Replacement Crash Parts
President Trump Places 25 Percent Tariff on Auto and Certain Auto Part Imports
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will impose a 25 percent tariff on automobile and certain automobile-parts imports. The tariff will be assessed on top of all other pre-existing import tariffs. The president argues that such measures are needed to strengthen the United States’ domestic industrial…
Read MoreTexas Bill would Significantly Increase Access to all Vehicle Data
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 Texas State Representative Pat Curry (R-56th District) introduced HB 4555, which stipulates that a “manufacturer shall provide to each owner of a motor vehicle manufactured by the manufacturer access to vehicle-generated data generated by the owner’s vehicle without restriction, limitation, fee, license, or requiring use of a device mandated by…
Read MoreASA Leaders Provide Insight on Rising Cost of Auto Repairs in Wall Street Journal Article
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 ASA Board Chairman Scott Benavidez and Incoming Chair Dan Stander provided insight on the causes behind the rising costs of automotive repairs in an article published today in the Wall Street Journal. The owners of Mr. B’s Paint and Body Shop in Albuquerque, NM and FIX Auto Highlands…
Read MoreU.S. Department of Commerce Proposes Ban on Chinese Auto Hardware and Software used in Vehicle Connectivity Systems
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The United States Department of Commerce has proposed a rule that would ban imports of Chinese vehicles as well as automotive hardware and software components involved with an automobile’s vehicle connectivity systems (VCS). VCS allows vehicles to communicate externally through Bluetooth, cellular, satellite, and Wi-Fi telematics. Some U.S.…
Read MoreBill Introduced that would Bar DOT from using Chinese LiDAR
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 A bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would prevent the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from engaging with LiDAR technology affiliated with the Chinese Government. Specifically, the “Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act” would prohibit DOT from: Procuring LiDAR from a covered company. Contracting…
Read MoreCalifornia Sends Bill to Governor Creating EV Economic Opportunity Zone in Riverside County
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The California Legislature sent to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk a bill – Assembly Bill (AB) 2448 – that would create an “Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone” in Riverside County. It would create “programs to make electric vehicle manufacturing jobs and education more accessible to lower income communities.” It…
Read MoreFederal Agency Issues Warning on Substandard Aftermarket Airbags
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer alert regarding substandard replacement airbag inflators that have killed three people and severely wounded two others. In its alert, NHTSA explained that these defective parts were installed after the vehicle in which it was installed was involved in…
Read MoreRhode Island State Senate Passes Pro-OEM Parts Bill
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Rhode Island State Senate passed a bill that would restrict insurance companies’ ability to refuse to cover OEM repair parts in certain situations. Under the current law in Rhode Island, insurers are not allowed to require the use of non-OEM parts on vehicles that are less than…
Read MoreNHTSA Warns Against Installing Aftermarket Steering Wheel Decals
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning motorists not to install aftermarket steering wheel decals in their vehicles. This warning comes in the wake of a driver who was severely injured in a collision. The decal became a projectile when the airbag deployed and hit the…
Read MoreGAO Urges NHTSA to Educate the Public More on ADAS
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in which it urges the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to “take action to enhance consumer understanding of capabilities and limitations” of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems technology. The report warns that the public largely doesn’t understand the capabilities…
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