DIAMOND BAR, Calif. – SEMA has announced plans to dedicate an exhibit at this year’s SEMA Show to showcase those companies whose creativity and innovation in the development, deployment and marketing of the green technologies prove that being environmentally friendly can also be cool. The “Making Green Cool Zone” will be featured inside the South Hall (upper level) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 4-7.

Project vehicles, products and technologies to be featured in the Making Green Cool Zone can be entered for consideration from either exhibiting SEMA-member companies or non-exhibiting companies. The winners will be chosen by a select panel of qualified experts drawn from relevant automotive fields such as performance aftermarket, powertrain technology, automotive design, environmental sustainability, brand positioning and others.

“The SEMA industry recognizes that being green is no longer limited to specific segments of the market,” said John Waraniak, SEMA’s vice president of vehicle technology. “The green performance revolution is well under way. Going green is no longer an option, nearly 85 percent of Americans consider themselves environmentalists. SEMA wants to demonstrate that bringing more environmentally responsible vehicle technologies and products to the marketplace doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice performance and the coolness factor.”

The new generation of performance and clean diesels, advanced hybrid powertrains, extended range and pure electric vehicles represent blank canvases for the performance and specialty equipment industry, said SEMA. Greening-up vehicles creates new and exciting business opportunities for SEMA members and the specialty equipment industry. Many of these green vehicle technologies will be discussed at the SEMA Vehicle Technology Briefing Seminar: “The Green Scene: Clean Diesels, Wild Hybrids and Muscle Electrics” being held on Nov. 5 during the SEMA Show.

To be eligible, vehicles, products and technologies must be aligned with one or more of the following categories:

· High-Performance and Green Mobility

· Current Powertrain Solutions

· Future Powertrain Solutions

· Vehicle Energy Management

· Mobile Electronics for Green Mobility

· Green Wheels Tires and Suspensions

· Fast Tracking 35 MPG

· Making Green Cool

· Marketing Green Solutions

For companies interested in entering, applicants are required to provide a press release that will fit on an 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper. The press release should be 500 words or less. A copy of the press release will be distributed from the display area at the 2008 SEMA Show. Applications can be faxed to: 909-860-0184. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Sept. 19. To download a copy of the application form, click here.

 For questions regarding the Making Green Cool Zone, please email [email protected].