Washington Auto Show Highlights #MadeAcrossAmerica
Judy Antell
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Even cars considered imports are “Made Across America.”
And since cars are one of our country’s key economic indicators, as the auto manufacturers increase sales, the US economy grows.
Nicole Wakelin and Carissa Rogers showing off the roomy storage capacity of a Jeep Cherokee
This point was driven home by an initiative at the recently ended Washington Auto Show: Made Across America. 70 cars and trucks from nearly every final auto assembly plant in the US were driven to Washington, DC, by executives and assembly line workers at car companies across the country, joined by writers who blogged and Instagrammed their journeys.
Autos participating in the #MadeAcrossAmerica campaign gathered in front of the US Capitol for the start of the Washington, DC Auto Show
What may have surprised those who don’t follow the auto industry closely was the diversity of the #MadeAcrossAmerica cars that converged on the Capitol on January 21. Vehicles from Acura, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Nissan, Ram, and Volkswagen, are assembled in Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey – and they were all driven to DC.
The tricked out Dodge Ram
Carissa Rogers drove from Detroit to DC as part of a four person team of bloggers and car company executives switching off among Chrysler vehicles. The team took turns driving four 2015 models: Jeep Cherokee, Chrysler 200, Ram 1500 and Dodge Durango. They spent two days road tripping and rejuvenating at #MadeAcrossAmerica hotspots. At the Toledo Jeep Factory Carissa learned Jeeps are not only completely made in America, they are also shipped worldwide. Of all the vehicles in her road trip, Carissa was surprised to realize the Jeep Cherokee was by far the most fun to drive.
Several other pit stops highlighted cool, funky and just plain WEIRD stuff made across America. Some of Carissa’s favorite highlights were The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the Aliner Popup Camper Factory in rural Pennsylvania and–maybe surprisingly?–across the street from Aliner… a UFO monument.
“This was one of the most memorable road trips I’ve ever been part of! Let’s do it again!” said Carissa, when asked about the experience.
An Aliner Popup Camper
Nicole Wakelin was along with Carissa for the drive and enjoyed seeing the country and getting to experience some of Chrysler’s vehicles on a long road trip. She liked all the vehicles, but the one she was most excited to try was the Ram 1500. Driving a car and driving a truck can be very different, and Nicole said she loved being behind the wheel of a truck on Pennsylvania interstates that were crowded with tractor trailers.
The Jeep in Pittsburgh, on its road trip to the Washington, DC Auto Show
It was also absolutely beautiful inside, tricked out with leather everywhere and buckles on the seat back pockets reminiscent of saddlebags. You don’t have to be a cowboy to drive the Ram 1500, but you just might feel like one by the time you jump out of the truck.
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