Auto Industry’s Eco Promises at LA Auto Show Inconsistent with Pollution Position in Massachusetts v Environmental Protection Agency

Automakers fight efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobile tailpipes in the US Supreme Court today

Series of colorful events outside LA Auto Show help consumers separate environmental fact from automaker fiction

Los Angeles, CA— Today, as the LA Auto Show kicks off the auto show season to great eco fanfare, the U.S. Supreme Court will be asked to order the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobile tailpipes (Massachusetts v Environmental Protection Agency). However, the “eco friendly” auto companies under The Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers, which represents General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG, Toyota Motor Corp. and five other automakers, have spent hundreds of thousands on legal support to prevent the passing of this legislation.

Environmental and human rights advocates will hold a series of creative actions throughout the duration of the auto show, calling for mass production of pollution-free, petroleum-free vehicles and calling attention to the inconsistency between the auto industry’s words and actions. On Wednesday, concerned citizens will convene an “Oil Addicts Anonymous” meeting at the LA Auto Show to offer empathy, support and encouragement to help the American auto industry confront its grave addiction to oil. Other colorful events throughout the week include a “greenwash car wash,” giant balloon banners, and public education efforts focused on the auto industry’s contribution to global warming.

“How can anyone believe Ford and GM’s claims about becoming environmentally friendly while their money is clearly going to crush landmark environmental legislation,” says Sarah Connolly, Zero Emissions Campaign Director for Rainforest Action Network. “The technology demonstration vehicles unveiled at this week’s auto show fall far short of the response needed from auto manufacturers in order to curb green house gas emissions and catalyze energy independence.”

While Ford plans to unveil its new hydrogen cell concept car, this vehicle is not planned for mass production and will likely not be available to consumers for years- if ever. The reality is that Ford Motor Company’s cars, trucks and SUVs guzzle approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil a day. In addition, while General Motors will be touting their environmental commitment for 2007 at the opening plenary, GM’s destructive campaign to crush petroleum-free, pollution-free electric vehicles has been immortalized in the critically-acclaimed documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car”.

“Automakers may be spending millions of dollars advertising their environmental commitments, but they continue to sell America’s most oil-addicted vehicles,” says Mike Hudema, Independence from Oil Director with Global Exchange. “If they’re serious about making an environmental commitment, then Ford, GM, Toyota and the rest of the automakers will commit to mass produce fuel-efficient cars, rather than mass-market environmental dreams.”

For more information, visit www.jumpstartford.com