The Steel Market Development Institute and the Texas Auto Writers Association Team Up for Annual Texas Truck Rodeo

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 12, 2017 -- For the fourth consecutive year, the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, is the title sponsor of the annual Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Texas Truck Rodeo, taking place Oct. 15 -17 at the Longhorn River Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas.  

"TAWA is proud to welcome SMDI back for a fourth year of keeping steel in the conversation of our marquee Texas Truck Rodeo event,” said Nic Phillips, president, TAWA. “SMDI’s long commitment to our efforts has contributed greatly to making the Texas Truck Rodeo the greatest and most competitive consumer vehicle event in the country.” 

“Trucks, SUVs and CUVs are saturating the market right now and there is no better venue than the Texas Truck Rodeo for OEMs to showcase the performance of their top-selling vehicles,” said Jody Hall, vice president, automotive market, SMDI. "These vehicles incorporate advanced high-strength steel in various applications demonstrating its great strength and durability at the highest value to the consumer.”

The Truck Rodeo is an annual event bringing journalists from throughout Texas and the U.S. to evaluate the nation’s top trucks and SUVs. Writers recognize excellence in several categories, including selecting the year’s coveted “Truck of Texas.” 

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For more than three decades, TAWA has promoted professionalism and quality in automotive journalism. TAWA produces two annual events that have gained national traction: the Texas Truck Rodeo and the Texas Auto Roundup at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas. Both events give TAWA’s journalists the opportunity to evaluate vehicles back-to-back on the street, track or off-road. Manufacturers and dealerships promote the award winners and the “Truck of Texas” is touted in national television commercials, including appearing in previous Super Bowl commercials. 

TAWA awards scholarships to Texas college and university students with a journalism major each year. The nonprofit’s annual Excellence in Craft Competition also recognizes exceptional coverage of the automotive industry by its members annually.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 120 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. 

SMDI increases and defends the use of steel by developing innovative materials, applications and value-added solutions for customers in the automotive, construction and packaging markets. SMDI automotive investors include: AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal and Nucor Corporation. For more information on SMDI, visit www.autosteel.org or follow @SMDISteel on Twitter.

Media contacts:
Deanna Lorincz
586.634.1766 / [email protected]

Ann Marie Fortunate
586.214.1731 / [email protected]

Fabian Campos
214.674.8987 / [email protected]