Maybe Morrissey has a point here, or maybe his words will fall on deaf ears. The singer, songwriter and author recently penned a letter to General Motors CEO, Mary Barra, asking for GM to consider using vegan leather for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt and 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV.
The performer states that since both of these vehicles are environmentally friendly, a vegan leather option will only broaden the appeal of these vehicles. His letter comes on the heels of PETA’s new investigation of cattle ranches and what goes on behind the scenes at them. GM was named in the investigation as participating or encouraging these practices by utilizing the leather for production vehicles.
Morrissey’s tone was not demanding and very well written, simply stating he “looks forward” to Barra’s reply. We’ll keep you posted on if GM responds back to the request. You can see the letter in its entirety right here.
Comments
Ok so if we stop killing cows for leather seats that means we will have more cows and more flatulence and that leads to more methane gas that damages the environment and that leads to more global warming. So in the long run leather interiors are saving the planet!
Seriously this is just another misguided entertainer that really spends too much time in his hotel rooms with nothing to do.
If someone should choose the vegan life that is fine but too often PETA and other activist try to impose their life style changes upon the rest of us and sorry that is not acceptable. You want nuts, berries and cloth interiors that is fine but leave the rest of us alone with our Steaks and leather seats.
When these groups go out and destroy property, burn new houses and new SUV models that is going way too far.
Animals should be treated humanly but they are still a part of the food and provision circle. Many has survived and thrived off them for millennia. That is not going to change.
The entertainer has a point. There will always be a real leather option, but why not explore something environmentally friendly too?
Cows will only continue to be bred as long as there is a demand for them.
Many great ideas seem crazy at first before they gain acceptance and become mainstream. It’s obvious we are destroying the planet and I’m all for seeking options to make this planet more livable. This great country can continue to invent better ways to do things.
Cloth seats are made with a vegetable (cotton). So just order cloth instead of leather!
I don’t see the point on how vegan leather could be considered environmentally friendly. Sure it’s nice for people against killing animals, but it’s the opposite of being eco because if the cow is already being used for beef then not using the leather is being wasteful isn’t it?
The bottom line is the number of true hard core vegans are small in the over all market.
Next you reduce that number to the auto market that are not willing to buy a car with leather seats.
Now split that off from the auto market to the ones who will be buying a Volt and or Bolt.
Now account the number of Volts and Bolts sold and the number of anti leather seat vegans. Now to do this it would be silly to offer such an option for a very small number of buyers that would never make back the investment.
This is just another so called celebrity crying out on things they just have no full clue of.
As stated above just buy the cloth option if leather is a problem.
Also the truth is many cars today the leather content is getting less and less. The tops of the seats in many Chevys are real leather but the side panels and backs are just pleather. So little of the seats are true leather till you get to the higher end higher priced models.
This country has had enough of all these small segments trying to call the shots over the majority. I think we are now seeing a push back on this as so many have over stepped their place. The fact in live is majority rules fair or not. There are things I am in the minority on and you just have to learn to accept it and work with what you have.
Life is not always going to be fair. For us to have winners you must have losers.
Probably dating myself here but without Googling this individual I have no idea of who he is or what meaningful contribution to civilization he has ever made. If you don’t want leather there are other options. I know Thanksgiving was yesterday but perhaps he should stay at the kids table!
Tesla does offer a vegan option for its interiors. I’m far from vegan, and don’t really support veganism for reasons other than doctor imposed on an individual for health reasons specific to that person. I wouldn’t be opposed to a delete option for the leather though. I would prefer a nice plush cloth, which to me will always be more comfortable and inviting than leather (and I do have leather seats in my car for the record). For those that say just buy the cloth.. depending on the trim level, there is not always cloth offered. Perhaps someone wants an otherwise fully loaded car, just without the leather seats.
What next a Gluten free interior?
I suppose you can offer it and have an added charge to cover the cost that way GM is not out anything and when they do not buy it you can say you tried.
Cows eat grass and hay. Cows are vegan. Therefore leather seats are indeed vegan. There you go Morrissey, Problem solved. If you don’t like the leather order yours with cloth, but I’m pretty sure he is not driving a Chevy. I for one have seen even the luxury makers try to pass off their high quality “leatherette” (aka vinyl) as an adequate substitute for the real thing. Guess what, it’s not and never will be. Take for example the lame seats in the Z71 Colorado or even the base model seats in Mercedes. $40K plus for plastic seats. Looks better than it used too, but smells and feels just like the plastic it has always been.
I think the vegans are a little late. Corporate cost cutters have reduced real leather to just barely the seating surface and the steering wheel.
You are very correct.
Way back in December 1969, Chevrolet equipped my 1970 Chevelle SS 396 with a practical and quite beautiful all vinyl interior before anyone ever dreamed of pleather. It still looks new and definitely wouldn’t if it were the real thing. Of course, they have to call it “vegan leather” to get today’s cosmopolitan tree hugger to spritz their Versace panties in earth saving glee, but hey, whatever it takes. Morissey, The Summoner of vegan leather? Hell yes, I say bring it ASAP Mary.
In fact, How Soon is Now?
Somebody needs to get a real life.
Let’s hope they hear us!!!
Grassroots will rise… once educated.