Motoring industry digs deep for bush fire appeal
February 10, 2009 by George Skentzos
Updated 3pm:
The gestures of goodwill and charity from the Australian automotive industry in response to the Victorian bushfire disaster has gone from a trickle to a flood, with even more companies coming forward and making their contributions known.
Ford, Audi, Nissan and Honda have all pledged donations and resources to the cause, with no doubt many other manufacturers are also rallying together in this time of need despite their own financial woes.
Ford has donated a new XR5 Turbo which will be auctioned during tonight’s cricket telecast with all proceeds going directly to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. Bidders can access the auction via Cricket Australia’s website at www.cricket.com.au.
“Everyone at Ford is horrified by the unprecedented disaster that has befallen our community over these past few days,” said Ford Australia President & CEO Marin Burela.
“The loss of so many lives, homes and livelihoods in such a manner is almost beyond belief. Helping these communities rebuild will require long term support and Ford is committed to helping the victims and the appropriate authorities as they undertake the much needed rebuilding efforts.”
This auction will supplement the company’s other relief efforts, including four new Ford Ranger 4×4 vehicles to the Country Fire Authority, for use in the areas that have been hardest hit by the devastation.
These will join the 20 support vehicles Ford has already provided to the CFA for immediate use in recovery efforts, with Ford employees also given the chance to dig deep through an internal donation program which includes paid leave to undertake volunteering projects in the months ahead.
Audi Australia has contributed an undisclosed amount to the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation (LMCF) which has now raised over $1million for the bushfire appeal.
Nissan Australia and parent company Nissan Motors in Japan have announced an initial donation of $100,000 to the bushfire relief fund, each committing $50,000 to the appeal.
Nissan Australia Managing Director, Dan Thompson, said, “We are all shocked by the severity and impact of these fires and we are keen to do whatever we can in response to these tragic events.”
In addition to this, Nissan Australia has also announced it will match – dollar for dollar – any donation made by its direct employees to either the Australian Red Cross or the Salvation Army bushfires relief funds.
As if that wasn’t enough, Nissan will also provide 100 Nissan vehicles through a special bushfire assistance program which victims of the fires will be able to borrow – at no charge – for up to six months.
Honda Australia has also pledged $200,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund to help rebuild the shattered lives of many Victorians who lost everything in the devastating fires.
Honda Foundation Chairman Mr. Lindsay Smalley said, “Honda Australia and our dealer network around Australia are shocked and saddened at the destruction and loss of life and hope this donation will go some way to assist those in immediate need”.
BMW Group Australia has also chipped in an initial sum of $100,000 and will match any further contributions from its staff and employees dollar for dollar.
In addition, BMW Group Australia will provide support to members of staff who have been directly affected by the fires in Victoria.
“We’re moved by the severity of the disaster and the extent of the tragic human suffering,” said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia. “On behalf of our employees and customers, we hope this donation will assist those affected by the Victorian bushfires.”
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Well that’s very nice of them. The important thing is not to think badly of the car companies that don’t give to the appeal. Of course there are two exceptions there, Holden and Toyota. No matter how strapped for cash they are, Holden are always going on about being very Australian so they basically have to give to this and obviously Toyota have a huge factory in Victoria. I don’t know how close it is to the bush fires, probably a long long way away but that is irrelevant in a situation like this.
geeze holden so much for being an Australian icon!! i hope they havent forgot there slogan “but Australians and Holden are tougher” we know Australians are but dont really know about holden!! its probably coz there cars cant stand the heat…get it hahahah!!! and so much for toyota selling twice as many cars as the next maker.. shame!!! WELL DONE FORD ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM THE MOST!! big pat on the back!!
Alex, Toyota kicked in $100K to the Cricket Australia appeal.
I didn’t watch the entire telecast, but with over $5M being raised, its fair to expect some other manufacturers may have also made contributions.
I dont think GM will allow them too after that bail out…After all Holden is an American company.
well done FORD:-] makes me even prouder to drive my FORDS
who cares who donated what,did every one who contributes to this site donate?i doubt it.i always thought to donate comes from the heart not to bignote or get a bit of free advertising.
when people use a disaster like this as an oppotunity to prosper their personal agenda against a car company… well its fairly dissgracefull
a couple of you here should be ashamed of yourselfs
So much for looking after australians when times are tough as holden keep telling us.Im sure thay will just a bit slow once thay see all the other car makers helping even over sea makes thay too will jump in
Here here Richo…………
As RD said on the Honda thread its not what others are not doing its what are you doing to contribute ?
As the week goes on more and more big businesses are donating towards this much needed cause so more Car Manufactures may step up yet!
My company manufactures toys in China so Im donating as much as I can afford to today for those poor children .
GM Holden……showing their real colors here i guess……
Holden and Toyoda don’t care about Australia, just too busy brainwashing and selling inferior fleet vehicles >>>>> fire !!! what fire !!!…
Holden is less Australian than Ford by a long shot..
Thanks, Ford, Nissan, Honda, etc etc.
GMAFA,
Learn how to spell. Obviously you didn’t see that toyota contributed through the cricket? How much have you given so far?
exactly, you lot who are criticising holden and toyota, how much have you bloody contributed??
More than you howie VL Bombodore.. whitegood Toyota means nothing but cheating and brainwashing.
I dunno Richo, I saw the list of companies scroll up on skynews last night. And I also thought, where’s Holden. I’m sure they will do something. But seriously if you use advertising slogans like “times are tough, but aussies are tougher” then in Australia’s worst natural disaster you do nothing. You are bound to get slammed.
At the end of the day its all PR and big companies are playing keeping up with the Joneses.
I’ll be doing my bit today by donating and I hope everyone on here does the same or at least something. If you can’t give cash give your time at least and go to (www govolunteer com au)
Give me a ford,
All I can currently afford to give was $50.00 through the red cross appeal. But my current financial situation has nothing to do with you. And Bombodore? I’m actually a Nissan fan and have just owned a couple of VL turbos. Anyways..
I was just stating the fact that yes Toyota has contributed. And its great to see these companies contributing. It would be a HUGE suprise if Holden doesn’t contribute at all. Our FORD dealership is currently collecting donations to send and most of our employees have contributed.
ALL ABOVE.
I agree with Howie-VL.
Just because you dont hear of other companies donating to the appeal, doesn’t mean we aren’t doing something “on th down low” i can justify this as i work for ford & closely deal with motors & Toyota. You all should get facts before AssUMing things.
Havn’t you heard the saying…
“if you assume you make an Ass out of U & Me???
Every one is helping out as much as possible, so build a bridge & get over it please.
I’d just like to say well done to all who have contributed, company or personally, (I gave last fortnights pay packet) and to those who haven’t if you are short of a dollar, why not look at the toys or clothes or stuff around the house you don’t use or need any more and dopnating that????
Agree Frontman even blood if you can!
One of Facebook mates has mad a great suggestion for the 14th of Feb,instead of buying flowers, cards ,gifts and taking your lady out for dinner donate the money to the Fire appeal.
Quote: Holden and Toyoda don’t care about Australia, just too busy brainwashing and selling inferior fleet vehicles >>>>> fire !!! what fire !!!…
Holden is less Australian than Ford by a long shot..
Thanks, Ford, Nissan, Honda, etc etc.
Toyotas is superior to your rubbish taxi designed fords. They help everyone out by giving jobs to australians, unlike Ford Geelong.
Why are most of you bagging toyota & holden???
As i already said above, they are helping out.
Everyone is. This is a hard time as it is without people like you bagging companies whom are helping out.
Step outside your box and have a look around…
I havn’t once seen a coment on how bad we feel for those who have lost family & their homes. (and veichles)
GroW Up
Elitist, did you not qualify for floor sweeper at Geelong??? As they have reinstated those employees who were to be put of (not those choosing early retirement) when the I6 was given a reprieve.
I guess it’s alright for Toyota to do what htey did last year in the name of getting the NO1 spot even though over 150,000 people in their home country have lost their jobs due to Toyota cutbacks??????
As for the Taxis, I seem to recall a large push for Toyota to get that market with Avalon, Camry and Prius but the licence holders keep comming back to Ford.
Keep to the topic or keep to yourself on this subject please it is not a bash oportunity it is an oportunity to recognise those tha have donated.
Just to set it straight in terms of toyota……
They donated $100,000 during the cricket Australia appeal.
I also thought it was 80 (instead of 20) vehicles Ford put forward for loaning to the community and services.
perhaps there is another 80 coming to them on top of 20 that they have had for a while????
I also think its a very clever way of donating by offering paid leave to those that want to volunteer.
Sometimes just throwing the actual money into the hat doesnt solve all the problems.
let me set it straight andy , and everyone above me who have crapped on about which car company tipped in what.
In doesnt matter what any of them have done, its what you have done, people that use this forum to bag certain car companies at a time like this are very sad people
Forza M – spot on.
This is not the time nor the place.
Spare a thought for those who lost their lives and those who survived but lost everything – in some cases friends,children, partners, homes,possessions left with only the clothes on their backs.
God bless them and give them the strength to carry on.
What I cannot fathom is that a number of the fires were started intentionally by individuals – I saw on the news a boy of 15 (!) has been charged too.
I won’t say what punishment I think they should get for fear of being called inhumane…
Forza,
let me set you straight,
i never hung dirt on any of the manufacturers, i actually defended against those that were.
get off the drugs
Andrew M
Once again you have missed the point, but out of respect fo the dead and everyone else who have been so badly effected by this tragedy i am going to leave it at that.
Fair enough then,
if you dont see it fit to recognise the great efforts and donations of those helping out,
then by all means, just leave it at that
u really a pathetic p o s. an absoulute disgrace, shame on you andrew.
The fact you continue to make this a personal attack on me is an absoulute disgrace. You are showing no respect to anyone who is actually in this terrible and tragic situation. This shows that you really are a moronic young man.
Please go away.
“I also think its a very clever way of donating by offering paid leave to those that want to volunteer.
Sometimes just throwing the actual money into the hat doesnt solve all the problems. ” Agree – most of the time its the resources, manpowere needed to get things happening throwing money sometimes just doesnt cut it.
The Realist – Its hard to say what and how much punishment an individual should receive, we all feel that the individuals should be put in a wooden house and burn the place with them in it etc…. but we all need to know what caused them to do so, is it revenge? hatred to society? a mental problem? Lets hope the coppers can get a profile of the psyche of the individual, any resolution out of that can help prevent things like this happening again…
I see everyone bagging out Holden/Toyota for not donating,did no one watch the bushfire appeal on channel 9.Holden donated i think $200grand and 200 cars for 18 months to get them back on there feet.Bit unfair bagging two companys out for not donating when really there was no question that they all would be putting there bit in one way or another.
I hear from a friend at Nissan Australia that they are supplying 4wd vehicles to 100 bushfire victims. There gonna work with DHS asking the dept to put provide a list of the deserved families and have the Nissan dealers deliver the vehicles. Sounds simple and good. The offer is free use for 6 months and offer a big big discount if they want to buy or really cheap rates if they finance the purchase with Nissan Finance. The users can hand back the car if they have no further use.