AJAC and Green Living Announce Collaboration on New Canadian Green Car Award

TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) and Green Living jointly announced today, at the Canadian International Auto Show, that they are collaborating to create a new, annual Canadian Green Car award program.

The winner of the initial Canadian Green Car award, presented by AJAC and Green Living, will be announced at the Green Living Show in Toronto on April 12, 2013.

To compete for the award, Canadian auto manufacturers and distributors have been invited to enter 2013 and 2014 model vehicles that satisfy specific target criteria for such things as fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and incorporate environmentally-friendly technologies, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, clean diesels and advanced conventional technologies.

This award is not part of AJAC's long-established and broad-based Canadian Car of the Year program, the 2013 winners of which were also announced here today. Rather the Canadian Green Car award will focus more directly on the overall environmental impact of the vehicles, with consideration for their real-world functional capabilities and overall value equation.

"The strong connection of AJAC with the Canadian car-buying public, as well as Green Living's strong connection with environmentally-conscious consumers, will work together to achieve the goals common to both organizations - namely, providing relevant, trustworthy and criteria-driven advice to Canadians," says Charles Renny, president of AJAC.

"Each year at the Green Living Show consumers will have the opportunity to view and test drive the most innovative auto technology on the market," says Laurie Simmonds, CEO, Green Living Enterprises. "Canadians are interested in finding the most attractive and fuel-efficient solutions for their transportation needs. We are thrilled to partner with AJAC to recognize Canada's automotive industry and celebrate the first ever Canadian Green Car award winner at the 2013 Green Living Show."

The top five finalists will be featured on the Green Living Show floor from April 12th-14th, and the Green Car Award will be presented by AJAC on the mainstage on Friday, April 12th at the Direct Energy Centre.

About AJAC - The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is an association of professional journalists, writers and photographers whose focus is the automobile and the automotive industry. An integral part of the association is the annual Car of the Year Awards program. Its primary purpose is to provide consumers with sound, objective, comparative data on which to base their new vehicle buying decisions.  Visit http:/www.ajac.ca for more information.

About Green Living Enterprises / The Green Living Show - Green Living Enterprises is a pioneer and leader in developing social and environmental marketing programs that keep consumers and clients at the forefront of the green agenda. Green Living Enterprises is a full-service, one- stop solution for green marketing, product and program development, custom publishing, and event management. Green Living Enterprises, an authentically green company, also includes Greenlivingonline.com and The Green Living Show, Canada's largest green consumer show, dedicated to easy and workable solutions for leading a sustainable lifestyle. For more information, visit  http://www.greenlivingonline.com/torontoshow/.

SOURCE: Automobile Journalists Association of Canada

For further information:

Further details concerning the Canadian Green Car award program will be released between now and the Gren Living Show. For more informatin on the award program, contact Susan Elliott at [e-mail].