Former Smiths’ singer Morrissey wrote an open letter to General Motors Company (GM) CEO Mary Barra urging the car manufacturer to create vegan leather interior options for their Chevy Bolt and Volt models—cars that are marketed as eco-friendly. Morrissey was prompted to write the letter after animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released an investigation wherein GM was named as one of the companies that sources leather from abused cows and calves on Brazilian ranches. “Animals are branded on the face, electro-shocked, and beaten before they’re slaughtered and used to make leather interiors for car companies, including yours,” Morrissey wrote—before urging Barra to offer vegan interiors, steering wheel covers, and gear shifts. In addition to his recent work with animal-rights organizations to help stop live animal exports in Australia, the musician is also known for only playing at venues that agree to go vegan for his shows (he mandated that five Australian venues nix animal products from their menus during his tour this summer).

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