Final Thoughts From The Detroit Auto Show

Written by Clayton B. Cornell
Published on January 18th, 2008
4 Comments
Posted in Cars, Technology

This year’s auto show was a clash of environmental responsibility with traditional automotive manufacturing.

Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, told a group of us that we have two basic choices: use oil until the oil’s gone, or start working on alternatives now and avoid a drastic and potentially unpleasant switch.

While producers are still putting out large, gas-driven vehicles with relatively low fuel economy, the major players are inching toward alternatives and pursuing new technology as rapidly as they say they can. The green theme was so pervasive that some have dubbed 2008 the ‘green year for auto manufacturing’.

Consumers are playing a major role in the transition, at least according to industry representatives, by demanding improved fuel economy and more choice in the realm of ‘environmentally responsible’ vehicles. But despite the show’s green theme, recycling was nowhere to be seen. It also appears that sustainable sourcing of auto parts, and cradle-to-cradle car design have a long way to go.

But again, we’re talking about the greening of a individual transportation, which I’ve said before is the most difficult of personal sustainability issues to address. At least we’re getting somewhere.

Keep your eyes out for new technology that’s really going to make a dent in petroleum usage, like GM’s Chevy Volt, or Coskata’s new ethanol production method.

Here are all the posts from the 2008 North American International Auto Show:

How to Get Infinity MPG: Fisker’s Eco-Chic Karma vs Chevy Volt
GM’s Grand Plan For Solving America’s Oil Dependence
A Conversation With Bob Lutz: Vice Chairman of General Motors
More About the Coskata Process
Chevy Volt: Where Is GM’s Electric Car?
GM Unveils The E85 ‘Green Hummer’
GM Announces Biofuel Partnership: Cheap, Green Ethanol?

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4 Responses to “Final Thoughts From The Detroit Auto Show”

  1. GM's Chairman Rick Wagner Meets with Bloggers at NAIAS | PodTech.net: Technology and Entertainment Video Network Says:
    January 19th, 2008 at 12:28 am

    [...] Isabel Kallman, Autowriter Matthew Keegan, Philippe Daix of TopSpeed.com, Clayton Cornell of Green Options, and Autopia’s Marty [...]

  2. Jeff McIntire-Strasburg Says:
    January 19th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Really nice job covering the show, Clayton! I’ve had similar feelings about my own trips to cover auto shows: the industry is in the process of “getting it,” but they’ve still got a ways to go. But, there are also people in these companies that know that: fuel efficiency is incredibly important, as is moving away from oil. The next step is changing the design paradigm… if that happens, we can see major steps forward.

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    February 27th, 2008 at 6:08 am

    [...] this year´s Detroit auto show, GM’s Cadillac division displayed their Provoq Concept car, an electric vehicle powered by an [...]

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    July 25th, 2008 at 4:30 am

    [...] begin implementing their “EcoBoost” technology in 2009. EcoBoost engines debuted at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, and according to Ford offer 20% better fuel economy through advancements in turbocharged [...]