WHO/WHAT: The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, an international competition that pits some of the world’s most fuel efficient vehicles against one another in a quest to win their share of a $10 million prize purse, will celebrate the start of on-track competition events at a public ceremony at Michigan’s state capitol in Lansing. Together with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the event will showcase several of the competing vehicles alongside Michigan officials and notable auto industry, business, and government leaders and representatives.
Event speakers to include:
- Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, The X PRIZE Foundation
- Greg Main, President and CEO, Michigan Economic Development Center (MEDC)
- Roger Curtis, President, Michigan International Speedway (MIS)
- Representative, U. S. Department of Energy
Competing teams from the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE on-site include:
- amp (Blue Ash, OH)
- Aptera (Vista, CA)
- Edison2 (Lynchburg, VA)
- Global-E (Mandeville, LA)
- ZAP (Santa Rosa, CA)
The complete list of 29 teams that will be represented in Michigan for on-track performance testing from April 26-July 30 can be found at www.progressiveautoxprize.org
A live blog of the event, along with an open Q &A will be available online at www.progressiveautoxprize.org. To submit questions or follow the conversation via Twitter, please use #piaxp.
WHEN/WHERE: April 29, 2010
10:30-11:15 a.m. Press Conference
11:15a.m.-12:00p.m. One-on-One Interview Opportunities with Press Conference Speakers and Competing Team Representatives
Michigan State Capitol
100 North Capitol Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
VISUALS: Select Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE vehicles will be on display at the Michigan State Capitol, providing a distinctive backdrop for interviews with press conference participants and teams.
INTERVIEW REQUESTS: Please contact Melissa DeLaney (202-431-4441, melissa@cfoxcommunications.com) or
Arron Robinson (202-281-4911, arron@cfoxcommunications.com)
ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. For more information about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org.
ABOUT PROGRESSIVE:
Progressive, founded in 1937, is one of the country’s largest auto insurance groups and a leading insurer of motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, and commercial vehicles. The Company offers competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service. One of Progressive’s Core Values is Excellence. To the Company’s nearly 25,000 people, it simply means seeking constant improvement. Over time, this has meant introducing revolutionary ideas that make car insurance easier to shop for, buy and use. It’s this same innovative spirit that’s behind the Company’s sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will inspire innovation that will produce more fuel efficient vehicle choices, helping to make a difference in people’s lives. Progressive’s products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at http://www.progressive.com, and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).
ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating and conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Education & Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.
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