More car makers rally to the bushfire appeal
February 13, 2009 by George Skentzos
Holden, Hyundai-Kia and BMW have been the latest automakers to make their pledges known to the public in an effort to support the Victorian bushfire appeal.
They join Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, Audi and Ford among the growing list of car makers who have helped support the relief efforts despite one of the most financially troubling times in the industry’s history.
GM Holden has pledged 300 vehicles to the victims of the bushfire disaster which would be provided for a period of between three and 12 months.
Holden had also previously pledged a cash donation of US$100,000 through the GM Foundation, along with $193,982 raised through employees and dealers around the country.
The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group announced last night that it would be donating an astonishing $300,000 towards the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund – the largest single cash donation made by a car maker so far.
BMW Group Australia, on behalf of BMW and MINI vehicles, as well as BMW Motorrad, today announced it would donate an initial sum of $100,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.
“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,”
The company would also match donations collected from BMW Group Australia employees dollar for dollar, as well as personally supporting employees who have been directly affected by the fires.
Print it: 
*****PRIMO!*****
Well done KIA/HYUNDAI group!
C’mon all the others, give at least something.
Hows the fund from C/A going?
Cheers,
F-0
There you go knew more would come through.
Holdens idea on the 300 cars is a great idea and the employees and dealers raising $193,982,wow !Holden does mean a lot to Australia !
Hyundai coming up with the most so far ? Round of applause to them!
Where’s the big T? Profits that bad hey?
Grammar Nazi – Toyota donated $200,000 or something through the channel 9 cricket telecast. Car Advice can you please add this to your article or people will be going on and on about it…
I thought the economy was suppose to be in some sort of recession and money was tight. If so, then how can companies afford to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars? Tax deductible?
The Aussie spirit is spreading O/S. Thanks Hyundai – Kia
So Holden had to go ask its daddy for money…
I just want to say thanks to all the companies and indiviuals that have donated money or goods to this tragedy as I have seen first hand what hell these people have gone through as I have been on the fireground at Wandong and Kinglake sinse Saturday fighting this firestorm and then blacking out which is still continuing so can we please stop bagging companies (as done in other threads)and show some compassion for those that have lost everything.
Thanks
Fantastic effort.
Good work from all car companies that have ditched in! And a special mention for Hyundai that denotated 300,000 dollars. And for those ford people that said “Oh yeah Holden means a great deal to Australia!” or “I thought Holden was an Australian Icon!” are idiots! Because Holden denotated more than Ford did!
Good move by all. Trust commenters and CA staff are well and no-one is directly affected by the events.
The donation of cars is a great move by Holden, how could you refuse a Epica for free.
Duck – this is not the time or place for anyone to be saying stuff like
“[car manufacturer X} is bertter than [car manufacturer Y] because they donated $ Z which is $ ? more than the others”
Regardless of which particular car manufacturer you prefer in these tough times its good to see moist of them making some sort of contribution in order to help out the thousands of people affected by the bushfire disaster.
So far the appeal has raised approximately $1m in just 4 days which in these tough times is mighty impressive
Holden only reluctantly joined in AFTER FORD because it was forced to.If Ford hadnt neither would have Holden but when they saw Ford move and donate cars first they were forced into it. Funnily the money they raised is more than the entire GM group has in the bank !!!!
Duck and Fireman: good god, go back to the sandbox and play with your matchbox cars!
And by the way, for someone to give money when they are so far in debt is a great and most caring thing! Not very nice nor smart for you to rag on them when they are giving away more than they can afford!
Loaner vehicles is a great idea, but I want to see Winnebago donate a few.
Well done to these companies for their support! But seriously who cares whether Ford or Holden gave more money than one another or which was first, fact is they donated and the money will go a long way! Well done once again.
I agree Devil.
Its not about the amount of money or who give a donation first, it is the thought. Good on these companies for making pledges. It certainly isn’t something they should be ‘pressured’ into doing.
Fireman – chill out dude, said the Big Labowski.
I’m sure Holden weren’t exactly forced into the deal. It’s a bit of sympathetic marketing.
What shits me are these “wanna make an exclusive” TV reporters coving the story, interviewing grown men and inducing them to cry by asking them harrowing and obvious questions while the interview is taking place, then hugging them as if they were family. Pure exploitation for ratings.
Companies should donate and not advertised they did.
once again to set the record straight….
stop bashing Toyota because they indeed did donate 100,000 during the cricket appeal.
I wonder why CA hasnt added than to the list yet???
Well dnt to them aswell
This is not the thread to play my d***** bigger than yours!!! Lets use this thread to show the rest of the world that the Auto Industry in Australia is far more concerned about their public than just profits…….
If you want to bash a brand go to another thread :<
Once again thank you to ALL that have put their hand in their pocket………
Elitist – That would have to be the most relevant comment I think that you have ever made. Instead of just making a comment that is no longer than one sentence criticising a particular make and having nothing to back up your opinion – as you usually do.. it looks like you actually put some thought into this one.. and I couldn’t agree with you more
They try to appear to be caring and understanding but they are so condescending.. and like most journos they ask the questions but don’t listen to the answers
When a TV reporter asks one of the victims of the bushfire “What was it like?” I would their response to be “It was F–n hot F–n loud F–n scary and we lost F–n everything.. for F–k sake its pretty F–n obvious isn’t!” it”
Ha Ha wheelnut & elitist, see we can share the same opinions…..
The one who annoys me most is a morning presenter who was also the first on the Mine site a few years ago.
And he’s the first to complain about ambulance chasing lawyers LOL
Same here Frontman. Kochie is an Embarassment to everyone from South Australia – as that’s where he’s from.. mind you Andrew O’Keefe isn’t any better.
Being from Channel 7 I’m surprised that when Kochie was in the back of the Ambulance after the Beaconsfield mine disaster in Tasmania he didn’t do a “cross pormotion” for one of Channel 7s other programs like All Saints etc.
I can feel the pain of those people that have lost to fire. I lost my son to a car fire. Ford Did nothing! It’s not a pretty sight. Compassion is not the area of the brain these car makers are working from. It’s called good Public Relations.
Delicia……..i feel your pain. My daughter died when her Barina caught fire due to an electrical fault and Holden did nothng. So much for Aussie caring…….Holden is American after all.
I don’t think any of these donations should be seen as a competion between brands. Good on all of them and think of those people whom have lost all…..
For all the imbeciles above who are playing the “mine’s bigger and sooner than yours” game, have you thought about how much supplying 300 cars will finish up costing Holden – a very conservative $1000 per car adds up to $300,000, a more realistic $5000 per car is $1.5 million. Even a Barina would depreciate this much in 3-5 months of use, and more than half of the cars will also finish up being badly abused.
And as for needing US parent approval – what’s wrong with that, when GM is under legal obligation to the US government for every penny it spends. Hence this donation has US gov’t approval as well.
Reckless1 – its a case of any chance to have a dig at Holden for most people who post on this site, you know that mate
It’s called corporate responsibility – and in situations like this it’s a good thing.
Let us all remember that over 180 people have died and the final toll is expected to pass 300; go to the Herald Sun web site and look at the photo’s of those that perished, put faces to the names and read a little about how they died, about entire families gone…
Save your bickering for another day and just be thankful for every single dollar these companies have donated, and then say a prayer for those lost and injured, and those that have lost everything.
Those poor souls who have lost everything can do with a loan of cars from the likes of Nissan and Holden. Not sure whether its Commodores, Barinas, or Colarados from Holden but I heard Nissan’s gone for utes 4×4 – 4×4 Pathies. If they throw in a tow bar, even better. What is it then fellas? whatever i hope they get them soon.