- Fiat Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors are extending their factory shutdowns until April, according to a report from Reuters.
- The shutdown was originally supposed to last until March 30.
- Two FCA factory workers have died from COVID-19.
The Detroit Three are going to extend their factory shutdowns into April, according to a report from Reuters citing people familiar with the matter. Ford, Fiat Chrysler, and General Motors had originally planned on reopening their plants next Monday, March 30, but the remaining threat of COVID-19 is forcing the automakers to reconsider.
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Currently, Ford is the only one of the three to publicly declare that the shutdown will be extended, and according to Reuters, Ford isn’t planning to restart production until April 6. GM and FCA haven’t said when they will be restarting activity at their plants. The automakers first made public that they would be suspending production at their plants on March 18 following pressure from the United Auto Workers.
In a letter to members, UAW President Rory Gamble said that FCA has said that they won’t be reopening on March 30. GM is yet to make any sort of announcement. On March 23, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whiter announced a stay-at-home order for Michigan residents, which banned nonessential business. The order goes at least until April 13, and it is unclear if the ban includes auto plants.
There have been two FCA employees, who were also UAW members, die from COVID-19. They were both plant workers; one worked at a factory in Kokomo, Indiana, and the other in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
