EVs Spark Tension in the Auto Aftermarket
▼ Summary
– The electric vehicle industry is at a crossroads with mixed signals, as some automakers push forward with EV development while others cut back.
– The automotive aftermarket, represented by SEMA, is politically active and opposes government mandates that would force a specific technology choice.
– SEMA leadership states that strict future EV mandates would have severely impacted a significant portion of the aftermarket industry.
– The organization’s official stance is to embrace all vehicle technologies but to resist being told which one to adopt.
– A key part of SEMA’s advocacy involves working to limit the regulatory power of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
The automotive aftermarket industry is navigating a period of significant transition as the broader vehicle market grapples with the future of electric vehicles. With shifting federal policies and evolving consumer demand, companies that specialize in vehicle customization and parts are carefully assessing their strategic direction. The recent removal of certain clean vehicle incentives has added another layer of complexity, creating a landscape where some manufacturers are accelerating their EV plans while others are pulling back. This uncertainty directly impacts the vast ecosystem of businesses that modify and enhance vehicles after they leave the factory.
I recently attended the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) tradeshow in Las Vegas to understand how this influential sector is responding. Conversations with key leaders and a walk through the expansive exhibit floors revealed a nuanced perspective. The organization’s official position, as explained by CEO Mike Spagnola and Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Karen Bailey-Chapman, centers on a strong desire for autonomy. They emphasize that the aftermarket industry does not want to be mandated toward any single technology.
Bailey-Chapman articulated a viewpoint that echoed certain political talking points, stating that aggressive federal EV mandates could have severely damaged the industry. “Thirty-three percent of our industry would’ve been wiped out had EV mandates continued,” she said, referencing now-rescinded fuel efficiency regulations that would have pressured automakers to sell more electric vehicles. She clarified that the association is not opposed to the technology itself but to being forced into a singular path. “The reality is that we embrace EVs, we embrace all technologies. If it moves on wheels, we’re good… but what we are against is that we have to choose this, and that’s it.”
She noted that SEMA’s advocacy efforts have intensified in recent years, with a focus on shaping policy favorable to its diverse membership. A significant part of this political engagement involves efforts to curtail the regulatory authority of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This agency, established to combat severe smog problems in places like Los Angeles, sets emissions standards that often influence national policy, a dynamic SEMA views as potentially restrictive for technological choice and aftermarket innovation.
(Source: Ars Technica)
