Well, that didn’t take long to snowball, now, did it? One minute the coronavirus was just a flu bug in some remote outpost of China, the next our prime minister is self-quarantined in 24 Sussex. It really is hard to imagine it’s been barely two months since the coronavirus first appeared on our radar.Races postponed, plants closed and auto shows and press launches – what do you mean I can’t drive the new Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD because of COVID-19!? damned pangolins! – cancelled.
Later in the day, Mercedes-Benz, one of the last holdouts when it came to U.S. plant closures, said it would idle its Alabama plant – where it makes the GLS, GLE and GLE Coupe – and its South Carolina commercial Sprinter van plant for at least two weeks starting March 23, said Automotive News. The same report noted Kia plans to re-open its Georgia plant on March 23 after production was suspended due to supplier issues March 19.
Nissan and Toyota follow the lead of the Detroit Three and Honda and confirm they will be idling production at their North American factories as a precautionary measure meant to stem the spread of COVID-19. However, Toyota later confirms a worker at its Cambridge, Ontario plant did indeed test positive for coronavirus, though it kept the facility running until the scheduled closure March 23.
The Detroit Three, feeling pressure from the United Auto Workers and from Honda’s closure decision, by mid-day had reversed course from their decision the night prior, when they’d said they’d stage “rotating partial shutdowns.” Instead, they committed to idle all production in their North American plants until the end of the month, according to reports.
Rolls-Royce announced its plant in Goodwood, U.K. would suspend operations for two weeks beginning March 23, as well; and German automaker Porsche said it would idle production at its facilities following the same timeline, except for its Zuffenhausen and Leipzig factories, which would close beginning March 21.
RBC predicted sales in North America could tumble as much as 20 per cent as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. FCA shares declined 21.6 per cent on Monday, while all the Detroit Three hit 52-week lows. Tesla shares dropped 18.6 per cent Monday and are down 40.2 per cent for the month. March 16We’re not quite sure when the Formula 1 season will start. The regulators, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, seem to think we should be good to go around the beginning of May, which means the Dutch round would be the start of the season.
March 15Ferrari suspends production at its Maranello and Modena plants. As a result, both production car and Formula 1 facilities will be closed for two weeks. “It is out of our respect for them [our employees], their peace of mind and of their families that we have decided on this course of action,” chief executive officer Louis Camilleri said.
The automakers announced they will be immediately implementing enhanced visitor screening, increased cleaning and sanitization of common areas and adopt universal protocols for people at potential risk of exposure or who exhibit flu-like symptoms. There will also be altered break and cleaning schedules to optimize social distancing.
Before the announcement, NASCAR had planned to hold the races without fans in attendance, but as the racers were preparing the cars at the track, the Folds of Honor Quick Trip 500 was cancelled. The same last-minute decision saw the world famous Daytona 200 motorcycle race delayed. Racers had already practiced and qualified on Friday before they were told there would be no race on Saturday. The current plan is to reschedule the big show for October.
Lamborghini announces it is shuttering its Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy assembly plant until at least March 25 as a country-wide lockdown there makes continued production almost impossible. The ninth installment in the Fast & Furious film franchise, F9: The Fast Saga, sees its debut postponed nearly a year, going from a May 22 release date to April 2, 2021.
Lamborghini, Porsche and BMW all cancel or postpone press preview events in March and April. Sadly, that means we won’t be driving – and you won’t be reading about – the new Huracan EVO RWD, 911 Turbo S and the M8 Gran Coupe any time soon. But, in a truly cruel twist of fate, the entire support classes – Moto2 and Moto3 – just happened to be in Qatar testing. Since they were already in-country, they were allowed to race, the equivalent of holding a Formula 1 race but having only F1600 show up. Eventually, the next three races are also “postponed” – including the Argentinian round scheduled for April 19 – leaving the season opener now to the be the Jerez, Spain round on May 3, but even that is in doubt.
Wuhan auto makers and parts suppliers are back to work already. What gives?
drivingdotca More companies will be impacted as well due to supply chain management. The deficit will be much larger than $50B the feds are currently on track to spend. JustinTrudeau blew the bank on pet projects as such there is little fiscal room now!