Major automakers shutting down factories, including GM in Arlington, over coronavirus
The three biggest automakers in Detroit — Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler — will temporarily close all U.S. factories because of the coronavirus pandemic.
GM has a factory in Arlington, where it employs about 4,500 people.
Union leaders and employees urged the shutdown as the COVID-19 continued to spread to all 50 states and infected more than 215,000 people worldwide.
Ford and General Motors will close factories in North America beginning Friday through March 30.
Honda North America will close four U.S.-based plants beginning Monday because of an anticipated decline in market demand. Honda said in a release it would halt production for six days but expects to reopen at the start of April.
“We’re continuing to work closely with union leaders, especially the United Auto Workers, to find ways to help keep our workforce healthy and safe — even as we look at solutions for continuing to provide the vehicles customers really want and need,” Ford’s North American president Kumar Galhotra told CNBC.
The shutdown affects more than 150,000 union autoworkers, according to the United Auto Workers and the companies.
General Motors has 11 factories, Ford has eight and Fiat Chrysler has six.
“UAW members, their families and our communities will benefit from today’s announcement with the certainty that we are doing all that we can to protect our health and safety during this pandemic,” UAW President Rory Gamble said. “This will give us time to review best practices and to prevent the spread of this disease.”
Ford was forced to temporarily close one of its Michigan assembly plants after an employee was confirmed to have COVID-19, CNBC reported.
