Here are some brief examples of how the auto industry is responding to the Hurricane Harvey disaster. Please let Automotive News know what your company is doing.
Ford
Ford Motor Co. has launched multiple initiatives to assist in the relief efforts, including committing more than $3.5 million in relief funds, it said in an updated statement Friday. It earlier had pledged $150,000.
The Ford Motor Company Fund is contributing $500,000 to disaster relief efforts in Texas. This includes contributions to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Team Rubicon, a Texas organization that uses the skills of veterans to assist with emergency response, and Toolbank, an organization that provides tools and equipment free of charge. It also has donated four Chariot Transit Vans to support the relief effort.
Texas-area Ford dealers already have donated $200,000 to disaster relief organizations via the Cowboys-Texans telethon and have committed to raising more than $1 million to go toward helping dealership employees and local charities. Ford will match this effort up to a total of $1.5 million in relief to designated community relief charities.
NADA
The National Automobile Dealers Association has mobilized its Emergency Relief Fund to assist dealership employees impacted by personal property damage caused by the storm and flooding. The NADA Foundation called on dealers and dealer association groups to donate online to its Emergency Relief Fund.
CDK
CDK Global, the dealership management system giant, said it stands ready to help its dealership customers get back online when they are ready.
“We understand that many of our customers in the region are not nearly ready for operational support. Many are still in the middle of the storm trying to keep their families safe and their homes intact. We know they have a long and difficult recovery ahead and we will be ready to get back online when the time is right,” a spokesman said in an email to Automotive News. “We will continue to provide that support for as long as it takes.”
Last week, in advance of the storm, CDK sent out emergency shutdown procedures that dealers could follow to get their onsite equipment shut down safely. Beginning on Saturday, Aug. 26, CDK increased support staff in key areas in anticipation of increased support-center call volume. It now is reaching out to dealerships in the region to check their well-being, their operational status and to understand their support needs. CDK’s field service organization has field engineering teams ready to deploy immediately for onsite support to dealers in the region as needed.
In addition, to help with the relief efforts in the region, CDK has made a donation to the NADA Relief Fund. CDK plans to double match -- $2 from CDK for every $1 donated -- any employee donations to the Red Cross during the relief efforts.
Toyota Financial
Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services are offering payment relief options to customers affected by Harvey, the captive finance company said. In a statement, Toyota Financial said the relief includes such options as extensions and deferred lease payments, redirecting billing statements, and arranging phone or online payments.
Toyota
Toyota Motor North America and its regional distributor, Gulf States Toyota, are pledging over $3 million to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey through cash payments to relief organizations, donations of used vehicles for transporting aid and providing volunteers to help victims of the unfolding disaster.
The pledged funds also come from Toyota Financial Services and The Friedkin Group, parent of Gulf States Toyota, which was founded in Houston in 1969. Gulf States serves as the distributor for all Toyota dealerships in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
For Toyota and Lexus dealers who want to contribute to the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund, Toyota has set aside up to $250,000 in matching funds for dealer contributions. Toyota will also match contributions from its U.S. employees in support of disaster relief, the company said.
Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services said they will donate pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs to organizations moving people and property involved in the recovery.
CarMax
CarMax Inc., the nation’s largest used-vehicle retailer, has approximately 1,000 associates in the Houston area. The company is providing impacted associates with financial assistance up to $1,500 through its Associate Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, CarMax is providing pay to Houston associates for their regularly scheduled shifts.
CarMax also is deploying emergency supplies to support impacted Houston associates and their families.
CarMax is a Red Cross Disaster Responder Partner, annually donating $250,000 to ensure immediate response to those affected by disasters. CarMax and The CarMax Foundation are pledging an additional $100,000 to the Red Cross to help those affected in Houston.
Moreover, for every dollar a CarMax employee donates to the Red Cross, the CarMax Foundation will donate $2.
Mercedes-Benz
In a joint effort, Daimler AG’s US subsidiaries -- Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes-Benz US International, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Daimler Trucks North America -- will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross for its relief efforts.
Honda
The Honda family of companies in the U.S. has pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The pledge will consist of a corporate contribution as well as a matching gift program for individual Honda associate contributions. Honda is working with the American Red Cross to establish two websites where associates can contribute via credit card directly to the Red Cross, which will then be matched dollar-for-dollar by the company. These sites are currently under development and will be ready this week.
Honda is also inviting its dealers, retirees, suppliers, partners and contingent workforce to join in supporting the Hurricane Harvey relief effort. These contributions will be accepted at a third website, “Friends of Honda and Acura,” which will also be available later this week. These contributions will not be matched by the company.
In addition, Honda is working with the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess the need for additional assistance and explore opportunities for Honda to donate products such as generators and water pumps during the ensuing recovery phase.
VW
The Volkswagen Group of America Foundation has donated $150,000 to the American Red Cross in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
Enterprise
The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross to aid in the recovery of affected communities in Texas.
Also, Enterprise deployed its Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle to be stationed in the Meyerland neighborhood of Houston. It is a portable branch office used in the event of an emergency, equipped with three workstations, five computers and a front counter. It can operate on a generator for more than 120 hours, supporting relief efforts even before local power is restored.
Rassini
Rassini, a Tier 1 supplier, has donated 26,000 pounds of supplies, including water, food and blankets, to the San Antonio Food Bank. Rassini, of Mexico City, has U.S. facilities in Texas, Michigan and Ohio.
Roger Williams Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Roger Williams Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, of Weatherford, Texas, west of Fort Worth, is partnering with Weatherford College Trucking Academy to collect and deliver a semi-truck full of supplies for pets and their owners in Southeast Texas. Collections will start Sept. 1.
“We are proud to do our part to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey,” Roger Williams Dealership President Patty Williams said. “And many of the victims have animals. We’ve all seen the images on television of dogs, cats and other animals struggling to survive the heavy water. This is a relief effort designed to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey and their pets.”
Subaru
Subaru of America Inc. has donated $100,000 to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, through its ongoing support of the American Red Cross. As a platinum member of the American Red Cross Ready 365 Giving Program, Subaru already contributes $100,000 annually to support Red Cross’ proactive response to disaster relief efforts. Subaru will also donate vehicles to the Red Cross at a later date to further assist in recovery efforts.
In addition, Subaru of America Foundation has enhanced its existing matching gifts program to establish a way for Subaru of America employees to help support relief efforts. Employee donations to eligible organizations actively responding to Hurricane Harvey will be matched: $2 from the foundation for every $1 given by an employee.
AutoNation
AutoNation Inc. set up a “Houston Help Fund,” with all donations going directly to assist its associates in the affected area. The nation’s largest new-vehicle retailer is matching all donations from its employees one-to-one. As of mid-afternoon Thursday, Aug. 17, it had raised $30,000 in one day; with the corporate match, that yielded $60,000.
Nissan
Nissan Group of North America has donated $150,000 to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Harvey. The company also will match employee donations to American Red Cross dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000. Additionally, 20 Nissan Titan pickups will be provided to support humanitarian relief organizations across the Gulf Coast region.
Mazda
The Mazda Foundation (USA) Inc. and Mazda North American Operations together are donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief fund.
The two organizations are long-time partners with the American Red Cross. Mazda North America is a $1 million member of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.
Continental
Continental is contributing $50,000. The donations -- $25,000 from Continental and an additional company match of $25,000 for employee contributions -- will support disaster relief efforts coordinated through the American Red Cross.
In addition, Continental’s local facilities are supporting relief efforts in Houston and other areas in southern Texas by organizing a collection of basic necessities such as bottled water, toiletries, first-aid kits, cleaning supplies and more that will be distributed in the affected areas.
Continental has approximately 1,600 employees and four facilities in Texas. The automotive supplier was fortunate enough to remain minimally affected by any direct damage to its facilities.
Hyundai
Hyundai’s non-profit organization, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, is making donations to five Texas-area children’s hospitals to assist with patient needs resulting from the storm.
Denso
Denso Corp.’s philanthropic arm, the Denso North America Foundation, will donate $50,000 to the American Red Cross.
Fiat Chrysler
FCA US and the FCA Foundation are joining the disaster relief efforts.
The FCA Foundation is giving a total of $200,000 in grants to three disaster relief organizations. Americares will receive $50,000 and First Response Team of America and Team Rubicon will each receive $75,000. All three organizations are currently providing disaster relief support to the residents of Texas.
• Americares is focused on meeting the immediate health needs of those affected by the storm. The organization is well positioned to provide the critical medicines and supplies needed and help restore health services to the area.
• Team Rubicon has activated three floodwater rescue teams in Operation Shallow Draft, focused on Galveston and Harris counties. Additionally, two reconnaissance teams will work with local authorities in Victoria and Nueces counties to assess the situation and begin to determine where Team Rubicon can answer unmet needs.
• First Response Team of America is currently working in Rockport and Aransas Pass, Texas, clearing roads for first responders to do search and rescue, and for those areas where it is safe to return. The team is also clearing the way for homeowners to come back to their homes, assisting with clearing home sites and will soon head to Houston to do the same.
In addition, FCA US, through its Motor Citizens employee volunteer program, is partnering with Disaster Relief at Work to collect cleaning supplies at the company's Auburn Hills, Mich., complex. The Motor Citizens will also help sort and package the supplies at DRAW's warehouse in Waterford, Mich.
FCA US is also rallying its Southeast Michigan employees to “Stuff A Semi” -- an initiative led by a group of local concerned businesses. Subsequently, the Houston Flood Relief Agency will ensure the donated toiletries, clothing and other essentials supplies are delivered to those in need.
FCA US employees in Indiana are donating non-perishable food and toiletries to support the Midwest Food Bank Indianapolis, which will facilitate the delivery of the supplies to Texas.
GM
General Motors has committed $1 million to Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat has already begun deploying mobile response units and Disaster Corps volunteers to the region to begin rapid assessments as flood waters recede.
BMW
“Even as we are reporting the August sales, our thoughts are with those in the devastated areas of Texas and Louisiana, especially our many employees and colleagues. We are making significant contributions to the American Red Cross to relieve as much of the suffering as possible,” said BMW of North America CEO Bernhard Kuhnt.
