Nearly 2,000 companies and

organizations -- exhibitors at three 2004 shows sponsored by SEMA, the

Specialty Equipment Market Association -- will benefit from an improved

method of selecting their exhibit space at next year's SEMA Spring Expo,

International Auto Salon, and SEMA Show, according to the association.

"We are making it easier for exhibitors to plan their 2004 show activities

with us," said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of marketing and

communications. "In the next few weeks, our exhibitors and prospective

exhibitors will receive prospectus packages about these three 2004

shows from us. It makes sense for exhibitors to be able to plan their exhibit

activities at the same time, given the fact that companies develop their

budgets on an annual basis."

MacGillivray said that exhibitors at one or more of the SEMA-sponsored

shows will reserve space by filling out a rental agreement and returning it

to SEMA headquarters with a deposit. The exhibitors will receive a notice

of a prescheduled call from SEMA show management. During that call,

the company representative will select his or her company's exhibit

location at the show. Both the exhibitor and the show management

company contact will be viewing the show's floor plan on the Internet

during the call.

A company's history of participating in a show determines its seniority

among the other exhibitors. MacGillivray said the phone calls to select

space will be made in order of each show's seniority.

The deadline for the SEMA Spring Expo rental agreement and deposit is

Tuesday, Sept. 30. Exhibitors will choose their exhibit location via phone

and Internet the week of Oct. 20.

The deadline for the SEMA International Auto Salon rental agreement and

deposit is Friday, Nov. 14, and Monday, Dec. 1, for the SEMA Show 2004

rental agreement. Calls to exhibitors will be made a few weeks after each

deadline.

About the 2004 Shows Sponsored by SEMA

In 2004, SEMA will sponsor the third SEMA Spring Expo in Indianapolis on

Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6. Previous SEMA Spring Expos were

held in Chicago and Nashville, Tenn.

A month later, SEMA will hold its seventh annual International Auto Salon

(IAS) from Friday through Sunday, April 2 to 4, at the Los Angeles

Convention Center. IAS is SEMA's trade and consumer show for the

rapidly growing sport compact performance segment of the automotive

accessory and special equipment industry. IAS is the only show organized

by SEMA that is open to consumers: all other SEMA-sponsored shows are

open to the industry only. Prior IAS shows were held in Pomona, Calif.,

Long Beach, Calif., and Los Angeles.

In 2004, the SEMA Show is set for Tuesday, Nov. 2,

through Friday, Nov. 5, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Famous

because of its vast array of unique automotive vehicles, huge number of

new product introductions, and participation by the world's carmakers, the

2004 SEMA Show will be the 28th consecutive show the organization has

held in Las Vegas.

Companies interested in exhibiting at any or all of these SEMA shows

should contact the association at 909/396-0289 or info@sema.org or

SEMA Show Management, 702/450-7662.

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.