Automakers Halt Production in India Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

India’s greatest automaker Maruti Suzuki India and friends together with Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in addition to Hyundai Motor Co mentioned they may halt automotive manufacturing within the nation as a result of coronavirus outbreak.

The transfer comes after automakers shut crops final week in Europe, the United States, Canada and Mexico as the worldwide loss of life toll from coronavirus exceeded 13,000.

Sport-utility car maker Mahindra & Mahindra mentioned it goals to start out making ventilators for coronavirus sufferers at its manufacturing crops, mirroring comparable efforts by different automakers together with Ferrari and Fiat.

At least 341 individuals have thus far contracted the illness in India and 5 deaths have been reported in-country, prompting the federal government to droop most practice and metro companies nationwide and order the closure of outlets in a number of states till March 31.

Maruti, which builds one in each two vehicles bought in India, mentioned it could instantly shut manufacturing and workplace operations at its amenities within the northern state of Haryana.

“The duration of this shutdown will depend upon government policy,” Maruti, which is majority-owned by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, mentioned in a press release on Sunday.

The western state of Maharashtra, which has recorded the very best variety of confirmed coronavirus circumstances within the nation, is residence to one among India’s greatest auto hubs – Pune, the place a number of carmakers are set to halt manufacturing indefinitely or till March 31.

Mahindra has stopped manufacturing at one among its crops in Maharashtra and can droop work at two others from Monday, it mentioned in a press release.

Anand Mahindra, group firm chairman, mentioned on Twitter that the corporate will instantly start work on the way it could make ventilators at its crops.

“A lockdown over the next few weeks will help flatten the curve and moderate the peak pressure on medical care,” Mahindra mentioned, including that it’ll provide its vacation resorts as momentary care amenities and assist the federal government in constructing such centres.

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Fiat, in addition to bike maker Bajaj Auto all, mentioned they may halt manufacturing at their Pune crops till March 31. Fiat mentioned it won’t lower jobs and can proceed to pay salaries of all its staff.

India’s top-selling bike maker Hero MotoCorp Ltd mentioned on Sunday it has stopped manufacturing in any respect its crops in India, Bangladesh and Colombia.

Indian carmaker Tata Motors Ltd mentioned on Friday it was quickly cutting down exercise at its automotive manufacturing facility in Maharashtra and was getting ready to shut it if considerations about coronavirus deepen.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen AG’s India unit mentioned on Sunday it has stopped manufacturing at its facility in Pune for 3 weeks as a part of an ongoing enterprise transition and is guaranteeing the security of its staff.

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor mentioned on Monday it was suspending manufacturing at its Chennai plant from Monday via the tip of March in response to the state authorities’s lockdown measures because the virus spreads.

Nissan and Renault too introduced that it could halt manufacturing at its Chennai plant from March 24 till additional discover. The official assertion learn “Health and safety of our employees, partners and local communities is our topmost priority. In line with this view and as a precautionary measure, RNAIPL will be temporarily halting its operations at its manufacturing plant at Oragadam, Chennai from March 24, 2020 until further notice.”