Last Friday saw the open of the 2006 L.A. Auto Show. Entitled “New Beginnings," this year's show's said to be focusing on new technologies to develop a more eco-friendly auto industry.

Promises to focus on efficiency are nothing new to the auto industry or the L.A. Auto Show itself. For the past half century, prototype after amazing prototype have been paraded before the public in a very clever public relations ruse to keep the populace focused on the promises of a better tomorrow.

Well, thankfully, this year people were willing to try and not let that happen again. Protestors from the Rainforest Action Network, CODEPINK, and Global Exchange staged subversive protests throughout the day, pointing out the auto industries deceptive attempts to fashion the word “Green” in their own likeness.

One highlight came at the end of the keynote address given by Rick Wagoner of General Motors, when 2 protestors dressed in business attire walked up on stage, thanked him for his speech, and asked him to sign a pledge committing GM to be the leader in fuel economy by 2010. Watch the video of the prank here, or read a first-hand perspective and analysis on Triple Pundit. You can also see pictures of the various protests here.

We will have more coverage of the L.A. Auto Show later in the week and extended coverage of the real revolutionary auto show everyone one should come out and see: The AltCar Expo 2006, running Dec. 9th – 10th.