Value-driven

4 March 2022

Animal friendly

Greg Rust, Shane Jacobson and I have interviewed quite a few famous faces and motoring personalities on THE GRILLE podcast – Jeremy Clarkson, David Brabham, Mick Doohan, Molly Taylor and Daniel Ricciardo to name a few.

It’s got me thinking about another big name: Sir Lewis Hamilton. Now, you’ll be pushed to find someone who doesn’t recognise that name. He is a seven-time Formula One world champion after all. He also happens to be the most famous vegan in the automotive world. 

The rise of veganism – and awareness of the philosophies behind it – has been driven by figures like Hamilton and the impact is far-reaching. It goes above and beyond the kitchen table. For example, there has never been so much choice when it comes to vegan and sustainable car interiors. More and more vehicle manufacturers are branching out and offering alternatives to traditional leather.

Back in 2019, Tesla announced the interior of its Model 3 was “100% leather-free”. Now, they’ve had a few issues with quality control but that’s another story. Last year, Volvo announced all its cars would be completely leather-free by 2030.

Other marques are heading down the same track – looking at velour, leather-like performance material, faux-suede and more.

WhichCar recently did an animal-friendly round-up. Most major manufacturers have at least one ‘vegan-friendly’ car option already, with Ford well and truly topping the list with 28 models offering animal-free interiors. Honda takes second place with 20 and Nissan has 19 vegan-friendly models.

The automotive industry is constantly evolving and adapting, and I love to see it. What’s next?

Words: VACC CEO, Geoff Gwilym.

Share your thoughts! E: ceo@vacc.com.au. As featured in the Herald Sun 4 March 2022.