Ford’s Driving Green Technology event has been eye opening to me as a mom, consumer, blogger, and as someone who represents brands. For a long time I’ve been hearing about the infamous Scott Monty (@ScottMonty), head of social media for Ford, and how he’s someone who really gets it. Today it was my pleasure to be Ford’s VIP guest at the North American International Auto Show press preview and watch how Ford engaged bloggers and auto show attendees through informative experiences that will be conveyed to audiences worldwide.
Ford kicked off their Driving Green Technology event for 100 invited bloggers from 14 different countries on Sunday night at the Detroit Institute of Art. We were welcomed into the Diego Rivera Gallery for drinks and to hear Edsel Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford and founder of Ford Motor Company, speak about the history of the family owned company. The location of this first event was well chosen due to Henry Ford having commissioned Diego Rivera to paint the giant murals that reflect Detroit industry and adorn the now enclosed courtyard at the Detroit Institute of Art. The dinner was truly welcoming and without an agenda. We had a representative of Ford sit at our table but rather than filling the night with Ford’s agenda, we had a great authentic conversation about topics that had nothing to do with the automotive industry or Ford!
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| Diego Rivera and Henry Ford as painted on the mural at the Detroit Institute of Art by Diego Rivera. |
Today I attended the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), a world-famous event where auto makers from around the world debut their new vehicles.
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| My media badge with misprinted site name. |
As Ford’s guest during the first press preview day, I attended their morning press conference and was able to feel the excitement as they announced vehicles like C-Max and Vertrek. Vertrek arrived by rising out of the floor of the stage and driving out of the lit cage a cloud of smoke!
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| Welcome Vertrek! |
The new Ford Focus Electric was announced by Ed Begley, Jr. via video just before we got to see the actual car come down the ramp into the auditorium.
As exciting as this news was, I was interested to see what else would be debuted at NAIAS. There were some spectacular cars- Bentleys to sit in with back seat tray tables to put down, seagull wing Mercedes, the Lincoln Continental from Entourage, and an electric SMART car that charges off a 110 or 220 plug that is standard in every home. But as I walked around, I was disappointed that other car makers did not take the time to engage me in conversation as Ford was. True, I was Ford’s guest so they provided access to many company experts and executives for us to talk to and interview in the blogger lounge, but company representatives could be found all over their floor space and there were plenty of opportunities to ask questions and engage in the hands on demos strategically placed around their many vehicles.
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| Stewart Brand discussed alternate fuel sources. As an educated consumer who did lots of research on hybrids in anticipation of our purchase over the summer, I hoped to use my knowledge to learn a little bit more about the new vehicles on the NAIAS show floor and was disappointed about the lack of engagement by other companies.
I look forward to continuing my interactions with Ford tomorrow through a trip to Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. The agenda includes a tour of the factory and the company’s green roof, a presentation about sustainability, and time on the test track before flying home.
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I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own. Photos by Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama.
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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