Received this very telling email today:
Which Motor Co..... Cares About the USA?
>
>After seeing a short news listing on "CNN Headline
>News" regarding Ford
>and GM's contributions to the relief and recovery
>efforts in New York City
>and Washington, DC, I was prompted to see what the
>other automotive
>companies were contributing. It is important to know
>which companies are
>there for us in a crisis.
>
>
>I went to (the news, press release and philanthropic
>areas of) each of the
>companies' web sites. If the company had several
>sites, I tried to visit
>them all. Additionally, I visited the leading news and
>automotive sites.
>This is what I have found:
>
>
>Aston Martin - Nothing.
>
>
>Audi - Nothing. Audi's web site states "Audi News:
>Always up to the minute."
>
>
>BMW - Nothing despite other press releases/postings
>since 09/11/01. Last
>updated 09/13/01.
>
>
>Daewoo International - Nothing.
>
>
>Daimler Chrysler (includes Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz
>and Plymouth) $10
>million to support the children and victims in
>addition to other donations
>from their employees, dealers and suppliers.
>
>
>Fiat - Nothing.
>
>
>Ford Motor Company (includes Jaguar, Lincoln, Mazda,
>Mercury and Volvo) $1
>million to the American Red Cross, matching employee
>contributions to the
>American Red Cross and 10 Excursions to the New York
>Fire Department. The
>company has also offered emergency response team
>services and office space
>to displaced government employees.
>
>
>General Motors (includes Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet,
>Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab and
>Saturn) -- $1 million to the American Red Cross,
>matching employee contributions and
>a fleet of vans, trucks and SUVs.
>
>
>Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles - Donated one million
>dollars and 30 new
>motorcycles to the NYPD to assist in relief efforts
>and replace motor
>cycles lost in the attack. Harley-Davidson's own
>employees drove the
>cycles to NY in a day and a half and turned over the
>keys personally to
>the NYC Motor Division. Check out their website at
>www.harleydavidson.com
>for info and pictures of their generosity.
>
>
>Honda (includes Accra) - Nothing.
>
>"The latest news on Honda can always be found right
>here?" No press
>releases/postings since 9/04/01 when the release
>boasted "American Honda
>Motor Co., Inc. recorded its second best sales month
>ever in August." My
>search included: hondamotorcycle.com [other press
>releases posted on this
>site since 9/11/01), honda.com, honda2001.com,
>world.honda.com, acura.com
>and honda.co.jp.
>
>
>Hyundai Motors Group (includes Kia) -- $300,000 to the
>American Red Cross.
>
>
>
>Isuzu - Nothing.
>
>
>Mitsubishi Motors - Nothing.
>
>Mitsubishi-motors.co.jp site states, "The latest news
>about Mitsubishi
>Motors." I also searched mitsubishimotors.com.
>
>
>Nissan - Nothing despite other press releases/postings
>since 09/11/01.
>
>
>Porsche - Nothing. Press release with condolences
>posted on the Porsche
>web site on 09/12/01, but no contribution.
>
>
>Subaru - Nothing. Despite other press
>releases/postings since 09/11/01.
>
>
>Suzuki - Nothing.
>
>
>Toyota (includes Lexus) -Nothing. Press release with
>condolences posted
>on the Toyota web site on 09/14/01, but no
>contribution, despite earlier
>press releases boasting that Toyota had high sales in
>July and August.
>
>
>Volkswagen - The employees and management created a
>Foundation, funded
>initially with $2 million, to assist the children and
>victims with
>humanitarian help including medical and psychological
>assistance,
>rehabilitation and scholarships.
>
>
>We have the freedom to choose which companies we make
>purchases from and
>I, for one, will make my purchases from and give my
>money to the companies
>that are giving their money to America at this time of
>need. I hope that
>you will, too. We can only hope that it is an
>oversight by the companies
>that have not made a contribution and that they will
>join the relief
>efforts.
>
>Please forward this e-mail -- especially to anyone you
>know who is
>thinking of purchasing a vehicle. Remember this the
>next time you make
>that move to buy your next car...New or Used..... Who
>gave what to help
>OUR Beautiful United States of America.........
Fred |
