Auto Firms Mobilize Attack Relief Efforts

From all-terrain vehicles for use by rescue crews negotiating mountains of rubble at the collapsed World Trade Center towers to cash provided to help victims’ families, the automobile industry has provided significant support to relief efforts spawned by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Among the efforts, by domestic manufacturers and import brands alike:

* BMW Group has donated $1 million in cash to the American Red Cross, given the New York Police Department 100 new BMW police motorcycles and provided rescue teams with 10 new X5 sport-utility vehicles.

* DaimlerChrysler has committed $10 million to support the children of victims of the attacks and is conducting additional employee fund-raising programs at its operations worldwide.

* Ford Motor Co. has donated $1 million to the Red Cross, and the United Auto Workers Union’s Ford National Programs unit is donating $1 million to the Salvation Army. Additionally, Ford facilities and dealer groups have donated $550,000 to relief efforts, Ford has pledged to match all employee contributions, and the company--through its various operating units and subsidiaries--has donated or lent 76 cars, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks for use in rescue and relief programs.

* General Motors Corp. has donated $1 million to the Red Cross, provided 60 GM vehicles to rescue and relief agencies and pledged to match all employee donations.

* Honda Motor Co. has provided eight all-terrain vehicles to the New York Fire Department, donated 20 12,000-watt commercial power generators to the Red Cross for use in relief programs and launched a companywide employee donation program with additional funding to come from the company.

* Isuzu Motors America has donated $16,800 in corporate and employee contributions and is conducting further fund-raising efforts at its American Isuzu sales unit and at parent Isuzu Motors Ltd. in Japan.

* Mazda North American Operations is matching employee contributions to raise a total of $40,000 to be donated to the United Way.

* Mitsubishi Motors in the U.S. and Japan has raised more than $150,000 in corporate and employee donations in a continuing campaign.

* Nissan Motor Co. has donated $500,000 to the Red Cross and $500,000 to the Twin Towers Fund for the families of police officers, firefighters and emergency rescue crew members killed in New York and is matching employee donations to the two organizations as well.

* Porsche Cars of North America has dedicated 20% of the proceeds of an upcoming national fund-raising program to disaster relief and will sponsor a benefit concert starring comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

* American Suzuki Motor Corp. has donated 25 all-terrain vehicles and five four-wheel-drive SUVs, in addition to matching employee and dealer donations.

* Toyota Motor Corp. has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross and has established a matching-fund program for employee and Toyota dealer contributions.

* Volkswagen Group has established a relief foundation with initial funding from the German company of $2 million, and Volkswagen of America has donated 25 Eurovans to the New York Fire Department.

In addition, the National Automobile Dealers Assn.’s Charitable Foundation has received almost $400,000 in donations for its Survivors Relief Fund, and is aiming to collect $1 million.