Photo: SEMA
We have great news for lovers of replica cars and custom cars. US President Barrack Obama signed into law a bill that, among other things, will allow small manufacturers to build road-legal vehicles, through exemption from vehicle safety standards.
What this means is that the American government finally admits that you can't apply current standards to cars designed and/or built many years ago. How many years, exactly? At least 25, according to this new highway bill. The safety requirements still apply to things like lights or tires, but the vehicles no longer have to pass crash tests.
Under the new law - which SEMA has been pushing for since 2011 - manufacturers of replica cars need to register with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and file annual reports regarding vehicle production. In order to qualify, a company must not exceed a total production of 5,000 vehicles per year and may only assemble and sell up to 325 replica cars in the US. Another requirement is that the manufacturer get a license agreement for the intellectual property rights for the replicated vehicle.
The law will also help with emission compliance. So long as the manufacturer fits the cars with engines that have a certificate of conformity from EPA, then the whole vehicle will be considered emissions compliant. The trick is that the replica car must have a current model year engine. This should make for some very interesting vehicles!
Other than its low-volume production and the exemption from safety and emission regulations, replica manufacturers will be treated as any other vehicle manufacturer. Meaning they need to keep extensive records on complaints and make themselves available for any NHTSA investigation. Should any safety-related fault not be dealt with, the NHTSA may revoke the registration. The agency approves any completed registration applications within 90 days.
There is still some way to go until the law comes into effect. After the bill is enacted, the NHTSA and EPA can take up to 12 months to come up with new regulations that allow them to implement the law.
Under the new law - which SEMA has been pushing for since 2011 - manufacturers of replica cars need to register with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and file annual reports regarding vehicle production. In order to qualify, a company must not exceed a total production of 5,000 vehicles per year and may only assemble and sell up to 325 replica cars in the US. Another requirement is that the manufacturer get a license agreement for the intellectual property rights for the replicated vehicle.
The law will also help with emission compliance. So long as the manufacturer fits the cars with engines that have a certificate of conformity from EPA, then the whole vehicle will be considered emissions compliant. The trick is that the replica car must have a current model year engine. This should make for some very interesting vehicles!
Other than its low-volume production and the exemption from safety and emission regulations, replica manufacturers will be treated as any other vehicle manufacturer. Meaning they need to keep extensive records on complaints and make themselves available for any NHTSA investigation. Should any safety-related fault not be dealt with, the NHTSA may revoke the registration. The agency approves any completed registration applications within 90 days.
There is still some way to go until the law comes into effect. After the bill is enacted, the NHTSA and EPA can take up to 12 months to come up with new regulations that allow them to implement the law.
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