GM, Ford, and FCA are shutting down all US factories as the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak intensifies.The Detroit Big Three and the UAW had earlier agreed to a production drawdown, but further coronavirus cases at plants has led to more extensive shutdowns.
The UAW has been pressing the automakers to shut down plants; on Sunday, UAW Rory Gamble and the CEOs of GM, Ford, and FCA formed a task force to manage the coronavirus outbreak."Today's action is the prudent thing to do," Gamble said. "By taking a shutdown and working through next steps, we protect UAW members, their families and the community. We have time to review best practices when the plants reopen, and we prevent the possible spread of this pandemic.
In its statement, Ford said it had "temporarily closed Michigan Assembly Plant final assembly building [Wednesday] morning after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and is thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the building, as promised as part of the company's coronavirus emergency response protocol.
The GM suspension "will last until at least March 30," the company said, adding that "production status will be reevaluated week-to-week after that." GM CEO Mary Barra said, "We have been taking extraordinary precautions around the world to keep our plant environments safe and recent developments in North America make it clear this is the right thing to do now."In a statement to Business Insider, Mercedes-Benz US International said that its Alabama factory was continuing to operate.
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