Inaugural event will highlight Greenville’s place in the automotive industry
Greenville’s automotive charm will be on display next month as one mile of the city’s roadway will shut down to accommodate a line of vehicles on display, vendors and live music.
As part of Upstate International Month, Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) will host a community event called The Millennium Drive Car Cruise on March 22, to showcase Greenville’s global automotive appeal.
The inaugural event is an international car cruise and was inspired by Detroit’s annual Woodward Dream Cruise, said CU-ICAR Marketing Manager Amy Bulger.
The car cruise will take place along Millennium Boulevard and include a variety of vehicles showcasing both innovation and technology, she said. The roadway will be lined with automobiles and the community will be invited free of charge to see the future of the automotive industry.
“We are working with a lot of folks on the Motor Mile, corporations and anyone interested in putting their vehicles on display,” Bulger said. “Registration is open until March 1, and we are expecting approximately 150 cars to be on display along Millennium Drive.”
Bulger said the event would highlight the history of the automotive industry and is designed to show the progression of its technology over the last 70 years.
The Millennium Drive Car Cruise will also focus on recruiting international cars of every make, model and innovation, she said.
“As a center for Clemson University’s automotive research, it is important for us to share what we do with the community,” Bulger said. “As part of our DNA and campus, we are international.”
Clemson University has an international scope in terms of research and its students, she said. The Upstate is home to many international organizations such as BMW and Michelin, and The Millennium Drive Car Cruise provides an opportunity to foster collaboration with the community.
Bulger said the event would also include an international festival featuring four bands, international food vendors, drinks from a variety of countries, and a German beer garden.
“We want this to be a community event and we want to invite everyone to come see what CU-ICAR is all about,” she said. “It also coincides with Upstate International Month, and it is a celebration of Greenville’s international diversity in relation to the booming automotive industry centered around the Upstate.”
