MENTOR, Ohio - Avery Dennison announced today that “Generation,” the University of Michigan’s 2013 solar car, features an Avery Dennison vehicle wrap film. Generation, revealed to the public on June 18, will compete in the 2013 World Solar Challenge, a solar-powered car race which covers 3021 km through the Australian Outback October 6 – 13.

"Generation," the University of Michigan's 2013 solar car, features an Avery Dennison vehicle wrap film. Generation was unveiled at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, MI onJune 18, 2013. Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

“Avery Dennison is proud to support the University of Michigan Solar Car Team for the third year in a row,” saidDon Nolan, president, Avery Dennison Materials Group. “The students redesign the car every two years for the biennial World Solar Challenge with the best technology and engineering possible to attain their goal to be #1. Avery Dennison shares their passion for the pursuit of winning with innovation.”

"Implementing an Avery Dennison wrap on the solar car is beneficial in so many ways,” said Pavan Naik, senior business development manager for the University of Michigan Solar Car Team. “The wrap hugs the aerodynamic body of our car, allowing us to maintain the very efficient shape we designed for Generation. It also allows us to place all our sponsor logos on a single wrap, which avoids the unnecessary drag that comes with decals. We're looking forward to racing Generation in the World Solar Challenge this October."

TKO Graphix, a full service graphics provider from Indiana, created and installed the vehicle wrap for Generation. More than 700 square feet of Avery Dennison® MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply™ film was digitally printed and protected with DOL 1360 Gloss overlaminate. Several support vehicles were also marked with University of Michigan and solar car decals.

“The Avery Dennison films make the car look great and were easy to install on Generation’s contours,” saidTom McClelland, production manager at TKO Graphix. “The wrap vinyl provides Generation with the protection and durability it needs to win the race. We are excited to be part of such a great team again, this year.”

Generation will complete a mock race around the perimeter of Michigan in July in preparation for the 2013 World Solar Challenge in Australia. The team leaves the U.S. in September to prepare for the 1,800-mile (3,000km) race across Australia.

Vinyl wraps and graphics aren’t limited to solar cars, they can be installed on most vehicles and boats, ATVs, motorcycles and RVs. Wraps easily change the look of a vehicle, can be installed quicker than a custom paint job and are often more affordable than paint. Consumers can visit www.CarWraps.net to learn about getting a vehicle wrap.

For more information on Avery Dennison products, pricing or roll sizes, designers and printers can visitwww.graphics.averydennison.com to locate a distributor (on the Partner Page) or contact Avery Dennison at 800-282-8379 for additional product information.

For more information about the World Solar Challenge, visit http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/.

Follow the University of Michigan: http://www.umsolar.com/