Chrysler, Kia Team-Up With SportRack

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich.--SportRack Automotive received DaimlerChrysler’s “Best Truck of the Show” Award and the Kia Motors “Most Valued Partner” recognition at the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, Oct. 31 -Nov. 2.

This is the second consecutive year that SportRack Automotive has won Kia’s Most Valued Partner Award, which is awarded to suppliers based on product quality, communication, delivery timing, warranty administration, marketing support and packaging and shipment documentation. SportRack produces roof racks for the Kia Sportage SUV.

SportRack earned the DaimlerChrysler Award for Design Excellence for its “conceptually accessorized” Dodge Dakota Quad Cab on exhibit. The truck featured a customized paint finish and displayed several accessory concepts, including:

• A tubular roof-top rack with mounted crossbars into the side rails loaded with camping gear.

• An accessory transportation system that sits atop the tonneau cover and is mounted into the side rails for transporting itemssuch as bicycles.

• A three-receiver tube hitch, from sister company Valley Automotive, with an expandable basket mounted to the hitch at the rear of the vehicle for additional cargo space. The basket folds up neatly against the tailgate when empty.

• A sliding bed extender on nylon glides that eliminates the need for lifting the tonneau cover or climbing in the bed to load or remove cargo.

• A mounted fishing rod receiver attached to the underside of the tonneau cover.

• A powered running board that retracts and extends for easy entry and exit from the vehicle.

“While all of these accessories are concepts right now, it is encouraging to receive recognition from OEMs like DaimlerChrysler, as well as such positive customer reaction. We hope to offer many of these items in production next year,” said SportRack Automotive President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Borghi.

SportRack has corporate offices in Sterling Heights, Mich., with North American manufacturing operations in Port Huron and Shelby Township, Mich.; Shelburne, Vt.; Hamer Bay, Ontario, and Granby, Quebec. Its European operations are headquartered in Sandhausen, Germany, and include manufacturing facilities in Bakov, Czech Republic and Barcelona, Spain.

Formed in 1995, parent company Advanced Accessory Systems is a supplier of roof rack systems, towing systems and related accessories. Headquartered also in Sterling Heights, Mich., the company has 2,200 employees in 24 facilities within 15 countries and has annual sales revenue in excess of $300 million.

For more information, contact www.sportrack.com.