Coronavirus closures for car brands

The Spain factory where the Ford Mondeo is produced with shut. Photo: Ford

Ford will shut their Valencia based Spanish factory, one of the largest outside US.  Three positive cases were identified over the weekend. The plant produces 400,000 vehicles a year, including much of the world’s production of the Mondeo (for sale here) and Galaxy people mover that we don’t get in New Zealand. 

Meanwhile, all salaried employees of GM and Ford in Detroit have been asked to work at home from now, if possible.  “These are extraordinary times”, said Mary Barra, CEO of GM. 

Manufacturing will continue, so factories are kept moving, however most white-collar workers are expected to apply. 

Toyota is also looking at work from home measures in North America. 

Last week’s US travel ban to and from most of Europe (and now including the UK) had implications for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo. These companies all have major US operations for supply chains, manufacturing, R&D and engineering in North American.  Companies are still racing to look at the medium term impacts, but it is current business as usual.