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Dealers are Reaching Out to Help Katrina Victims in Creative Ways
State/Metro Associations Pledge Over $600,000 to NADA Foundation Fund
In addition to supporting the Emergency Relief Fund of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (NADCF) through direct contributions, dealers are also finding other creative ways to help out. These include efforts such as designating a portion of sales to emergency relief, providing vehicles in needy areas and serving as a drop-off and distribution point for relief agency supplies.
A few examples:
- Bert Allen Pontiac GMC Mercedes-Benz, Gulfport, Miss., is devoting a portion of the dealership property to a makeshift emergency relief effort.
Jack Kain Ford, Versailles, Kentucky, is serving as a collection point for supplies, such as chainsaws, to help cut trees and lumber in the hardest hit areas. The dealership is also working with volunteer agencies on a program to serve food to evacuees and is looking into ways to distribute cars to dealerships in the affected areas at the appropriate time.
Sheehy Auto Stores throughout Virginia raised tens of thousands of dollars for victims by donating $100 to the American Red Cross for every vehicle sold over Labor Day weekend.
Hank Aaron Jaguar, Augusta, Georgia, is contributing $100 to the American Red Cross for every vehicle sold in the month of September.
Lake Elsinore Ford, Lake Elsinore, Calif., donated the use of a 14-foot van to haul supplies from a pickup point in the area to assist hurricane victims.
Palm Springs Motors, Palm Springs, Calif., has served as a drop-off point for donations and outfitted a new diesel truck and RV trailer for hauling supplies to assist those affected.
NADA's focus is on helping dealership employees in the affected areas. Fundraising is underway for the Emergency Relief Fund of the NADCF. Pledges totaling more than $600,000 have been made by NADA and state/metro associations in: California, Georgia and metro Atlanta, Massachusetts, Minnesota and metro Minneapolis, Greater New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, DC.
Early estimates indicate that close to 7,000 dealership employees have been impacted by Katrina. That number could change as more information becomes available.
Every penny of every dollar contributed to the Foundation Relief Fund will go directly to help dealership employees.
Make your checks payable to: NADCF Emergency Relief Fund and mail to:
NADCF Emergency Relief Fund
8400 Westpark Drive
McLean, VA 22102
Or click on the following link to print out a donation form: www.nada.org/emergencyrelief and fax to 703/821-7030. If you need more information, contact NADA's Public Affairs office at 703/827-7411 or email sfaqiri@nada.org.
(Source: NADA Newswire) [return to top]
Employment Guidance for Louisiana and Mississippi Displaced Employees
In many cases, dealers in Louisiana and Mississippi are trying to locate their valuable employees who may have been evacuated to other states. In cases of outside dealers hiring them, it is requested by the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association (LADA) that the LADA toll-free number (800-375-5232) be passed along to any Louisiana evacuated/displaced employee. LADA is serving as a contact information clearinghouse, so dealers can know their employees are alive and safe. Also, many dealers have business interruption insurance, which will provide income for these employees, even though the dealerships are not open for business. For outside dealers hiring Mississippi displaced employees, please call the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association (601-957-6868) for the same purposes.
(Sources: Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association and Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association) [return to top]
Ford Ends Employee Discounts on 2006 Cars
Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday ended its employee-pricing incentive on 2006 vehicles, although the discount will remain in place for most 2005 vehicles through Oct. 3. Ford announced last week it was extending its employee-pricing plan through Sept. 30, but said Tuesday it will now end the plan on Oct. 3. Ford was following the lead of DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, which announced last week that its employee-pricing plan would expire Oct. 3. General Motors Corp., which began the employee-pricing craze in June, has said its plan will end Sept. 30. The Big Three U.S. automakers saw a huge increase in sales over the summer thanks to the discount programs, but all have said they want to rely less on incentives as they roll out 2006 models. Ford and GM lowered overall prices on many of their 2006 models in an effort to move away from incentives. "We need to move beyond this. We've been pretty consistent in saying this shouldn't become an everyday program," Ford spokesman Jim Cain said last week. GM is including some 2006 sport utility vehicles and full-size trucks to its employee-discount plan. Chrysler hasn't added 2006 vehicles to its plan.
(Source: Associated Press) [return to top]
BMW to Join Daimler/GM Hybrid Project, Say Industry Sources
German luxury carmaker BMW will join DaimlerChrysler and General Motors in an alliance to develop new hybrid vehicle technology, two industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday. A BMW spokesman declined to confirm or deny the carmaker's hybrid plans pending a formal announcement. Last month DaimlerChrysler and GM finalized a deal to co-develop hybrids as they try to catch up with Japanese rivals on the fuel-saving systems that reduce harmful emissions. The automakers have said they will develop a "two-mode" hybrid technology that boosts both acceleration and fuel economy by 25 percent and can be used on a wide variety of vehicles. Joining the project marks a shift of emphasis for BMW. The world's largest maker of premium cars has until now focused on developing next-generation powertrains that burn hydrogen in converted internal-combustion engines or that use hydrogen in fuel cells.
(Source: Reuters Newswire) [return to top]
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