Automakers are coming to the aid of Hurricane Harvey storm victims. Automotive companies involved included Toyota, Mazda, BBVDA, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, GeoTab, Nationwide and Mercury Insurance. Then, more automakers offered relief, NCIB issued warnings to car buyers and GasBuddy offered a way to find gasoline. Today Ford and Volvo offered more relief.
Ford
Ford Motor Company and its dealers, taking action to aid Hurricane Harvey victims, are committing millions of dollars in relief funds and offering special assistance to those who need to replace lost or destroyed vehicles.
“Our hearts go out to all of those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Texas is like family for Ford,” said Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. “Our teams are working day and night to help our customers, dealers and communities get back on their feet.”
Ford has launched multiple initiatives to assist in the relief efforts, including committing more than $3.5 million in relief funds. These actions include:
- Ford Motor Company Fund is contributing $500,000 to disaster relief efforts in Texas. This includes contributions to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Team Rubicon, Toolbank and the purchase of four Chariot Transit Vans that will also support the relief effort
- Texas-area Ford dealers already have donated $200,000 to disaster relief organizations via the Cowboys-Texans telethon and have committed to raising more than $1 million to go toward helping dealership employees and local charities. Ford will match this effort up to a total of $1.5 million in relief to designated community relief charities
- Ford is announcing a special customer assistance bundle, “Texas Is Family,” to assist customers with a loss claim to meet their immediate vehicle needs:
- “Texas Is Family” customer assistance bundle
- The same no-haggle, below-invoice price as Ford employees and their families receive
- No payments until next year
- Low Ford Credit APR or lease rates
- Simple online application process
- Existing customers affected by Hurricane Harvey can apply to have their payments deferred for up to two months by contacting Ford Credit or Lincoln Automotive Financial Services online, at FordCredit.com or LincolnAFS.com, by or phone at 800.723.4016 or by using the FordPass smartphone app
- First responders in hurricane-affected areas are eligible to receive a special $1,000 discount (in addition to all available incentives) toward the purchase of any Ford or Lincoln vehicle
Ford has 114 dealerships in the Houston region. Currently, 101 remain open, 13 are closed and 10 (some open and some closed) have incurred extensive damage. While assessments are still under way, Ford expects dealer vehicle losses to be in the low thousands and isolated to a few dealers.
Volvo Assistance
Volvo Car USA is offering assistance to car owners living in FEMA declared disaster areas affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Car owners that live in the affected area, regardless of whether they owned a Volvo Car, are elegible for Volvo Car Employee Pricing and an additional $1,000 benefit on any Volvo vehicle. A portion of each sale through this program will be donated by Volvo Car USA to JJ Watt’s YouCaring Houston Flood Relief Fund. More details will be available at any Houston area Volvo retailer.
Volvo Car Financial Services is offering payment relief options to customers affected by Harvey. The relief options include extensions and deferred lease payments, redirecting billing statements and arranging phone or online payments. Affected customers can call 1-866-499-6793 for more information.
“It is difficult to see an area that has been so good to Volvo Cars suffer from the wrath of Hurricane Harvey,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Car USA, “we hope our assistance can help accelerate the comeback that this area is absolutely certain to make.”