The whole world is having a hard time because of Covid-19. The virus completely changed the way we live; ever-crowded streets are empty and we can hardly hear our children laughing outside. All this happened so suddenly, and no one knows when this could end.
The U.S. and some European countries could not get enough testing kits to even figure out how many Coronavirus patients they have. No one can guarantee the safety of medical staff who are working day and night to save the patients. But we cannot and won't stop because there still is hope.
Hyundai and Kia are here to help any societies in need in both direct and indirect ways across medical, social, economic, and cultural fields. Here are details about how the company is offering global support to overcome Covid-19.
To Help Those In Need
#The United States
The U.S. and some European countries could not get enough testing kits to even figure out how many Coronavirus patients they have
Things went too serious too quickly in the U.S. At first the virus hit seniors hard in Washington, New York, and California. Hyundai and Kia started to help people in Alabama and Georgia where the company's factories are, and then also in other states including New York, LA, and even in the Central/South American region where medical facilities are scarce.
#Europe
There is still hope, even during the Covid-19 pandemic
People in European countries could not even get out of their house. And of course, the virus could have left them unhappier than ever. However, people were optimistic enough to find ways to enjoy staying at home. They shared their own ways to have fun at home through social media or cheered their neighbors by playing instruments or singing from their balconies.
Hyundai and Kia, too, are eagerly trying to help those in need. They donated medical vehicles, for starters; medical staff in Spain, Italy, and Russia are using Hyundai's signature models such as Ioniq and Solati when they need to visit patients in self-isolation. The company also donated a number of medical supplies.
#Asia-Pacific
Preventive measures such as face masks are essential
Governments in the Asia-Pacific region responded swiftly. People were obligated to wear face masks and used hand sanitizers as often as possible. Medical staff acted quickly as well to save as many patients as they could. The Chinese government, for example, ran complementary programs to give their residents economic support.
But things did not go easy. Nothing could stop the spread of Covid-19. Yet no one has lost hope. Hyundai and Kia also helped defeat Coronavirus.
#Middle East & Africa
Pre-quarantine is a necessity at crowded places, such as public transportations
The coronavirus has hit the Middle East and Africa, where information and medical facilities are much more scarce compared to other developed countries.
To help those people, Hyundai and Kia started campaigns for effective prevention, and also offered useful tips and moral support to prevent a depression spiral during the self-isolation. The company also offered free ambulances, special vehicles, medical supplies, and preventive measures.
Places that need most help - Medical facilities
Medical facilities are the places where help is needed most. There are severe patients on beds, and even the medical staff need help to guarantee their safety. The Coronavirus cannot be fully defeated unless we don't protect those people in hospitals. However, it has been hard to slow the spread even for developed countries with advanced medical facilities.
For this reason, Hyundai and Kia focused more on offering a helping hand to these medical staff. The company has sent a number of medical supplies including face masks, testing kits, and ventilators which are essential tools for the staff, and offered free vehicles to them. The company also produced and donated ventilators for severe Covid-19 patients.
Let’s stand up once again
Hyundai’s brand campaign ‘#This is us’ tells us a story of all of us who are fighting the coronavirus pandemic every single day
A brand campaign called '#This is us' was carried out by Hyundai. Two video clips showed that medical staff on the front lines are also human beings who are just as vulnerable as everyone else, and they, too, have their own family who is waiting for them and praying for their safety. The clips were released to let us know that they are valuable and indispensable people who save us everyday, and we can all work this through if we do not lose hope. These two clips got 16 million and 17 million views respectively.
The company threw an intact concert at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang back in May to offer comfort to people during the coronavirus pandemic
Hyundai is trying to cheer people up through multiple intact concerts and performances. This is mainly for offering moral support to those who are suffering from depression or loneliness caused by the coronavirus. The company threw an online musical festival in Russia and another intact drive-in concert in South Korea. The concerts attracted enthusiastic and sizeable audiences; there were 3 million simultaneous viewers during the live stream in Russia, and about one thousand cars came to see the show for three days. The audience was very much satisfied with the quality show that the company offered.
Kia Tigers sent a cheerful message through a sign at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field stadium for baseball fans worldwide
The Covid-19 pandemic brought MLB (Major League Baseball) to a complete halt, and the U.S. sports cable giant ESPN showed interest in Korean Baseball Organization games that began in empty stadiums because they needed something to entertain its viewers. Kia Tigers, a professional baseball team owned and run by Kia Motors, put a sign that reads 'Be Strong, MLB! We're in this together' for the ESPN viewers.
let's work through the issue together
We all think the coronavirus pandemic will end, although the world is struggling for now. But first, we all need to be proactive to successfully defeat Covid-19. Let's find a way to connect, and let's work through the issue together.
