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The Green Machines Tour is an educational campaign to showcase fuel-efficient vehicle technologies being made in the nation's heartland, and to build awareness of new policy opportunities that can further enhance the industry's competitiveness. Launched in August 2004, the tour brings together local UAW officers, environmental organizations, auto industry representatives, and elected officials to promote fuel-efficient technologies and policies that can ensure that future advanced vehicle technologies are produced in the U.S., keeping the domestic automobile industry competitive.
U.S. automobile manufacturers offer a number of fuel-efficient vehicles and
will soon begin production of an even broader range of advanced technology vehicles and components.
These include a number of advanced conventional technologies such as more efficient engines and
transmissions, as well as a range of new hybrid-electric vehicles. These new technologies have meant
new investments in exiting UAW production facilities, thus preserving good UAW jobs. They also help
the US industry compete in technological leadership, essential for retaining market share and
increasing the number of UAW jobs over the long run. And by investing in fuel-efficient
technologies, U.S. auto companies meet their environmental obligations to achieve higher fuel
economy standards and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
See Fact Sheet: Why We Need More Fuel-Efficient Technologies
United Auto Worker (UAW) members and domestic
automakers are currently making or planning to make a wide variety of environmentally friendly
vehicles including new hybrid-electric vehicles, as well as new transmission, engine and other
advanced technologies from UAW-organized component manufacturers. In all, at least 30 cities in 14
states have UAW-organized manufacturing facilities engaged in fuel-efficient vehicle or component
production.
Investing in advanced vehicle technologies not only helps ensure UAW jobs but also
helps strengthen the American manufacturing sector. These new investments by the domestic auto
industry are an important commitment to keeping the U.S. manufacturing base competitive in the face
of increasingly global production systems. By educating union membership, elected officials and the
general public on the economic and environmental benefits of advanced vehicle technologies, we can
help to ensure that local production facilities stay competitive.
To ensure continues investments in new fuel-efficient technologies, these
technologies must ultimately be successful in the marketplace. Other countries, so far, appear to
have invested more in the future of their auto industries by providing manufacturing and consumer
incentives for the production of these technologies. New partnerships between labor, environmental
organizations and the auto industry are now needed to help convince state and federal governments in
the U.S. to increase their support for advanced vehicle technologies.
See Fact Sheet: Policies to Stimulate Investment in Advanced Fuel-Efficient
Technologies
The Green Machines Tour is organized by the Ecology Center, a regional environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Ecology Center works for a just and healthy environment through grassroots organizing, advocacy, education and demonstration projects. The Auto Project of the Ecology Center works to address the toxic and health issues related to the production of automobiles and promotes cleaner vehicle technologies.