Auto Industry News: RPM Act Reintroduced to Senate, UAW and GM Strike A Deal, and Schumer Proposes Cash4Clunkers EV Plan

The RPM Act is reintroduced to the Senate with hopes to become a law in the 2019-2020 Congress. The UAW strike finally comes to an end, as GM and the union reach an agreement. And Chuck Schumer resurrects some familiar legislation in a bid to be zero-emissions by 2040. Plus, auto enthusiasts tackle breast cancer during awareness month and race results are in.

RPM Act Reintroduced to the Senate

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and 24 other co-sponsors have reintroduced the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act, a bi-partisan bill designed to protect auto enthusiasts’ right to modify and build racecars.

The Act was initially proposed in 2016, in response to language in the EPA’s July 2015 reinterpretation of the Clean Air Act. The government agency stated that under these new standards, it would be illegal to convert any motor vehicle into a racecar if the emissions system was modified or removed. Seeing as many racecars begin their lives as street vehicles, this could have a devastating effect on the motorsports community—not to mention the small businesses that supply necessary parts and service.

While the EPA did remove the offending language from the final bill, the agency maintains that it holds authority over the emission modifications of competition vehicles.

According to SEMA, the RPM Act:

… Confirms that it has always been Congress’ intent that racecars are not included in the Clean Air Act’s definition of regulated “motor vehicles.”

… Makes clear that it has always been legal to modify a street vehicle into a racecar used exclusively at the track.

… Confirms that modifying these vehicles for exclusive track use would not be considered tampering and subject to substantial fines.

“American racing runs on traditions,” said Sen. Burr. “For more than 50 years, motorsports enthusiasts have purchased cars and modified them to race, off of public roads. However, this tradition was threatened when the Obama EPA attempted to make these modifications illegal. This legislation upholds Congress’ intent of the Clean Air Act and protects motorsports, for professionals and amateurs alike, for years to come.”

SEMA, who has fought tooth and nail against the legislation since it was first introduced, contends that the EPA’s changes would “essentially rewrite the law and 46 years of policy and practice.”

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We thank Senators Burr and Manchin for reintroducing a bill that will protect businesses that produce, install, and sell the parts that enable racers to compete.”

To put it bluntly, this bill is a big deal. The decision to pass it would literally impact tens of thousands of racing enthusiasts and motorsports fans every year, as well as taking the handcuffs off of the billion-dollar racing products retail market.

Those who are passionate about the bill are encouraged to write to their representatives to help push through the RPM Act in 2019. To write a letter to your U.S. Senators, visit www.sema.org/rpm.

UAW-GM Strike A Deal

American automaker General Motors and the United Auto Workers union came to a much-need compromise over the weekend, signing a four-year deal to put folks back to work. This comes after employees lost nearly a billion dollars in wages and cost GM $2 billion in lost production.

For workers, the deal locks up the pay raises and support for temporary and transitional workers they were originally seeking, along with forcing GM to reinvest billions into factories it had planned to close.

While the UAW considers the deal a win for their workers, GM did manage to hold its own in negotiations. The automaker refused to budge on health care costs, holding firm at the same rates prior to the strike. It also stayed with the decision to shutter an Ohio plant in favor of moving production to Mexico. Now with the GM strike over, the UAW shifts its focus towards Ford and FCA.

Chuck Schumer Proposes $454 Billion EV Plan

As the RPM Act rises from its grave, Chuck Schumer is playing the part of Doctor Frankenstein to breathe some life back into a Cash4Clunkers-style plan for electric vehicles.

In an op-ed for the New York Times, Schumer broke down the details of his ambitious proposal to make sure every vehicle on the road is zero-emissions by 2040. The goal, according to Schumer himself, is to “reduce the number of carbon-emitting cars on the road, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century.”

So, how does this new deal hope to phase out traditional combustion engines in favor of electric, hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles? With the thing that makes the world go ‘round: cold, hard cash.

Working over a 10-year period, the plan would provide rebates of $3000 or more to individual buyers, awarding a total of $392 billion to drivers who trade in their gas-powered vehicles for cleaner, greener, fully-electric models. The proposed plan would also pump $45 billion into building EV charging stations and give an additional $17 billion in incentives to automakers who retool or build new EV factories.

While the plan is surely well-intentioned, we can’t help but see some challenges. In the wake of the EV tax credits scam that recently came to light, there are real concerns over the kickbacks’ vetting process. Additionally, it feels like history is repeating itself as politicians once again are ignoring the fact that keeping an old car running is more environmentally friendly than scrapping it and getting a new one.

On the other hand, more people than ever are worried about and paying close attention to climate issues, so a Green New Deal-style ambitious plan from the Democrats could easily find its feet with the 2020 election on the horizon.

How Auto Enthusiasts Do Breast Cancer Awareness

Statistics show that about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. That, unfortunately, means a woman in your life—a mother, an aunt, a sister, a wife or a daughter—will be forced to fight against breast cancer.

That’s why we here at The Engine Block think it’s so important to take some time during Breast Cancer Awareness month to highlight how auto enthusiasts can help those battling this devastating disease.

From car shows and cruises to auto-related toy drives and fundraisers like these three car shows that just wrapped up in Tennessee this weekend, gearheads everywhere are finding ways to spread awareness, aid, and positivity. Law enforcement is riding the wave too, with police stations across the nation embracing pink as they deck out patrol vehicles with eye-catching paint schemes and vinyl wraps.

Do your part not only this month, but year-round to help fight against an illness that affects millions per year.

Around the Circuit

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton was brilliant in Mexico this weekend but will have to wait at least another week for his sixth title. Breaking his winless streak in Mexico since 2016, Hamilton’s top-notch racing skills and strategy secured his tenth win of the season, ahead of Sebastian Vettel in second and Valtteri Bottas in third.

Despite his dominant performance, Hamilton will have to wait until next week in Austin, Texas to lock things up. When asked by the press about having to wait for his sixth title, Hamilton replied with a smile, “I don’t mind. I love racing, man.”

Hamilton will look to seal the deal on November 3 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

NASCAR

Despite a post-race confrontation between Hamlin and Logano stealing all the headlines at Martinsville, Martin Truex Jr. put on a show this weekend and punched his tickets to the final 4 of the playoffs.

Truex Jr. led for a career-best 464 laps in Sunday’s First Data 500 and finished well ahead of William Byron in second and Brad Keselowski in third for his seventh win of the season and 26th in his career. “I can’t believe we just won Martinsville, man,” said Truex. “Miami (site of the season finale) is awesome, but we’ve wanted to win here for a long time.”

Next up for Monster Energy Series drivers in a showdown at Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500 on November 3.

In a weekend full of mechanical issues for leading playoff series drivers, Todd Gilliland took advantage for his first Gander Truck Series win this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

Gilliland shocked the truck series crowd for his first win in 446 career starts, taking the lead after the 11th restart in a race full of wild wrecks and sloppy racing. Four of the six playoff drivers got caught up in the fray, meaning this race had very little impact on the eventual champion.

After the race, Gilliland shared a bittersweet moment with the press after locking up his first Gander Truck series win. “I’m just so proud of these guys. Man, this is a long time coming. Hopefully, this will get some momentum rolling and open up some doors for next year.”

Next up for Gander Truck Series drivers is the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway on November 8.

Motocross

MX Sports Pro Racing, the world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing series, has teamed up with NBC Sports to reveal the schedule for the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

The 49th season is set to visit 11 states over the course of next summer, kicking off with the legendary Hangtown Motorcross Classic on May 16 and wrapping up with the Ironman National on August 29.

For a full look at the schedule and events for the season, click here.