Mercedes-Benz USA to Offer a Leather-Free Car

February 2015

In 2013 and 2014, the designated “leather-free” models of the Mercedes-Benz–engineered Smart Fortwo still included leather steering wheels. But following appeals from PETA pointing out that leather is a poor choice for a purportedly Earth-friendly car, the company has confirmed that the base model for the all-new manual transmission Smart Fortwo (C453)—anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2015—will be 100 percent leather-free.

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Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind

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