BMW Group Pledges Aid For Relief Efforts

[GTaudiophile]

The BMW Group [BMW, Mini, Rolls Royce] is committing cash and products to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and the City of New York to assist in relief efforts following Tuesday's attack on the United States.

BMW will donate $1 million in cash and ten new BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicles to the Red Cross for its national relief efforts. One hundred police motorcycles will be given to the City of New York to help replace equipment lost in the New York Police Department motor pool. The total donation is valued at $2.4 million.

In a joint statement, the chief executives of BMW's manufacturing, sales and marketing, financial services, technology and design companies said "on behalf of our employees, dealers, and customers, we hope this donation will assist the relief effort, honor the memory of those who lost their lives, and show our appreciation for the freedom and opportunity this country offers."

The BMW Group companies in the United States are located in Spartanburg, SC; Woodcliff Lake, NJ, Dublin, OH, and Newbury Park, CA.

Edit: Is BMW the first automobile manufacturer to offer support? GM, Ford, DC, Toyota, Honda? If not, even more kudos to BMW! They only have 2% of the world market.

 

[gopunk]

wow those are going to be some nice rescue vehicles.

 

[RossMAN]

Thumbs up, generous donation on BMW's part.

 

[Schlocemus]

Thanks BMW.

<---- parents own an X5 too....

 

[Static911]

nice rides...even though I thought police dept need to use (mind you, i didn't say BUY, but used word, USE) american made products.

Is that true?

static911

 

[Pepsi90919]

<< even though I thought police >>

 

[RossMAN]

nice rides...even though I thought police dept need to use (mind you, i didn't say BUY, but used word, USE) american made products.

Is that true?

I don't know but it could be true since most police departments in the US drive either a Ford Crown Victoria or Chevrolet ack I forgot the model name ... however I've noticed the PPBDA (Portland Police Bureau of Donut Afficionado's) rides on Kawasaki motorcycles.

 

[ElFenix]

gov'ts generally buy products made in their own countries, yes. though not always. there is a yamaha police cruiser motorcycle. though all the cop bikes i've seen here are harleys. is the X5 built in NC or alabama or wherever the beemer plant is?

 

[Midnight Rambler]

<< Edit: Is BMW the first automobile manufacturer to offer support? GM, Ford, DC, Toyota, Honda? If not, even more kudos to BMW! They only have 2% of the world market. >>

No, Chrysler has announced a $10M donation, and GM has made a similar size contribution, it just hasn't been publicized.

There are many companies who have donated substantially more than BMW - GE $10M, Cisco $6M (maybe more to come), AT&T $10M, just for starters.

But who I am really disappointed in is:

a.) Hollywood - $50K from the Actors' Guild.

b.) Pro athletes in general, among our richest citizens, yet the least giving.

c.) Nothing from the Mid East (AFAIK). Not only did their riffraff perpetuate this tragedy, our economy has made their oil barons richer many times over (via the stock markets).

 

[Static911]

pro atheletes...hm

true...to give them benefit of doubt, they maybe don't want fame? dunno, but a suggestion of non-donation from them?

static911

 

[Midnight Rambler]

FYI, the BMW assembly plant is in S.Carolina.

The Dublin, OH location is their financing headquarters for N. America.

I have no idea what the function is of their other two locations.

 

[marcio]

true about GM and AT&T, but BMW is the first foreign company I know of that donated that much money.

 

[KevinH]

Midnight Rambler - Actually I read a lot of athletes donated money as well though no where near the amount these companies are doing. The main thing you have to keep in mind is that they're private individuals so to expect them to donate a sum like 10 million dollars which MULTI BILLION dollar company is doing is kind of unfair to them.

 

[KevinH]

Marcio - Actually I read Via Technolgies donated 100 million smackers.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

<< b.) Pro athletes in general, among our richest citizens, yet the least giving. >>



A lot of them did private donations. Mark Cuban tried to donate a million anonymously before someone blew his cover.

 

[perry]

Ok, maybe not individual athletes, but what about the player's associations or the leagues themselves? They got lots of money!

 

[Nemesis77]

Actually, I believe Volvo has offered NYC lots of heavy trucks to assist in the rescue-effort. I believe they were the firts foreign company to offer help.

 

[CtK]

NCAA has donated 5million beans
PGA 2million maybe more if the ppl dont ask for refunds from all the golf that was canceled this week

NFLPA is makin a plan on what they can do money donation, volunterring, and so on

GO BMW!!!!!

im sure other car company will follow
Honda, Toyota, and so on

 

[zippy]

Yes, pro athletes have been donating money...although I don't think it has been publicized. I know Keyshawn Johnson of the TB Bucaneers (a former NY Jets player for 4 years) donated this week's paycheck...which is a healthy decent amount of beans considering his contract.

Anything helps...

 

[MikeO]

Thumbs up for everyone who donates!

No donation is too small...

 

[nicowju]

Yes, no donation is too small. And wow... NYC police officers with BMW motorcycles

 

[Bomberboy]

Crime rates would probably go down if the cops were driving around in porsche 911s like the germans do

 

[Nemesis77]

<< Crime rates would probably go down if the cops were driving around in porsche 911s like the germans do >>



Ummm... To my knowledge German police uses beemers.