CHICAGO (Feb. 14, 2005) —The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has chosen American Honda Motor Co. Inc. as the featured vehicle manufacturer for the 2005 SEMA Show this fall in Las Vegas.
The announcement came during a SEMA press conference at the Chicago Auto Show.
“It has been quite some time since SEMA has had the pleasure to announce a new Vehicle Manufacturer of the SEMA Show,” said Christopher J. Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “American Honda Motor Co. has been a long-time participant in various SEMA initiatives that help increase the variety and ready availability of specialty parts and accessories for Honda vehicles. We are predicting the synergy between Honda and our 2005 exhibitors will be extremely powerful.”
Historically, three original equipment manufacturers have supported the event through what SEMA has termed “Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show”—a role that demonstrates a heightened awareness, heightened commitment and heightened partnership with the specialty products industry, the Diamond Bar, Calif.-based trade association said.
“We´re thrilled at the opportunity to play a larger part in the 2005 SEMA Show as Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show with the 2006 Civic as Vehicle of the Show,” said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda. “The performance aftermarket has played a big part in the image of Honda with young buyers and performance enthusiasts. SEMA is the perfect venue to highlight our company´s commitment to the market and the exciting new products we´re building, including our all-new Civic and the new Ridgeline truck.”
The 2005 SEMA Show will be Nov. 1-4 in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center and is part of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week events, which attract more than 100,000 showgoers from more than 100 countries. Last year's SEMA Show drew more than 50,000 domestic and international buyers and featured two million square feet of exhibit space.