As the East Coast of the United States recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, GM is stepping up to help where it can. In addition to making a $225,000 donation to the American Red Cross and matching an additional $25,000 in employee donations, General Motors is turning on Crisis Mode for all residents of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee with GM vehicles equipped with OnStar, according to Detroit Free Press.
Crisis Mode effectively provides complimentary OnStar services, regardless of the driver’s subscription status. Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac owners with OnStar hardware in their cars, trucks, and SUVs get in-vehicle Wi-Fi and safety services, even if they aren’t paying for a subscription. Pricing for OnStar plans normally ranges from $14.99/month for the Remote Access plan up to $49.99/month for the Premium plan.
“OnStar Crisis Mode activates during certain emergency situations to provide complimentary safety services like Crisis Assist and OnStar Emergency Services for you and your loved ones,” according to OnStar’s website. “During wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other crisis situations, we’re standing by with emergency service, ready to help you get to safety.”
Residents of the aforementioned states impacted by Hurricane Helene need only push the blue OnStar button to activate Crisis Mode. Once it’s activated, drivers can use the same blue button for routing assistance, help contacting loved ones, and general information. GM owners in immediate danger can push the red emergency button to speak to an OnStar Emergency Advisor. The in-vehicle data connection provided through Crisis Mode allows for the connection of up to seven devices with data from AT&T.
GM isn’t the only automaker helping victims of Hurricane Helene. Ford Philanthropy is running a $300,000 Hurricane Helene donation challenge with a match and has given $150,000 to local chapters of charities like the United Way and Habitat for Humanity. Ford has also teamed up with Team Rubicon, a humanitarian organization that helps with rescue and rebuilding efforts in natural disasters.
Honda is donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross, providing HondaJet aircraft for transportation needs, matching eligible donations up to $1,000, and offering up to $200 in grants for organizations where Honda employees volunteer. Honda and Ford are also offering hurricane victims payment deferrals on loans and leases through their respective credit arms.
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