No more hand shaking, for now…
General Motors executives have finally done the sales and public health math and listened to the UAW and Unifor labor groups and confirmed it will begin a systematic suspension of manufacturing operations in North America due to market conditions and to deep clean facilities and continue to protect people. The suspension will last until at least March 30. Production status will be reevaluated week-to-week after that. Continue reading
Bowing to pressure from the UAW and with a belated portion of common sense and awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ford Motor Company will stop production at U.S., Canadian and Mexican manufacturing facilities after Thursday evening’s shifts through March 30 to thoroughly clean and sanitize the company’s plants. The UAW had urged immediate closings this past weekend, but Ford executives refused to do so during the formation of a Coronavirus Task Force along General Motors and Fiat Chrysler management.
Ford temporarily closed Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) final assembly building this 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. MAP will halt production through March 30.
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The spirit of emergency…
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that production at the company’s Goodwood-based manufacturing plant will be suspended from Monday 23 March for two weeks. In order to further secure the health and welfare of the employees of the company this suspension will be followed by an already-planned two-week Easter maintenance shutdown.
The day-to-day operations of the German-owned company will be carried on by non-production employees who will remain at work at the company’s head office on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex or who will work from home on a rotational basis. Social distancing measures have been introduced throughout the company.
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It sure looks like racing – except for the smell and the roar of the crowd.
NASCAR and iRacing announced today the formation of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, an exhibition esports series featuring many of the sport’s most popular “drivers.” The simulation-style setting will include a cross-section of competitors from the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and a group of NASCAR bigwigs.
The multi-week series will kick off Sunday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET on the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway. The remaining race and broadcast details will be announced at a later date.
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General Motors (NYSE: GM) today announced the following senior executive changes:
The new appointments are effective April 1, 2020. Continue reading
Kaput…
Next week Porsche will suspend production for an initial period of two weeks. By taking this step, the sports car manufacturer is responding to the significant acceleration in the rate of infection caused by the coronavirus and the resultant measures implemented by health authorities.
In addition to the protection of the workforce, bottlenecks in global supply chains no longer allow orderly production. At the same time, Porsche is preparing for a decline in demand and securing its financial strength with these decisions.
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Ford CEO Jim Hackett (l) and Volkswagen AG CEO Dr. Herbert Diess on JV announcement.
The Volkswagen Group brought fiscal year 2019 to conclusion with improved financial results in almost all brands. At €88.4 billion, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand’s sales revenue in 2019 was 4.5% higher than in the previous year. Operating profit before special items increased to €3.8 (3.2) billion. Improvements in the mix and price compensated for lower sales of Volkswagen Passenger Cars models and for launch costs and negative exchange rate effects. The operating return on sales before special items increased to 4.3% (3.8%). The diesel emissions cheating scandal saw special items of €-1.9 (-1.9) billion.
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In a statement issued today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agnelli Family and its Companies have put in place a series of measures, in coordination with the Italian Civil Protection Department, to support the Italian national health service in its care of the sick and to provide assistance to those who currently require it, or who will do so in the future.
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Trade and viruses are global.
China exported 680,000 Passenger Cars in both 2018 and 2019, says Alan Kang, Senior Market Analyst at LMC Automotive Consultancy. “If we compare this volume with total domestic production of 21 million units last year, there is no denying the limited scale of Chinese vehicle exports, at just 3% of total output in 2019,” he observes.
“The data for 2010 and 2016 show that overseas OEMs accounted for just 11% and 19% of China’s exports, respectively.” Continue reading
Daimler Group has decided today to suspend the majority of its production in Europe, as well as work in selected administrative departments, for an initial period of two weeks. An extension of this halt will depend on further developments. Wherever operations need to be continued, the company will take appropriate precautions to prevent the infection of its employees.
The suspension applies to Daimler’s car, van and commercial vehicle plants in Europe and will start this week. Continue reading
Ford is suspending vehicle and engine production at its manufacturing sites in continental Europe in response to the growing impact of the Coronavirus. Effective from Thursday, March 19, it is expected that this action will continue for a number of weeks.
The action follows the World Health Organization’s designation of Europe as the new epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic with the number of reported cases growing significantly in recent days and expected to continue to rise rapidly. Ford’s decision to temporarily halt production also will contribute towards the efforts to contain the virus spread.
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The United Auto Workers (UAW), General Motors Co., Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler (FCA) announced late yesterday that they are forming a COVID-19/Coronavirus Task Force to implement enhanced protections for manufacturing and warehouse employees at all three companies. Insiders say the UAW wanted an immediate shutdown but the CEOs wouldn’t have it.
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Reality emerging everywhere…
Ferrari has decided to suspended production in Maranello and Modena prompted by the Italian Government’s decree on COVID-19 issued on 11 March, as well as previous decrees. Ferrari had continued production “whilst placing employees’ well being as its main priority.”
Ferrari says it is now experiencing the first serious supply chain issues, which no longer allow for continued production. Continue reading
Hyundai Motor America is reinstating its Assurance Job Loss Protection program for customers who might be affected by the uncertain business and financial environment created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Sister brand Genesis is doing the same in an attempt to head off a sales slump as consumer demand plummets.
Originally started in January 2009 the result of the financial crisis, the Job Loss Protection program was the first of its kind for an automaker in the U.S.
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Drivers Boot Your Computers for IMSA Racing
Soon we can simulate the drivers too…
The real – or is that original – Mobil 1 Twelve Hours has been rescheduled to the weekend of Nov. 11-14, but IMSA will simulate action from Sebring International Raceway via an iRacing 90-minute online affair with drivers playing video racing.
Starting at 2:30 p.m. ET, the race will be streamed live on iRacing’s Twitch channel and the iRacing eSports Network on YouTube. The commentary team will include the voice of IMSA Radio’s John Hindhaugh.
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