Ford is the Vehicle Manufacturer of SEMA Show 2003

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4, 2003 -- The Ford Motor Company is the featured Vehicle Manufacturer of SEMA Show 2003. The annual show opens its doors today and continues through Friday afternoon at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"We are delighted that Ford, which has been a strong supporter of SEMA and the aftermarket industry, has chosen to be the Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show during its celebration of a century of automotive leadership," said SEMA President and CEO Christopher J. Kersting, C.A.E.

Kersting added that Ford has been a major cornerstone of SEMA's close relationship with the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) community. "It was Ford with whom we began our technology transfer program between the car companies and our manufacturer members. Ford has been very enthusiastic about participating at our International Auto Salon, our annual OEM Tech Talks and measuring sessions, and also very generous in its provision of project vehicles for our SEMA members to modify, customize, and display at the SEMA shows and other venues. We're happy that the company has this showcase opportunity for global news coverage."

"Ford Motor Company is pleased to be the featured marque of the 2003 SEMA Show," said Jan Valentic, vice president, global marketing, Ford Motor Company, when the Ford announcement was made earlier this year. "As the Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show, we recognize the importance of our participation during Ford's centennial celebration that binds our global brand marketing efforts together with the aftermarket. For us, the SEMA Show is the ultimate expression of human creativity and invention -- certainly a trait that has been passed down from our founder Henry Ford. As an international venue, the show enhances Ford's opportunity to showcase the flexibility of our brands for personalization and accessorization."

In addition to Ford, other OEM exhibitors at SEMA Show 2003 include American Honda, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Panoz, Subaru, and Toyota. Ford will also have a free- standing display of its Ford Restoration Parts licensing program. The OEM presence at the SEMA Show has grown from three manufacturers to the current 12 over the past five years.

SEMA Show 2003 occupies the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than, 1,800 companies have contracted for exhibit space totaling a record 900,000 net square feet at the show that incorporates the International Tire Expo. The 2003 show is organized into 12 sections, with the carmakers' exhibits distributed throughout the two million square feet of exhibits and hundreds of specially constructed project cars and trucks.

SEMA Show 2002 featured more than 1,500 project vehicles, had approximately 900 entries into its new product competition, and attracted 86,787 AAIW attendees from more than 100 countries. The SEMA Show is held concurrently with the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX). The two trade shows comprise the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), one of the two largest business gatherings held in Las Vegas.

The annual SEMA Show, open only to the automotive industry, is one of several shows produced by SEMA for the various markets and market niches its wide-ranging membership covers.

SEMA represents the $27 billion specialty automotive industry. Founded in 1963, the trade association has 5,222 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765- 3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.