Both MAN Truck & Bus and Daimler Truck are generously donating to emergency aid programmes for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Some of the one million euros contributed by MAN will be used directly for material goods and their transport with buses, trucks and vans, but it will also go to major aid organisations that are providing humanitarian aid in the disaster region. These include MAN’s donation of five fire engines for use in the earthquake zone. The commercial vehicle manufacturer is making this donation in addition to the aid provided by the Volkswagen – Group which is also donating one million euros on behalf of its brands for emergency aid in Turkey and Syria.
“MAN has been closely associated with Turkey for many decades through its Ankara site. When it was founded in the 1960s, the plant in Ankara was our first production site outside Germany. The relations are correspondingly close. In view of this catastrophe, it is clear that we will help quickly and unbureaucratically,” said MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp. Together with Chief Production Officer Michael Kobriger, he visited the Ankara plant to observe the situation for himself and consequently discussed possible support activities with the team in Turkey. “Our deepest compassion goes out to all the victims of the terrible earthquakes. At the same time, it is impressive to see the great commitment with which our employees have already been able to help in the past few days and continue to work hard for the victims of the catastrophe.”
Daimler Truck AG is also donating one million euros as emergency aid. The sum will go in equal parts to the German Red Cross e.V. and to UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, to support their aid projects in Turkey and Syria.
In addition, Daimler Truck provides vehicles and, together with partners, organises convoys for aid transports that can safely reach the people at the respective location and supply them with essential goods under the extremely difficult terrain and weather conditions in the earthquake region.
Turkey has been an important location for Daimler Truck AG for decades, and it has firm roots there. Buses have been produced there at the Hoşdere plant near Istanbul since 1967, and Mercedes-Benz trucks have been produced in the central Anatolian city of Aksaray since 1986.
From the Aksaray plant, which is closest to the earthquake area, a first aid transport loaded with donated goods was organized at very short notice and has already arrived in the earthquake area. In cooperation with the German Red Cross Aalen, the company will send three trucks loaded with urgently needed goods to the disaster area next week.
