Car giant BMW Group has donated 1 million Euros to Japanese disaster victims in the wake of the devastating earthquake which ravaged the country in March. The approximate converted value of the donation is over 1.4 million U.S. dollars.
BMW Group has an established presence in Japan with over 800 Japanese employees. A number of German employees also worked for BMW in Japan, and those workers were almost immediately offered the opportunity to return home after the earthquake hit to be with their families.
The 1 million Euros will be split between the Japanese Red Cross and "Save The Children," a non-profit organization which is working in the region. BMW Group has insisted that the funds be used to treat injured, sick, and traumatized children in Japan, as well as in aiding reconstruction and emergency relief efforts. BMW also encouraged its employees and customers to contribute to the Red Cross and other organizations which are providing services in Japan.
Other car companies have donated to the Japanese relief effort, including GM Foundation, which offered $500,000 to the American Red Cross in addition to an initial contribution of $250,000 immediately after the natural disaster.
Another significant contributor was Hyundai-Kia Group, which is a Korean company. Hyundai contributed about $1.3 million US to the Japanese Red Cross.
BMW's large donation reflects the company's Japanese presence, both in terms of market and in terms of employment. BMW Group's national sales company is located near Tokyo according to a press release from the company.
While BMW's donation is significant, the human casualties and economic impact of the earthquake can seem insurmountable from certain perspectives. This is particularly true in the auto market, historically one of the strongest industries in Japan.
Japanese automakers have been plagued with power shortages after the earthquake, and although it is unknown how this will affect Japanese automotive outputs in total in 2011, the natural disaster will certainly take some type of a toll on the industry even in the best case scenario. Reports of leaks in nuclear power plants, volcanic eruptions and aftershocks have continued to disrupt Japan's economy. A significant earthquake also struck the nation on April 7th, currently estimated at about 7.1 on the Richter scale.
Donations from BMW and other automakers are intended to show a sense of solidarity with their Japanese employees and the country as a whole.
"We are deeply moved by the horrific suffering in the affected regions," said Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG in a press release. "During this difficult time, our thoughts and sympathies are with the Japanese people."
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