LOS ANGELES — Green will again be the theme as General Motors and Toyota try to one-up each other in providing red-carpet rides for celebrities at the upcoming 80th Annual Academy Awards celebration here.

General Motors on Thursday announced that it will provide the stars with a fleet of fuel cell and hybrid vehicles, including the Chevrolet Fuel Cell Equinox and the GMC Yukon Hybrid. Toyota was quick to respond with its lineup for the Academy Awards, noting that it will provide the Prius, Camry and Highlander Hybrid "to our friends in the entertainment industry.

"A chauffeur is one small sign of appreciation to recognize the important role of the entertainment industry in taking action to preserve our environment," said Mary Nickerson, Toyota Motor Sales USA national external communications manager.

GM said it has put together a fleet of more than 75 eco-friendly rides, including FlexFuel E85 GMC Yukons, in what it says will be the "biggest fuel-friendly fleet" for a major awards show. It added that "later this quarter, Chevrolet will hand the keys to Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles over to major entertainment celebrities for everyday use as part of its Project Driveway program."

Neither automaker is specifying which celebrities will be chauffeured in its vehicles on Oscar night.

The rush to be the greenest automaker at the Oscars has been continually ramping up. Toyota capitalized on its green reputation at last year's awards ceremony by providing gas/electric hybrids to ferry stars to the Oscar ceremony.

What this means to you: Gas guzzlers will be taboo at this year's Oscar ceremony. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent