General Motors and Goodyear announced this week they have temporarily suspended their manufacturing and production operations due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak.
GM’s suspension will last until at least March 30; Goodyear will be shuttered until at least April 3.
In closing its North American facilities, GM Chairman and 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. I appreciate the teamwork of UAW President Rory Gamble, UAW Vice President Terry Dittes and local leadership as we take this unprecedented step.”
To ensure that production stops in a safe and orderly fashion, GM said plants will suspend operations in a cadence, with each facility receiving specific instructions from manufacturing leadership.
Goodyear announced it also will use a phased shut down that will begin across the company’s tire, retread and chemical plants in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and the United States over the coming days. Its facility in Peru was closed earlier this week. The company said it will closely monitor the local conditions surrounding its warehouse and distribution operations, as well as inventory and supply levels to continue delivery of Goodyear products.
“To further protect the health and wellbeing of its associates, customers and communities, which remain Goodyear’s top priority, the company is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has introduced a number of preventative measures at its facilities, including limiting visitor access and business travel, implementing remote working and social distancing practices and increasing frequency of disinfection,” Goodyear said in its announcement.
