in the industry as part of this inaugural SEMA Education program," said Pamela Brown-Matthis, SEMA director of education.

The "Driving the Future of Automotive: C-Suite Insights" panel, co-hosted by SEMA Businesswomen's Network, will be led by industry executives explaining what they are doing personally to support women leaders through mentoring, sponsorship and modeling effective allyship, followed by a Q&A session. Moderated by Cheryl Thompson, the president and founder of Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement (CADIA), the one-hour session also features panelists Kim Less, vice president, aftermarket at Nissan North America; Subi Ghosh, executive vice president, Strategic Partnerships & Marketing at Stream Companies and partnerships chair at Women of Color Auto Network; Jayme Blasiman, founder of Femanic Garage and founder and co-owner of Women's Motor Fest; Matilda Johnson, chief experience officer at City Classic Cars; and Axel Cooley, president of Metallon.  

The SEMA Women in Automotive Symposium is free for all 2023 SEMA Show attendees. Online registration for the SEMA Women in Automotive Symposium is available here. Registration for individual sessions is also available at the links below. 

2023 SEMA Show Women in Automotive Symposium Schedule

Wednesday, November 1

Room N258

• 11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m PDT/Opening Keynote "Drive: How to Gain and Maintain a Competitive Advantage," featuring two-time race champion and entrepreneur Julia Landauer.
• 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. PDT/Power Networking Luncheon and Fireside Chat hosted by FOX Sports Reporter Amanda Busick and featuring Carolyn Jackson, vice president brand strategy, Barrett-Jackson.
• 1:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m. PDT/Micro-Learning Lab (15-minute, rapid-fire-style workshops) featuring Melanie White, CEO and owner of Hellwig Products; Jacki Lutz, senior manager marketing communications, corporate at Sensata Technologies; Deanna Singh, managing partner at Uplifting Impact; and Shaundra Dineen, award-winning motivational speaker and podcaster.
• 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. PDT/"Driving the Future of Automotive: C-Suite Insights" panel, co-hosted by SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBA) and moderated by Cheryl Thompson, president and founder of Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement.

Stay tuned for more details on the world-class SEMA Education program for 2023, which will be headlined by keynote speaker, world-renowned athlete, entrepreneur and philanthropist Tim Tebow. Register for the SEMA Show at SEMAShow.com/register by September 29 for just $60. After, registration is $120.

By SEMA Editors

Tickets for SEMA Fest--the ultimate automotive playground at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, November 3-4--will go on sale this week. Join thousands of enthusiasts and industry insiders for two days of freestyle motocross, drifting competitions, incredible vehicle builds, celebrity appearances, craft foods, automotive marketplace and the hottest musical acts in the country!

Unlike the trade-only SEMA Show, the SEMA Fest is open to the public. Everyone now can experience the excitement of the week, get a glimpse of the newest trends and connect with some of the hottest brands and names in the industry.

SEMA Fest Marketplace

Connect with thousands of consumers from around the world at the SEMA Fest Marketplace, the festival destination for automotive and craft products, souvenirs and official event merchandise.

SEMA Fest Marketplace is located in a central location where all festival attendees will access two days of motorsports activation and premier concert entertainment.

To learn more about the SEMA Fest Marketplace, contact info@semafest.com. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact partnership@semafest.com.

Tickets will go live on Friday, July 14, at semafest.com.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Battle of the Builders, Presented by Mothers, returns for 2023. The prestigious competition is judged by industry experts, with awards presented to individuals who have demonstrated extreme talent, creativity and craftsmanship in modifying cars, trucks, SUVs, sport compacts and luxury and exotic builds.