The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has released a statement attributed to Karen Bailey-Chapman, senior vice president, public and government affairs, supporting Jonathan Morrison as the next administrator of NHTSA:

“The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) looks forward to supporting Jonathan Morrison’s nomination to serve as the next administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Mr. Morrison was a proven leader as the agency’s general counsel. He is highly qualified and an excellent choice to serve as NHTSA administrator. We look forward to working with Jonathan and will share with him the important perspective of the automotive aftermarket industry and that of the nation’s community of automotive enthusiasts.

“We are at a critical juncture for vehicle technology; the emergence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) presents a transformative opportunity for our industry and vehicle safety. As Mr. Morrison looks to take the reins at NHTSA, we ask that he regard the automotive aftermarket as a resource for understanding how these systems interact with modified vehicles and ways to preserve automotive enthusiasts’ ability to engage in legal racing and off-road use. The aftermarket, after all, gave birth to many of the safety features that are ubiquitous in today’s vehicles; our unparalleled ability to innovate and meet the needs of our customers will offer highly valuable insights to Mr. Morrison and his team for the coming conversations about safety and technology.”