This past week I had the luxury of reviewing GM’s 2008 line-up in Detroit. Can you believe they handed me the keys to a 2008 Corvette, then let me loose on their testing track? The company is more than a few steps ahead of the competition when it comes to embracing the blogosphere. They invited Trend Hunter down, covered all costs, from flight to hotel and extravagant meals, then let us test drive their latest vehicles, including the new hybrid cars, SUVs and trucks. We also got a sneak peek at the Chevy Volt, their latest electric concept car. To top it off, we got to take in a Tiger’s game in GM’s suite. They wanted us to mention that, but emphasized strongly that we were free to write (or not write) about any part of the experience.
GM has realized the importance of blogging—it’s no longer enough to rely on media reviews in newspapers and magazines. People want the real information, the unfiltered, unscreened truths. They’ve even started their own blog.
Earlier this year, they flew Trend Hunter down to the Detroit Auto Show to join a slew of the automotive industry’s big wigs as well as a-list celebs.
In the coming weeks, Trend Hunter will bring you more detailed information on the new collections, including the 14 hybrids to be released in the next four years.
In the mean time, check out their blog and take a look at the video in which Bob Lutz explains GM’s decision to embrace citizen journalism on the web.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Embracing the Blogosphere
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop strategies to leverage the power of blogging for marketing and customer engagement.
- Hybrid Cars and Electric Vehicles
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore advancements in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies, such as the Chevy Volt, to develop more sustainable transportation solutions.
- Citizen Journalism and Unfiltered Information
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create platforms or tools that empower citizen journalism and provide unfiltered information to consumers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive Industry
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate blogging and social media into marketing strategies to reach and engage with a wider consumer base.
- Media and Publishing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop platforms or technologies that enable citizen journalism and provide a platform for unfiltered information sharing.
- Consumer Electronics
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with automakers to enhance the integration of technology and connectivity in hybrid and electric vehicles.
