• by Tanya Gazdik , August 31, 2017

Two automotive companies are kicking off efforts to support the armed forces and veterans.

Jaguar Land Rover North America is supporting the U.S. Armed Forces Team as it competes in the Invictus Games Toronto 2017. The Invictus Games, the international sporting event for wounded, ill and injured service members, will be held Sept. 23 - 30, in Toronto, Canada. 

Jaguar Land Rover is the presenting partner of the games, which will include 550 military competitors from 17 nations competing across 12 adaptive sports. The U.S. team is made up of nearly 90 retired or active-duty service men and women from across the country and will compete in all 12 adaptive sports, including archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, golf, a new sport for 2017, and the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge.

The Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge takes place on Sept. 23, and will be the first opportunity to win an Invictus Games Toronto 2017 medal. Two team members from 13 competing nations will take on the role of driver and navigator in the two time-trials which make up the challenge. Each pair will compete in both the Jaguar F-TYPE SVR and All-New Land Rover Discovery, testing their communication, team-work and strategic planning skills.

Meanwhile, Autotrader is supporting veterans with its Red, White & Blue initiative. Through Sept. 30, for every red, white or blue vehicle that is “saved” on the online car shopping website, Autotrader will donate $1 (up to $25,000) to The Mission Continues, a non-profit that empowers U.S. military veterans to find purpose at home through community impact. 

Registering through the “My Autotrader” personalized shopping feature ensures the donation and also keeps an eye on saved cars and will send email or text alerts with important details like if a price has dropped, if there are new incentives offered like cash back rebates or 0% financing.

The celebration of the American spirit extends beyond car color. According to a recent Autotrader study, two-thirds of cars shoppers feel it’s important that their next vehicle is “American-made” as it supports the American economy, while more than half (or 57%) of consumers believe it protects American jobs.