Korean, American, Japanese and European carmakers chip in

RelieF goods for victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” are repacked at a storage facility in Tacloban City. RAFFY LERMA

As nations rush millions of dollars’ worth of relief supplies, personnel and financial packages to the typhoon-stricken central Philippines via air, sea and land, the world’s automakers have also not let up the “storm” of donations.

Hyundai Motor Group, particularly Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. each donating $300,000 to the Philippine  Red Cross, gave a total donation of $600,000 (P25 million). A statement from Hyundai said that the Korean automaker is “in solidarity with worldwide efforts at bringing help and hope to the Visayan provinces devastated by Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda.’”

American brand Ford has also seen its employees worldwide donating to the Red Cross. According to Ford Philippines’ assistant vice president for communications Joseph AC Ayllon, their donations will be matched by the company for up to $100,000 (P4.3 million), combined with the $300,000 committed by Ford and the Ford Fund. Ford is working with the local Red Cross and providing an E-150 van as ambulance to support the relief efforts.

Toyota Motor Corp., together with Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) and Toyota Financial Services Philippines, donated P10 million “to be used in ongoing relief efforts for the victims of the typhoon.”

Berjaya Philippines—the entire group of companies under the Berjaya Group, which includes the local Mazda distributorship—donated P1 million to Gawad Kalinga “who are already on the ground,” according to Sherlyn Co of Berjaya Auto Philippines’ corporate communications department.

Autohub Group of Companies has pledged to donate P500,000 for the typhoon victims. Willy Q. Tee Ten, Autohub president and CEO, has canceled Autohub’s Christmas party, adding that they would just donate to the typhoon victims in Tacloban and other affected areas. “They deserve more the money to be spent here,” Tee Ten said.

Autohub is a synergy of auto brands which includes Ford, Hyundai Mazda, Nissan, MINI Cooper, Piaggio and APE V-Kool. Tee Ten is also the president of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manila.

Inquirer Motoring reported last week that car companies in Manila were planning on canceling their Holiday parties to help raise funds for the Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”)  victims. Some of the dealer networks have also been offered as drop-off points for donations.

In an e-mail, TMP president Michinobu Sugata said: “It is with deepest regret that the recent typhoon has taken so many lives and has caused great destruction in many communities in the country. It is our hope that Toyota’s assistance will help many Filipinos to start anew.”

The TMP statement added that “continuing its advocacy in social contribution, Toyota and its affiliates are one with the Philippines in rebuilding communities in calamity-stricken areas.”

Ayllon said that the Ford Tacloban dealership was demolished by the supertyphoon, and that “Ford has set up a temporary shelter for employees, with food, clothing and bedding provided by the broader Ford Philippines team and others.” He added that employees at Ford Philippines have also pooled cash donations and relief goods for the dealership employees and their families.

Co added that the company is making available its Mazda BT 50 to journalists to supply food and water to the Tacloban area.

“We are helping our dealers who are affected by the typhoon. It’s not about how much money we donate, but how much we can do, and how fast,” added Co.

Inquirer Motoring reported last week that Cats Motors has earmarked a minimum of P2 million, the bulk of which would go to the Red Cross. Cats plans to allocate P1 million worth of goods to be packed by employees themselves.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., which donated P1 million last week to the Philippine  Red Cross, is planning to cancel some of its November and December events to focus on raising funds for the typhoon victims.

Executives of Asian Carmakers Corp. (the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines) have given personal cash contributions for the Yolanda victims, and the company is scheduled to do volunteer work to support Red Cross’ relief efforts.

The Covenant Car Co. Inc., Chevrolet exclusive distributor in the Philippines, is mobilizing its dealer network through Facebook and SMS blasts to request for relief goods to help out Tacloban. It is planning to send out a formal fund-raising message to its dealers.

Viking Cars Inc., the official Philippine distributor of Volvo vehicles, said that all Volvo dealers in Metro Manila would now serve as drop-off points for donations in kind, and cash donations would be directed to organizations such as the Red Cross and the Archdiocese of Manila.