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MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -- General Motors awarded KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) the 2004 "Most Innovative Product Award" for KVH's TracVision(R) A5 low-profile satellite TV antenna during the 2004 Specialty Equipment Manufacturer's Association (SEMA) annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The TracVision A5, which brings DIRECTV(R) programming to passenger vehicles, was on display during the SEMA Convention both in KVH's booth as well as on a GMC Yukon XL Denali Limited Edition show vehicle in the General Motors booth.

Robert Kern, General Motors' manager of SEMA relations, and Kip Wasenko, executive director of GM's advanced design studios, made the presentation at a special reception held during the show.

According to Wasenko, the GM Design Awards are intended to recognize aftermarket companies whose products reflect innovation and creativity, while having a high quality of execution. The standards are very high and the competition intense, and there is a great deal of lively debate among the GM designers and engineers who attend the SEMA show specifically to judge this prestigious event.

Kern added, "The GM Design Award is very prestigious, honoring the tremendous skill and innovation being applied by SEMA members who are designing products that are applied to GM vehicles for the automotive aftermarket. It's a difficult challenge for our designers and engineers to select the best of the best products in the automotive aftermarket."

Accepting the award on behalf of KVH Industries was Robert Riedford, business development director. Riedford commented, "KVH is honored and humbled to be recognized by GM for this prestigious award. We're convinced that just as people prefer to enjoy the variety and quality of DIRECTV programming in their homes, they will want the same entertainment experience in their cars." He concluded his remarks by thanking a long list of GM employees who had been helpful in introducing TracVision A5 and the concept of live satellite TV in passenger vehicles to the GM community.

The GM Design Award marks the second time in two weeks that the TracVision A5 was recognized by the automobile industry. On October 18, 2004, Automotive News and the Transportation Research Center, Inc., named the TracVision A5 as one of 24 finalists for the prestigious PACE awards. The PACE Award winners will be announced in April 2005.

# posted by Medical Information : 6:58 AM