Hybrid Car Review

Toyota, Honda, Ford and GM are all donating money to the Red Cross (Disaster Relief Fund) in an effort to provide shelter, relief and recovery to those affected by the wildfires in Southern California.

• Toyota donated $2 million to the American Red Cross.
• Toyota will also donate lift trucks and palette jacks that will be used to unload and distribute relief supplies.
• Honda donated $250,000 to Red Cross.
  
• Honda is also matching at 100% any funds donated by employees of American Honda and its subsidiaries.
• Ford is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross
  
• GM Foundation donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross.
• In the past, GM donated a fleet of HUMMER vehicles to assist in providing relief.
• The GM Foundation will also match any contributions to the relief efforts by their employees through November 30, 2007.

"It's our hope that aid may quickly reach those who fell victim to the California wildfires," said Jim Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales, USA. "We owe a debt of gratitude to courageous firefighters and disaster relief organizations like the American Red Cross."

The Red Cross is providing residents, firefighters and first responders with shelter, food, water, clean up and comfort kits, and medical and mental health services. The Red Cross has nearly 3,000 workers on site in Southern California, including volunteers from all 50 states. To date, the Red Cross has provided the following services:

- Opened 24 shelters providing displaced residents with a safe place to stay
- Mobilized tens of thousands of cots, blankets, comfort kits, and clean-up supplies
- Volunteers are staffing 75 Emergency Response Vehicles, providing hot meals and snacks to residents, firefighters and first responders
- Red Cross mental health counselors are available to help residents and emergency workers in the affected areas manage the stress and fear that accompanies all disasters

In Addition
Honda is working with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services to assess and identify its need for emergency assistance materials and resources such as Honda-made vehicles, generators, and other products, and will donate these materials as requested.

Ford is encouraging employees to volunteer in relief of those affeected. Ford is also offering to defer two payments on their vehicles for those affected. They are also donating 11 F-250 and F-359 trucks, as well as 9 Expeditions to the fire and rescue teams.

GM Onstar activated their Crisis Assist program which allows any subscriber to use any service at no additional charge. Routing assistance, hotel reservations, phone calls, etc... will be available to any subscriber, regardless of their service plan. OnStar is also partnered with the Red Cross to provide shelter information.

GM Goodwrench is offering to replace air filters free of charge at local GM dealerships. GMAC Auto Financing established a specialized call center for assistance those who need help including payment extensions. Insurance adjusters from GMAC Insurance are already out in the field to assist with property claims. GMAC ResCap will offer mortgage relief counseling.

GMAC customers are encouraged to contact these customer service locations: GMAC Insurance 800-468-3466; GMAC Mortgage 866-262-5363; GMAC Auto Financing 800-200-4622 or their branch offices where possible.