Last week we were in Detroit to mix it with auto execs and 6,000 reporters from around the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The NAIAS is the world's premier auto event and all the auto companies were out in true green washing force.
Cops, cops and more cops:
Sometimes the best way to tell how effective you are being is to measure the response of your target. Well if the police/security response we faced in Detroit is any indication we are winning.
Day 1: Just going for a walk and trying to meet Carmen Elektra and give Rick Wagoner the pledge that he forgot in LA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQkVYn0gCU&NR) we were joyfully greeted by the coast guard, Detroit police, event security and personally greeted by 35 officers all equipped with our pictures and back ground histories. Despite their presence we were still able to light up Mo'town with some amazing light projections.
Day 2: Hoping the police wouldn't beat up a Muppet we dutifully escorted a very disgruntled Kermit the Frog who was tired of Ford ruining his green name. Check out the video - http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=3GEfqM3P4ZA
Day 3: While trying to help Toyota produce its latest Tundra commercial, "When you want to destroy the planet even faster the new Tundra is here for your driving needs" two of us were arrested for trespassing. After singing mournful renditions of "Folsom Prison Blues" and me being in jail for 20 hours before I was sent to INS, we were quite pleased to learn that several members of the Detroit police department saw the pledge delivery in LA, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQkVYn0gCU&NR) thought it was hilarious and supported the campaign. One even refused to go to the auto show till Rick signed.
Transcript of interaction:
(I am arrested and put in handcuffs)
(I am put in the back of the cop car)
Officer 1: I want to tell you that I am just doing my job and it doesn't mean I don't support your campaign.
Me: That's great.
Officer 1: I also wanted to say that what you folks did in LA was incredible!! We watched it at the station and I have never laughed so hard. You guys are great.
(Later as Mike is being booked)
Officer 1 to Officer 2: Hey do you know who this is?
Officer 2 (looking confused): No
Officer 1: Come on look at his face, where do you know him.
Officer 2: I don't know, where.
Officer 1: The LA Autoshow, these guys gave the pledge to Rick Wagoner, they're celebrities.
In the end despite the automakers spending a wad on security and days, possibly weeks of Internet research (days that they will never get back) we once again got the message out - check out the article in the Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.
com/wp-dyn/content/article
/2007/01/09/AR200701090146
3.html
The announcements:
GM: Looks like GM is on the right track with the Chevy Volt (PHEV) and E-flex platform and should be applauded when the Volt hits the road. Plug-in hybrid electric is the most viable existing technology to help reduce oil consumption in this country, so we're pleased to see major automakers like GM beginning to embrace it.
Unfortunately, GM admits that its latest concept won't be on the road for at least 3-5 years. That means that the Volt won't do anything about GM's overall average fuel economy in 2007, which remains lower than it was 10 years ago. And GM is still leading the lawsuit to block the groundbreaking greenhouse gas regulations in the state of California.
Ford:
It looks like Ford, as they try to convince consumers and investors that there is a Way Forward, wanted some eco credibility as well and therefore designed an outlandish plug in hydrogen hybrid protype. Ford admits that the Airstream is the dreamiest of concepts that we'll never see in an American garage. From our perspective, that won't do much to address Ford's financial woes or the consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Toyota:
And then, there's Toyota, the company renowned for its leadership on fuel efficiency. What was its premier concept for America in 2007? The Toyota Tundra--the largest and most fuel inefficient truck it's ever built in the United States. In fact the majority of vehicles Toyota unveiled were big gas-guzzling trucks. Looks like Toyota isn't that green after all.
Cops, cops and more cops:
Sometimes the best way to tell how effective you are being is to measure the response of your target. Well if the police/security response we faced in Detroit is any indication we are winning.
Day 1: Just going for a walk and trying to meet Carmen Elektra and give Rick Wagoner the pledge that he forgot in LA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQkVYn0gCU&NR) we were joyfully greeted by the coast guard, Detroit police, event security and personally greeted by 35 officers all equipped with our pictures and back ground histories. Despite their presence we were still able to light up Mo'town with some amazing light projections.
Day 2: Hoping the police wouldn't beat up a Muppet we dutifully escorted a very disgruntled Kermit the Frog who was tired of Ford ruining his green name. Check out the video - http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=3GEfqM3P4ZA
Day 3: While trying to help Toyota produce its latest Tundra commercial, "When you want to destroy the planet even faster the new Tundra is here for your driving needs" two of us were arrested for trespassing. After singing mournful renditions of "Folsom Prison Blues" and me being in jail for 20 hours before I was sent to INS, we were quite pleased to learn that several members of the Detroit police department saw the pledge delivery in LA, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQkVYn0gCU&NR) thought it was hilarious and supported the campaign. One even refused to go to the auto show till Rick signed.
Transcript of interaction:
(I am arrested and put in handcuffs)
(I am put in the back of the cop car)
Officer 1: I want to tell you that I am just doing my job and it doesn't mean I don't support your campaign.
Me: That's great.
Officer 1: I also wanted to say that what you folks did in LA was incredible!! We watched it at the station and I have never laughed so hard. You guys are great.
(Later as Mike is being booked)
Officer 1 to Officer 2: Hey do you know who this is?
Officer 2 (looking confused): No
Officer 1: Come on look at his face, where do you know him.
Officer 2: I don't know, where.
Officer 1: The LA Autoshow, these guys gave the pledge to Rick Wagoner, they're celebrities.
In the end despite the automakers spending a wad on security and days, possibly weeks of Internet research (days that they will never get back) we once again got the message out - check out the article in the Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.
com/wp-dyn/content/article
/2007/01/09/AR200701090146
3.html
The announcements:
GM: Looks like GM is on the right track with the Chevy Volt (PHEV) and E-flex platform and should be applauded when the Volt hits the road. Plug-in hybrid electric is the most viable existing technology to help reduce oil consumption in this country, so we're pleased to see major automakers like GM beginning to embrace it.
Unfortunately, GM admits that its latest concept won't be on the road for at least 3-5 years. That means that the Volt won't do anything about GM's overall average fuel economy in 2007, which remains lower than it was 10 years ago. And GM is still leading the lawsuit to block the groundbreaking greenhouse gas regulations in the state of California.
Ford:
It looks like Ford, as they try to convince consumers and investors that there is a Way Forward, wanted some eco credibility as well and therefore designed an outlandish plug in hydrogen hybrid protype. Ford admits that the Airstream is the dreamiest of concepts that we'll never see in an American garage. From our perspective, that won't do much to address Ford's financial woes or the consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Toyota:
And then, there's Toyota, the company renowned for its leadership on fuel efficiency. What was its premier concept for America in 2007? The Toyota Tundra--the largest and most fuel inefficient truck it's ever built in the United States. In fact the majority of vehicles Toyota unveiled were big gas-guzzling trucks. Looks like Toyota isn't that green after all.