Corona outbreak hits Maserati production, FCA closes all European plants!

KUALA LUMPUR: Coronavirus outbreak is hitting bad at industries globally and the auto industry is no exception. Many automakers are forced to shut their production plants in view of preventing the labor and workforce from the deadly infection. There has been a long list of luxury car automakers who are forced to halt the production process. At the top of the list is Lamborghini automobiles which shut down its manufacturing facility in Sant'Agata Bolognese, followed by Ferrari which closed down its manufacturing plant in Maranello and Modena.

A similar announcement is made by Maserati which has decided to halt its production plant in Italy. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the parent company of Maserati, said that it will halt production at most of its European plants until March 27. This step is in response to the ruckus created in the market and also the sinking demand due to coronavirus pandemic.

Automakers are forced the cease the production process in order to safeguard the health of the labor and workforce. Apart from the production facility at Italy, FCA is ceasing the production plant at Kragujevac in Serbia where Fiat 500L minivan is manufactured. Other than this, FCA is also shutting down the Tychy plant in Poland, where Fiat 500 and Abarth 500 are manufactured. This seems like a major setback in the production capacities for FCA.

Maserati's entire lineage of vehicles including the recently announced Maserati MC20 supercar is affected due to shut down. Other vehicles to be affected in the line-up includes the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, Fiat 500, 500L, and 500X, Jeep Compass and Renegade, and Lancia Ypsilon.

FCA also made a press release to calm the widespread dismay and chaos that was followed by sudden shutting down of manufacturing units. It said that “this temporary suspension is in response to comprehensive measures taken for the Covid-19 emergency. We are making serious efforts to respond to the market interruption caused. In light of the gravity of the circumstances, this is our best way to protect the workforce so that the production can promptly being once the market conditions are back on track. The Group will make use of this halt to implement revisions to the production facility and quality control processes”.

Brembo, a manufacturer of high-performance brakes that supplies to numerous manufacturers including Ferrari and FCA are also suspending its operations at four factories in Italy.

Italy has been badly hit with the Corona pandemic. The Italian government has ordered the state for a complete lockdown while allowing certain companies to function only in the lights of strict measures. As per the current scenario, the situation is far from being over because it may get worse before it gets any better.

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