Key Takeaways
- SEMA files an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court to challenge California’s ICE ban.
- SEMA says California’s 2035 ICE ban will have negative effects on innovation in the aftermarket industry.
- The organization is looking for a varied approach to climate change; several automakers are working on sustainable e-fuels and alternative energy sources.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association & Performance Racing, Inc. (better known as SEMA) is fighting back against the State of California’s desire to ban the sale of combustion-engined vehicles. And SEMA is taking things seriously. This isn’t a well-intentioned petition, but rather a filing of an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court.
The brief is in the case of Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), SEMA’s brief is in support of a review into the lawfulness behind the EPA’s decision to allow California “to limit the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.” While the Golden State intends to implement a flat-out ICE ban by 2035, the state – and 16 other states that conform to California’s regulations – plan to limit the sale of ICE-powered vehicles from MY2017 to MY2025, says SEMA.
“California has already declared the winner of the race, and by extension, begins to foreclose on the innovations and unique contributions to cleaner vehicles and parts that the aftermarket for years has been providing. The question presented is important not just to the specialty equipment aftermarket, but to consumers and the public at large who seek out these inventive products, and, as a result, the Court should grant the petition to address it.”
– Specialty Equipment Market Association
What Is SEMA Asking For?
SEMA is asking the court to allow for a review of the case. The organization is arguing that California’s “non-technology-neutral” decision to limit the sales of combustion-powered vehicles will have negative effects on the aftermarket industry, which relies mostly on traditional ICE-powered trucks and cars. SEMA is arguing that California’s desire to phase out combustion engines will “kill, rather than foster, innovation that can help produce cleaner, safer automobiles.”
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Whereas California – and several other states, including New York – are determined to rid the roads of gas- and diesel-powered cars, other regions are more open to alternative energy and sustainable fuels. European lawmakers are lobbying the EU to allow for the explicit use of alternative and synthetic fuels in Europe after 2035. Several automakers are currently working on alternative fuels, including Porsche, which has invested heavily in the technology.
Ripple Effects On The Automotive Aftermarket Scene
SEMA notes that the ICE Waiver will have detrimental consequences on several automotive industries, ranging from vehicle restoration to motorsports. Aside from the financial problems, the organization argues that these segments “make immeasurable contributions to the nation from an innovation and cultural standpoint.”
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SEMA isn’t against electrification. It is seeking a more varied approach to the problem of climate change and vehicle emissions. Several automakers, such as Toyota, are looking for solutions that include electric vehicles, traditional combustion, hydrogen, hybrids, and more. Many aftermarket companies support electrification, with restomod companies that specialize in converting classic cars into efficient battery-powered vehicles. Some restomods also replace aging, polluting engines with more powerful modern alternatives that spew fewer emissions into the atmosphere. It remains to be seen whether SEMA is successful, but we applaud the organization for fighting against this eventual ICE ban, in favor of a more diverse approach.