Plastic elimination, junior reporters, overland debut
A commitment to removing plastics from a number of automotive operations, a search for a kid reporter for a Major League Baseball game, the completion of an overland vehicle designed in part through social media input, and the winners of a vehicle design contest were among the items promoted by automakers recently.
• Volvo has set the goal of eliminating all single-use plastics from its offices, cafeterias, and events by the end of 2019. The automaker says this shift will replace more than 20 million plastic items with more sustainable, biodegradable alternatives such as wood and pulp. The change will take place gradually, although single-use plastics will be removed from all global events by the end of the year. Volvo says its other environmental efforts include support for the Volvo Ocean Race, where several participating yachts are outfitted with sensors to help collect data on marine health in remote parts of the ocean.
• In a partnership with Major League Baseball, Chevrolet is looking for kids who want a chance to interview professional baseball players at this year's All-Star game. Applicants should be between eight and 14 years old and submit a 30-60 second video clip to demonstrate their on-camera skills and knowledge of baseball stars. Two winners will be selected to attend the game in July. Entries should be submitted by May 31 at chevybaseball.com.
• Nissan has debuted its Armada Mountain Patrol vehicle, which is designed for family overlanding trips. The automaker previously put out a call for input on its social media pages, asking the public to make the final decision on a number of design elements. The vehicle includes a roof-mounted tent, vehicle recovery boards, and a winch. The Armada Mountain Patrol was introduced at the Overland Expo WEST.
• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has selected the winning entries in its 2018 Drive for Design Contest. This competition invited high school students in grades 10-12 to design a Jeep Wrangler for the year 2030. Students from the Design and Architecture Senior High School in Miami took first and second place, while a student from Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y., placed third. Prizes for the winners included a tour of the FCA Product Design studios, a two-week automotive design course at Lawrence Technological University, computer software, and an iPad.