Environmentalists Looking for a Deeper Shade of Green at the LA Auto Show

US Supreme Court hears case to reduce GHG emissions fought by Automakers touting their eco-cars at the LA Auto Show

Environmentalists hold a series of colorful events challenging the auto industry to commit to real environmental progress not eco-PR

Los Angeles, CA—November 28, 2006—As the auto industry unveils their "eco-cars" to journalists attending this week's Los Angeles Auto Show, concerned citizens will be on hand to help separate environmental fact from auto industry fiction.

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."

Coinciding with the opening of the LA Auto Show, this Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court will be asked to order the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobile tailpipes. 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.

"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."

Environmentalists will hold a series of creative actions throughout the five-day auto show, calling for mass production of fuel-efficient vehicles not massive PR.

For more information, visit www.jumpstartford.com ###

The Jumpstart Ford Campaign is working to end America's oil dependence, reduce oil related conflicts, and stop global climate change by convincing the auto industry to dramatically improve fuel efficiency and eliminate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Launch by Rainforest Action Network, Global Exchange and The Ruckus Society in 2003, the campaign has specifically targeted Ford Motor Company because the US Environmental Protection Agency has consistently ranked the company at or near the bottom in overall fuel economy among major American automakers.