Honda officials say they want the company to do its part to help during the time of crisis.
“Honda is initiating a new effort to harness the helpful spirit of community in responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a release Monday.
The releases added that, “in the face of this rapidly changing situation, Honda continues to explore other ways to serve local communities across North America in the areas where our associates live and work.”
Rick Schostek, Executive Vice President of Honda North America, Inc., said the company will focus on “three vital and immediate human needs.”
“We are addressing food insecurity at a time when many families are struggling, investigating the potential to use our manufacturing know-how to produce medical equipment to help those battling COVID-19 and deploying our associate ‘virtual volunteers,’ to help people in need,” Schostek said in the release.
As part of its “societal response” the company announced it will pledge $1 million to food banks and meal programs across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The donation is, “intended to provide the most vulnerable with access to food.”
According to the release, Honda and its associated companies will donate to community organizations that address food insecurity. Additionally, when associates donate to local food programs, the company will match the donation, up to $1,000 for each individual gift.
The pledge to address food insecurity is “part of a broader effort Honda is undertaking to provide relief to communities, customers and dealers during this uncertain time.”
Honda has suspended vehicle production until at least April 7. While there is no production, the company inventoried its supply of personal protective equipment, including N95 face masks, to support frontline healthcare providers.
The company is also using its 3-D printers to manufacture visors for protective face shields that will be used by medical providers.
According to the release, Honda officials will, “continue investigating the ability to meet critical manufacturing needs related to medical equipment, including partnering with other companies.”
Honda is also partnering with nonprofit organizations to meet their critical needs.
The company said it will it is “engaging and empowering Honda associates throughout North America while at home, to serve as ‘virtual volunteers,’ to help non-profits and people in need in their local communities while respecting the requirements of social distancing.”
Officials said Honda will reach out to many of its nonprofit partners, “to assess their needs and determine opportunities to support them with virtual tasks at a time when nonprofit resources are stretched.”
The company offered full pay for eight of the 11 suspended production days, allowing associates to use future vacation days for two of the days and allowing them to use vacation for the other day.
Honda is offering payment extensions and deferrals, as well as late fee waivers for existing Honda and Acura finance customers impacted by the pandemic and a 90-day deferred payment to qualified customers for new vehicle sales financed by Honda and Acura Financial Services.1/2
Additionally, Honda is launching a new marketing campaign with a focus on the power of community to help people get through these challenging times, and to emerge even stronger.
According to the release, in helping to meet basic community needs by supporting healthcare, nutrition, it wants to provide, “inspiration to all.”
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