Carmakers to resume China output after Coronavirus forced closures

Automakers including Daimler, Ford and Tesla are looking to resume production in China after being forced to shut factories following the outbreak of a new coronavirus.

Below are details on carmakers’ plans (in alphabetical order) as compiled by Reuters:

BMW’s China venture with Brilliance said on February 5 the Chinese firm planned to restart production on February 17.

Daimler said on February 3 it plans to resume passenger car production in Beijing on February 10.

Fiat Chrysler said on Feb. 6 that disruption to parts supplies could threaten production at one of its European plants within two to four weeks. 

Ford Motor said on January 29 it planned to resume production on February 10 at its factories in Chongqing and Hangzhou with joint venture partner Chongqing Changan Automobile. 

General Motors said on February 10 it plans to restart production in China on February 15. 

Honda said on February 7 it would restart its three plants in Wuhan, which it operates with Dongfeng Motor Group, on February 13 Honda said there were no supply chain issues that would impede production.

Hyundai Motor and sister firm Kia Motors will gradually increase production in South Korea from February 11, the companies said in a statement on February 10. 

Nissan Motor will temporarily halt production at its plant in Kyushu, southern Japan, the Nikkei newspaper reported on February 10. Nissan said on February 4 it was considering restarting production at its Chinese venture with Dongfeng sometime after February 10 while output from Hubei would start after February 14. 

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PSA Peugeot Citroen, which is in the process of merging with Fiat, said on January 31 its three plants in Wuhan will remain closed until February 14. 

Renault said on February 7 that its South Korean unit RSM would suspend production at its Busan site for four days from February 11 due to supply chain disruptions. 

Suzuki Motor Corp said on February 7 that it was considering sourcing vehicle components from outside China because the outbreak was threatening to disrupt vehicle production in its biggest market, India.

Tesla’s factory in Shanghai will resume production on February 10 with assistance to cope with the outbreak, a Shanghai government official said on February 8. 

Toyota Motor on February 7 extended the shutdown of its China factories to February 16 from February 9. The Japanese automaker operates 12 car and parts factories in regions such as the northern city of Tianjin and the southern province of Guangdong.

French car parts maker Valeo said on January 31 its three sites in Wuhan will remain shut until at least February 13. 

Volkswagen said on February 8 that it has postponed restarting production at most plants at its Chinese JV with SAIC Motor and the Tianjin plant of its JV with FAW Group until February 17. One plant it operates with SAIC in Shanghai and most of the plants in the FAW JV will restart on February 10.