Media Release: BMW South Africa donates Mandela’s former car to charity

 

 

 

Media Release

19 September 2012

 

BMW South Africa donates Mandela's former car to charity

Johannesburg – BMW South Africa has donated former president Nelson Mandela's BMW 7 Series Security Vehicle to the 46664 Mandela Day School Library project. The customised BMW 7 series, fitted with a blue light grill, which was given to the former President by the Bavarian car maker, will be auctioned in the coming months. The proceeds will go towards supplying fully-stocked container libraries to disadvantaged schools in Johannesburg.

The office of the former president returned the car to BMW at the end of its service life. It has since been restored to an immaculate condition and is currently on display at the Franschoek Motor Museum.

The private auction will determine the next home for the car, which was used as the official transport for arguably the most famous and revered statesman of our generation. Vying to take ownership of the former president's BMW at the silent auction will be avid car collectors as well as museums of the world. "It is important that we balance the preservation of history surrounding the car with the commercial reality of funding the next phase of the 46664 Mandela Day School Library project," says Robert Coutts, CEO of 46664 BANGLE Initiative.

"We hope that the car will find a home in a museum in South Africa so the history is preserved appropriately in our own country. Once the car has been sold for the price we anticipate, it means we would be in a position to deliver one library every 6 weeks for a year," states Coutts.

"With 90% of South African schools without libraries, there is a glaringly huge gap in the resources necessary to educate young children. As BMW we are happy to make a contribution to this excellent initiative as the country seeks sustainable solutions to its education challenges," says Bodo Donauer, BMW South Africa's Managing Director.

As part of the agreement, the first two libraries acquired will be placed at schools in the communities surrounding BMW's Plant Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, where the majority of BMW workers hail from.

-Ends-

 

ATTACHED PICTURE: Former President, Nelson Mandela, pictured with Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Dr. Norbert Roithofer (left) and Mr Ian Robertson, then Managing Director of BMW South Africa (right).

 

For any queries please contact:

 

Mr Guy Kilfoil

General Manager: Communications & Public Affairs

BMW South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Phone: +27-12-522-2204

Cell: +28-82-583-6262

Guy.Kilfoil@bmw.co.za

 

 

The BMW Group

 

The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI, Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 29 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

 

In 2011, the BMW Group sold about 1.67 million cars and more than 113,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2011 was euro 7.38 billion on revenues amounting to euro 68.82 billion. At 31 December 2011, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 100,000 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last seven years.

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