British singer Morrissey has asked GM to start offering vegan leather upholstery in its eco-friendly Chevrolet Volt and Bolt models, as part of a new PETA campaign.
In a letter directed to GM CEO Mary Barra, the 57-year-old singer wrote: “GM is named in PETA’s brand new investigation of cattle ranches, on which animals are branded on the face, electro-shocked, and beaten before they’re slaughtered to become leather interiors for car companies, including yours.”
“A staggering 51 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture…”, the letter continued. “Given that the Volt and Bolt are being marketed to eco-conscious buyers, entirely vegan options would only broaden their appeal. I look forward to your reply.”
GM spokesman Nick Richards told AutoNews that their company has “very specific guidelines for our suppliers that require them to follow all local laws and regulations,” in addition to forbidding animal abuse.
“All the leather we use in our vehicles is a byproduct of some other use of the animal,” Richards said. “So those animals are not raised specifically for their leather.” As for the request to offer a vegan leather option for the Chevrolet Volt and Bolt models, Richards said that most GM models already offer non-leather options.
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