Automotive industry supports Bushfire Appeal

Following the lead of Mercedes-Benz, two more manufacturers have donated cash towards the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Honda Australia, through its Honda Foundation, has pledged $200,000 to the cause. Joining Honda in today’s announcement is Nissan Australia and Nissan Motor Co. in Japan who will be offering a combined donation of $100,000.

Nissan Australia will also match donations made by its employees to the Australian Red Cross or Salvation Army. The company has also committed to a 100 vehicle loan fleet, allowing affected members of the public to apply for a free loan car, for a period of up to six months.

These announcements are a fantastic show of support and one would expect more manufacturers to follow in these very generous footsteps.

Where available, press statements from manufacturers are included after the jump.

UPDATE: Audi has made a “significant contribution” towards the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation which made a $1,000,000 donation earlier today.

Toyota has donated $100,000 to the Cricket Australia Bushfire Appeal. Ford also donated a Mondeo XR5 Turbo for auction, with all proceeds going to the appeal.

UPDATE 11 Feb: V8 Supercars have donated $100,000. (Source: The Australian)

BMW Group Australia has chipped in $100,000 plus other support.

UPDATE 12 Feb: News just in that Mitsubishi have donated $100,000 to the Appeal.

Holden has also come forward with a $152,000 (US$100,000) donation, via its GM Foundation, and a fleet of 300 loan cars available to bushfire victims for periods of 3-12 months. In addition to these pledges, Holden dealers nationawide have raised a further $200,000. (Source: news.com.au)

Update 13 Feb: The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group announced last night that it is donating $300,000 towards the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by the devastating fires.

Image: sourced from The Boston Globe

Honda Australia Pledges Support to Bushfire Appeal

The Honda Foundation announced this afternoon that it will donate $200,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, to help rebuild the shattered lives of many Victorians who lost everything in the devastating fires that hit Victoria, Saturday February 7th 2009.

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”.

Nissan Australia and Its Parent Company Donate to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Funds

Nissan Australia, the regional importer and distributor of Nissan commercial and passenger vehicles, together with its parent company Nissan Motor Co. in Japan, today announced it will be donating the initial sum of $100,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund.

The Management Operating Committee at Nissan Australia met and agreed to take immediate action to support the communities affected.

Nissan in Japan and Nissan Australia (headquartered in Dandenong, Victoria) will each commit $50,000 to the appeal.

Importantly, Nissan Australia will also match – dollar for dollar – any donation made by its direct employees to either the Australian Red Cross or the Salvation Army bushfires relief funds.

Additionally, Nissan’s financial services subsidiary has committed 100 Nissan vehicles through a special bushfire assistance program. Victims of the fires will be able to borrow a vehicle directly from Nissan – at no charge – for up to six months.

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.”

Audi Supports Victorian Lord Mayor Robert Doyle’s Bushfire Appeal

(Melbourne, Tuesday 10 February 2009) Today at 12 noon, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, held a press conference to announce a bushfire appeal with a $1 million emergency donation from the City of Melbourne and Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation (LMCF).

As a major supporter of the LMCF, Audi joined the appeal with a significant contribution for the bushfire victims, a move which was welcomed by the Lord Mayor.

100 per cent of money donated by the LMCF, including Audi’s support, will go to charities working on the frontline assisting families affected by the bushfires who have lost their homes.

“Today as Victorians we are all grieving because of the tragedy that has engulfed our state. Now is the time for us to rally together to support people who are really suffering by providing as much care and support as we can,’ Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said. Mr. Doyle is also President of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

How to donate:
Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation Bushfire Appeal 2009
In person: Melbourne Town Hall, cnr Swanston and Collins Street, Melbourne
Online: www.lmcf.org.au
Phone: 9633 0000

Ford Supports Bushfire Appeal with Vehicle Auction

A Ford Mondeo XR5 Turbo will be auctioned during tonight’s cricket telecast on Channel 9 as part of the company’s comprehensive efforts to support the victims of Victoria’s recent bushfires.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated directly to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. Bidders can access the auction via Cricket Australia’s website at www.cricket.com.au.

The auction will supplement the company’s other bushfire relief efforts, including the donation of four (4) new Ford Ranger 4×4 vehicles to the Country Fire Authority, for use in the areas that have been hardest hit by the devastation.

The company has also provided 20 vehicles to the CFA for immediate use in the recovery efforts. Ford employees are also supporting the bushfire appeal through an employee donation program and will receive paid leave to undertake volunteering projects in the months ahead.

“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.”

BMW Group Australia Supports Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund

BMW Group Australia, the importer of BMW and MINI vehicles, as well as BMW Motorrad, today announced it will donate an initial sum of $100,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.

The company will also match donations collected from BMW Group Australia employees, one for one, in order to further assist relief efforts.

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,” he said.

Mitsubishi family supports Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Members of Mitsubishi Motors’ Australian family have announced a joint donation of $100,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal following the devastating bushfires on the weekend.

This includes a $50,000 donation from the management and staff of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited, and $50,000 from the Australian Mitsubishi Dealer Network.

In addition, the Mitsubishi group in Australia is preparing a program to support company and dealer staff who wish to further assist relief agencies during the rebuilding phase in the coming months.