Energy and the Future of the Automobile: The North American International Auto Show

January 7-8, 2007, Detroit, Michigan
Contact: Washington Foreign Press Center Program Officer Keith Peterson
Telephone: 202-504-6318; Email: petersonk2@state.gov

The Foreign Press Center led a tour to Detroit for the 100th anniversary of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on the theme "How Green is Detroit Going? How Fast? And What Does It Mean for the Overall Health of the Industry?" 

Twenty-five journalists participated in briefings from economists, engineers, industry analysts, automaker representatives, and the head of the Department of Energy's "Freedom Car" program during the show's "Media Days," which drew some 6,000 journalists from around the world.  With the assistance of the FPC, the journalists conduced multiple one-on-one interviews during the auto show exhibit.  The FPC also arranged a side trip to Dundee, Michigan to visit a new Chrysler "world engine plant," where a group of of print and TV journalists was escored by Chrysler's president and engineers of the plant for a tour of the plant and a series of interviews.  The topic was especially relevant this year since General Motors chose the NAIAS to launch the Chevy Volt, a concept car that will run on electricity.