NAIAS: Moving Fordward and Going Green with Ford

I must admit I wasn’t certain why I was invited to Ford Motor Company’s annual automotive showcase event and more recently the NAIAS – North American International Auto Show.  I am a closet car enthusiast but my driving habits are not closeted…the California Highway Patrol has certainly recognized me as a speed “enthusiast”. Yes, even in my hybrid.

Ready to race in a Raptor

So I was guessing it was this green-ish side of me that they were hoping to appeal to.   I am fairly well smitten now with not only their line of cars – from sleek fuel efficient drivers, to raw power 4X4 Raptors and racy road-gripping muscle cars – but also with the progressive and bold vision and philosophy of the company and the team behind it.

Scott Monty and the panel of "think-outside-the-box-ers", The Henry Ford Museum, NAIAS, Detroit

The famed bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. The Henry Ford Museum, NAIAS event

Power of the People

I’m not a car blogger, per se.  I am a regular person who not only drives a car but wants that car to embody and support core values for me; freedom, fun, and ecological and economical logicalness. 🙂  Ford has those qualities in spades, but that isn’t all they have going for them.

It seems Ford is progressive not only in their confident directional change to embrace eco-smart automobile technology, but also in their openness to include lay people and lifestyle bloggers in their efforts to showcase these developments.

I feel fortunate indeed to be one of the regular people to join auto enthusiasts, tech journalists and green revolutionaries that Ford has brought together in their blogger summits.

Me and Jody, Mommy Moment Blogger at Ford Tech Shop

Me and the girl gang, dreaming of the vintage Ford Mustang convertible behind us. Ford Rouge factory

The lead up to this week’s auto show created a synergy of ideas, discussion and sharing as we ponder the future of transportation, ecological ramifications, and the importance of looking cool as we ease on down the road.

Legacy line-up of classic Fords, Rouge Factory, Detroit

Freedom of the Open Road

The economical and fuel-efficiency aspect of a car for me translates to freedom.  I want never to cringe about taking a road trip or visiting friends in far flung cities because I’m concerned about the exorbitant fuel cost.  Along with a growing number of eco-conscious consumers, I strive to maintain a minimal carbon footprint and thus avoid “green guilt”

Environmental advocacy posters presented during the sustainability panel discussions at Ford

Working with World Wildlife Fund, Ford's Sustainability Panel

Ford is embracing eco-psychology in a big way by cranking out a healthy garrison of green go-getters in the form of pure electric, standard hybrids, eco-boost fuel efficient gas engines and plug-in hybrids.  They are also working diligently and with conviction toward utilizing smart materials in production (even soybeans!) that are recycled or harvested from surplus crops, and incorporating environmentally sound practices at their Rouge factory in Detroit.

Green Crush

While at the conference, we were given a brief history of Ford’s ecological efforts. I love that Henry Ford tinkered with green way back when.  He even had a car made entirely of soybeans. But I think I love even more the bold and risky path that his great-grandson, Bill Ford, took when he insisted early on –and not very popularly – that if he was to be involved with the family business, they were all going to need to go green. And he meant it.

This was not a popular stance over a decade ago when Bill took it firmly.  But he’s one of those rare people with heart to equal his determination and he eventually persuaded the team that this was a necessary and good tack for Ford.

I love that he projects far into the future, noting that Ford must be involved in solutions for issues like mass urbanization and global gridlock. This is Ford branching out and truly working on issues that will one day affect us all.

A poetic turn-around.

We see now a company that is repeating its own pioneering history – of streamlining new ways of moving forward that address the immediate needs of transportation and the future needs of us living on a healthy, sustainable planet.  As an avid wanderluster and earth lover, this flips my switch.

Vintage Ford ad resonates today.

Now, I’d just like to see the pull come from the people; creating a demand and a synergy with companies to supply smart, ecological and economical technologies that have far-reaching ford-site. (OK, I had to do it!) As a consumer, what types of demands will you put on companies in the future? Will you embrace the newest green technologies or hold out until they are mandated? Please discuss. And thank you for reading me.

All Photos by Gina Stark (unless I’m in them)

Wonderful to meet new and reconnect with fellow bloggers, car-buffs, twitterers, and tech titans from all over the world.  Just a few of my “lifers” (not a complete list, sorry!) via Ford are: Gladys Boutwell , Michael McManus,  Zippy @zipporah, Lynn Ponder / @Ponderful, Jody / @mommymomentblog , Amanda / @GreenTravelGurl , Seth Leitman, @ErinBlaskie, Robert Basic / @RobBasic, Karen / @ecokarenlee, author Andrew Winston, Greg @CanadoGreg, Kathryn / MommyKatandKids, @MehboobJaffer, Lori Hamilton, Ford’s own Alvaro Cabal, the fabulous and accommodating Tony McCloud, and of course the illustrious and affable Scott Monty, head of social media at Ford, where he brews up the kind of media magic that gathers us all together. Truly grateful, Scott!

*Special thanks to Chris DeMorro for his previewing and editing input on this post. He tried to keep me focused at the NAIAS showroom floor as well, but I was a bit car-struck!

Me and a mmmmustang, Ford Rouge Factory tour

For more on fun with Ford (including footage of me racing around their closed track!) see also: Go Further: Full Throttle SuuperGForce Fun with Ford

*I attended the North American International Auto Show on the generous invitation of Ford Motor Company, yet without compensation or obligation of writing an article, or tweeting with a positive slant. The opinions expressed are actually my own. 🙂