Most auto factories shut down
■ Spread of coronavirus in India forces closure of vehicle production lines
The deadly Coronavirus pandemic has virtually forced most automobile factories across the country to shut down operations till March 31 to contain the virus contagion.
Maruti Suzuki, India’s biggest car maker, Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s biggest utility vehicle maker, Honda Cars, Hero MotoCorp, India’s biggest motorcycle maker, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Sunday announced closure of their respective factories.
Since the closure of factories was mandated by the government policy, other automakers could follow suit in a day or two.
Maruti Suzuki said the government policy now requires the closure of production and accordingly the company has taken a decision on production closure.
“The company will shut production and office operations at its facilities in Gurugram and Manesar, Haryana with immediate effect till further notice. The company’s R&D centre at Rohtak will also remain closed,” Maruti Suzuki said in a statement.
Honda Cars India also informed its associates and suppliers on Sunday that production operations at both its manufacturing plants in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and Tapukara, Rajasthan will be temporarily suspended from March 23 to 31.
Mahindra & Mahindra, which has its biggest plant located at Chakan, near Pune, announced that it has shut down its operation till the pandemic recedes. Similarly, Hero MotoCorp, on Sunday said it has decided to halt operations at all its global manufacturing facilities – including in India, Colombia and Bangladesh — and the Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana with immediate effect until March 31.
Employees at all other functions and locations including the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur in Rajasthan will continue to work from home, except for those whose physical presence is necessary to run the day-to-day essential services, Hero said in a statement.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, together with Fiat India Automobiles, said that it will work with the government to temporarily close down operations and suspend production to protect the health and safety of employees.
Over a dozen auto firms in Pune and the neighbouring twin industrial belt of PimpriChinchwad, which together accounted for 23 of the 63 coronavirus positive cases, with two deaths in Mumbai out of five till date in the country, have shut down their plants.
Tata Motors, with the biggest production base among automotive companies in Maharashtra, was the first company to announce a shutdown followed by Bajaj Auto, India’s second biggest motorcycle maker.
German car makers Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have also shut their factories in Pune.
Mini bus maker Force Motors, construction equipment giant JCB, and commercial vehicle maker Eicher Motors too decided to close their production operations.