Volkswagen group companies are to donate EUR1.5m in aid for victims of the Japan earthquake/tsunami via organisations such as the German Red Cross.

Human resources chief Horst Neumann said in a statement Volkswagen and Audi would each donate EUR1m “for humanitarian aid” and Porsche AG would add EUR500,000.

Volkswagen Group Works Council head Bernd Osterloh said: “This week, we will be calling on the workforce to contribute to a major donation campaign.”