After BMW and Toyota earlier this day, other brands also feel compelled to stop production. A small overview of the latest developments.
The corona virus is flattening more and more parts of Europe. Logically, this also has consequences for the car industry. Brands such as Volkswagen, BMW and the Groupe PSA previously announced their measures, now Skoda, Daimler, Ford, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Volvo and Renault are following.
Skoda
Today, Skoda’s production tires run for the last time in its Czech factories. Tonight the doors will be locked for two weeks. Until April 5, the largest exporter in the country will therefore stand still. Until then, employees are paid up to 75 percent of their wages. Skoda is not the first brand within the Volkswagen Group to shut down European production. Sister brand Seat previously closed the factory in Martorell and Volkswagen itself announced its measures yesterday.
Volvo
Automotive News Europe reports that all work has also been halted in Volvo’s Belgian factory. Production in Ghent is said to have stopped yesterday evening. It is, according to a spokesman, a combination of a temporary staff shortage and the new measures taken by the government. The (electric) XC40 and V60 are built in the factory. It is not clear until when the factory remains closed.
Daimler
According to Reuters, Daimler is closing most European factories to combat the global virus. No passenger cars and vans will be built in the next two weeks. Production strikes begin this week. “With these closings, Daimler helps protect its workforce, interrupt infection chains, and control the spread of the pandemic,” the company said. It is not yet known exactly which factories it will all be. Daimler builds vehicles in five European locations: Bremen, Rastatt, Sindelfingen (DE), Hambach (FR) and Kecskemét (HU).
Nissan
Work has also been temporarily suspended in Britain’s largest car factory, as Nissan will keep all its British production workers at home for the time being. There would be too few parts coming in and the brand wants to anticipate the falling demand for new cars. Nissan builds 1.3 million cars annually in Sunderland. In addition to the Leaf, the Juke and Qashqai also see the light of day there. “Further measures are currently being investigated,” the Japanese automaker said in a statement.
Renault
Renault is expanding its measures, because the factories in Morocco and Portugal are now also going to be closed. Renault builds 400,000 cars a year in Morocco, but as of tomorrow the doors will close indefinitely. The Portuguese factory is already closing today. Renault normally builds engines there. According to Renault, about 11,000 employees are affected by the measures. In addition to the factories in Turkey and Romania, the rest of the production is currently shut down.
Ford
Ford is also closing more factories. Previously, all work in his Spanish factory was shut down, now the other European production sites follow. From 19 March the doors of the factories in Cologne and Saarlouis in Germany and those of the one in Romanian Craiova will be closed. “Although, fortunately, the impact of the coronavirus has so far been limited on our facilities, the impact on our employees, dealers, suppliers and customers, and on European society as a whole, is unprecedented,” said Stuart Rowley, Ford President. Europe. It depends on several factors when the factories reopen, such as the further course of the virus, global rules and the supply of parts.
Rolls-Royce
The British Rolls-Royce also announces that the factory will be closed. The luxury brand finishes this week’s production, the new rules apply from Monday. Rolls announces that the production belts will come to a halt for at least two weeks. Everyone who works at headquarters will then work from home.