Members of the California Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) met in Sacramento to actively lobby the California Legislature to ensure no laws are passed that harm a robust and competitive independent automotive aftermarket industry and to highlight important legislative and regulatory proposals impacting aftermarket businesses.
CAWA members met at the state capitol on March 26 with legislators and staff to highlight the positive role the aftermarket plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the aftermarket industry as a viable, competitive and strongly desired choice for consumers in parts purchasing and auto repair and maintenance.
According to CAWA, a number of legislative proposals have been introduced in 2008 that threaten the aftermarket, particularly Senate Bill 1059, which would create prohibitions against the installation of an aftermarket part on a vehicle. CAWA members lobbied in opposition to the measure, citing that in many cases the same companies that manufacture OEM parts manufacture aftermarket parts, and the only difference is the box and the price of the part.
CAWA members continued to stress that aftermarket parts are often identical or even better than the OEM parts being replaced since aftermarket companies have the opportunity to correct problems that only become apparent during use of a part on a vehicle. Furthermore, many of the aftermarket parts come with long-term or lifetime warranties and can cost up to 50 percent less than the identical car company part.
S.B. 1059 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee on April 2. CAWA is working with partners AAIA and CARE to put an end to the bill.
In addition to lobbying against S.B. 1059, CAWA members discussed employment issues, including workers’ compensation and mandated health care proposals; emphasized the continued need for improved career and technical education and training programs for youth; and updated lawmakers about CARB’s overregulation of the industry, including its efforts to extend warranties and ban the retail sale of R134a.
For more information, visit www.cawa.org.
