SEMA CEO: Electrification Will Cost Aftermarket Jobs
The Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, or SEMA, represents thousands of aftermarket and automotive parts companies, giving it a unique level of sensitivity to changes in emissions, safety, and other vehicle regulations. Recent changes to EPA regulations could bring a seismic shift in the automotive market, making a significant portion of new vehicle sales electric early next decade. SEMA’s President recently shared the organization’s thoughts on the issue, which are predictably skeptical of the changes.
Mike Spagnola’s letter was posted on the SEMA site and said that the organization’s more than 7,000 members “have significant concerns regarding the impact of these proposed regulations on automotive small businesses.” He said the more than one million employees in the aftermarket industry are often overlooked in the push to electrify.
SEMA wants the government to be “technology neutral,” and Spagnola said the organization advocates “for the ability of consumers and the marketplace to choose what works best for them.” Though many companies are already working on aftermarket products for electric vehicles, it’s clear that SEMA views a widespread shift to EVs as a threat to its members.
“The specialty automotive aftermarket business has been built around the internal combustion engine,” Spagnola said. “It is also the same industry that has led the way in fuel innovations and conversions of old vehicles into new and cleaner technologies. Yet it is clear from the Biden administration's actions and words that electrification is their technology of choice.”
[Image: 6th Gear Advertising via Shutterstock]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Kind of hard to be "Technology neutral" when you're trying to eliminate exhaust emissions from all vehicles. The push is for technologies that prevent emissions, which most importantly means not burning hydrocarbons for energy. Now, if you can burn straight hydrogen and NOT derive it from hydrocarbons, then I see no problem with SEMA keeping on as it does. But until that happens, fuel cells and batteries appear to be the way to go.
It is a proven fact that throughout the entire life-cycle (cradle to grave) of an electric vehicle, they are much more harmful to the environment than an ICE. From the mining of the minerals to create the toxic batteries to the electricity generated to recharge them. Go beat the "harmful to the environment in the long run" drum somewhere else!