A recent Automotive News editorial (2020) flatly declared that the planet “is warming at a dangerous rate, and the global auto industry has a major role to play in fixing the problem.” Another unsigned editorial called for massive government efforts to speed the transition to electric vehicles, such as through the creation of a nationwide charging network (Automotive News, 2021).
Both editorials use remarkably strong language for this normally staid industry trade journal. For example:
“The debate over the wisdom of converting the world’s automotive fleet from fossil fuels to electrical propulsion is now largely moot: Emissions from personal transportation needs to be reduced dramatically, so if people are going to continue owning vehicles, evermore of them will need electric drivetrains. The investments have been made and the industry’s direction is clear. Both types of vehicles will remain on sale for some time, but the trend lines are in focus.” (Automotive News, 2021)
What does Keith Crain think of all this?
I was surprised to see such unequivocal language. Automotive News has traditionally done an inadequate job of covering climate change. Not surprisingly, its long-time publisher Keith Crain has been unenthusiastic about electric vehicles and resistant to governmental efforts to increase their usage.
Commentator GS (2021) noted that Crain “would flip out” when reading the above editorial because “he was totally anti-electric.” Crain is still listed as editor-in-chief of Automotive News but hasn’t written a column for the publication since November 2019.
A badly needed step forward, but no cigar
A part of me wants to give Automotive News editorial staff kudos for their policy shift. I wonder how hard-fought the internal debates were over these editorials.
However, this is the same publication that has neglected climate change for literally decades. Automotive News has had enough agenda-setting power that it could have helped spur the auto industry to substantively deal with the issue much earlier. If that had happened even 20 years ago, the transition to a climate-friendly transportation system could have been more gradual — and less disruptive to the industry.
Also see ‘It’s a big deal that Ford and GM knew about climate change in 1960s’
Instead, automakers — both domestic and foreign — doubled down on gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs (go here for further discussion). Automotive News mostly looked the other way.
News coverage also needs to change
A cynic might wonder whether Automotive News is now merely reacting — in its customary fashion — to the inexorable tidal shifts of history. An increasing number of states and nations have established the goal of banning the sale of gas-powered light vehicles in the next decade (Reuters, 2020). And General Motors recently announced its intent to only sell zero-emission cars by 2035 (Boudette and Davenport, 2021).
Also see ‘Elon Musk’s infamous interview: What the auto media missed‘
Whatever its motivations, Automotive News’ editorial support for an EV transition could be helpful in marginalizing auto media pundits who traffic in bizarre “eco-Communist” conspiracies. Nevertheless, the publication still has a great deal of journalistic lost ground to make up for.
The auto industry’s role in climate change is a big and complex issue. It can’t be adequately covered if Automotive News continues its traditional focus on product-launch minutiae. So, for starters, how about an update on a package of climate stories it did back in . . . 2007?
RE:SOURCES
- Automotive News; 2020. “Biden needs to set clear path for cleaner cars.” Unsigned editorial (subscription required). Posted Nov. 16; accessed Feb. 1.
- ——; 2021. “Time for U.S. to embrace the EV.” Unsigned editorial (subscription required). Posted Jan. 18; accessed Feb. 1.
- Boudette, Neal E. and Coral Davenport. “G.M. Will Sell Only Zero-Emission Vehicles by 2035.” The New York Times. Posted Jan. 28; accessed Feb. 4.
- GS; 2021. Commentator in “Time for U.S. to embrace the EV.” Automotive News (subscription required). Posted Jan. 18; accessed Feb. 4.
- Reuters; 2020. “FACTBOX – Fossil fuel-based vehicle bans across the world.” Posted Nov. 18; accessed Feb. 4.
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