Yamaha idles 1,500 workers in Newnan

About 1,500 workers at a Yamaha Motor Corporation assembly plant in Newnan are being idled as the company pauses its manufacturing throughout the nation in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

All the Newnan workers will be paid as if they worked during the slated two-week shutdown, company spokesman Bob Starr said Tuesday. They represent the bulk of about 2,000 Yamaha manufacturing workers who will be affected by the shutdowns. The company’s six other U.S. facilities are in Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Florida and Wisconsin.

“This step is being taken with the factories to protect the health and safety of all team members, their families and our local communities,” Starr said.

The length of the shutdown will continue to be evaluated, Starr said. The Newnan plant assembles most of the company’s ATV, WaveRunner, Side-by-Side vehicles and Golf Cars intended for U.S. markets.

Most of the company’s U.S. office workers, including 150 based in Marietta and 250 in Kennesaw, are being asked to telework.

Kia Motors last week briefly halted production at its sprawling Georgia assembly plant, citing supply chain issues. Kia did not specify whether the problems were related to the virus.