The World Health Organization (WHO) defined it as an epidemic, and the inaction of many governments also made the world lose a valuable window of opportunity, which hit the global automobile industry again.
What impact does the epidemic have on the automobile industry worldwide? How will auto companies respond to the COVID-19 epidemic? How will the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain tide over the difficulties? How will the global automobile industry struggle forward? The car headline APP searches for foreign media reports and launches a new column of "Car Enterprise Epidemic Map" to restore the latest developments of the global auto industry every day.
This issue was broadcast on March 20, 20 10, and it is a global car enterprise epidemic.
Tan Desai, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said that at present, there are more than 200,000 confirmed cases and more than 8,000 deaths in COVID-19, but China reported no new confirmed cases for the first time. This is an amazing achievement. However, the world's anti-epidemic pace continues.
The French government may help PSA and Renault through "nationalization"
As we all know, under the impact of the epidemic, PSA has closed its European factory until March 27, and Renault has also closed its French industrial park and Spanish factory.
At present, the epidemic situation in France is also very serious. On June 9, local time, the French Ministry of Health announced the addition of patients with coronary heart disease 186 1 person, and a total of 10995 cases were diagnosed, including 446 1 case in hospital and severe 1 128.
Under the disaster, the government's actions have become particularly important, especially the battered automobile industry, which may need a timely helping hand.
Recently, Reuters reported that the French government will provide PSA and Renault with loan guarantees and the space to postpone tax payment to help them tide over the difficulties during the epidemic.
It is reported that this week, France announced a series of measures to help enterprises cope with the epidemic, including 300 billion euros (325 billion US dollars) government loan guarantees, and measures to delay the payment of taxes and wages.
In addition, Bruno lemerre, French Finance Minister, also said that if necessary, France will take more measures, such as state aid and nationalization of enterprises, to ensure the survival of large companies, but the specific steps and plans have not yet been announced.
Within 24 hours, six car companies announced the joint production of ventilators.
Under the epidemic situation, it is nothing new for car companies to switch to medical supplies and equipment.
On March 18, General Motors and Ford Motor Company announced that they were discussing with White House officials how automobile companies could help produce medical equipment such as ventilators to help fight the epidemic.
According to Reuters, after General Motors announced that it would suspend its production plan in North America on the 30th of this month, CEO Mary Bora expressed to White House officials the idea of switching to ventilators to help the country tide over the difficulties.
Ford also indicated on 18 that it is ready to do everything possible to help the government, including producing ventilators and other equipment, and has been actively discussing the feasibility with the government.
It is worth mentioning that Musk, who has always been indifferent to the epidemic, even said on Twitter that "panic about the epidemic is stupid" and expressed his willingness to produce ventilators. He said that if there is a shortage, Tesla will also become a member of the production ventilator. He also said that although it can't be done right away, it's not difficult to do it.
On the other hand, in Britain, where the epidemic is equally severe, McLaren, a super sports car manufacturer, also announced that it will research and manufacture ventilators. In March 17, three British automakers, vauxhall, Honda and Toyota, announced that they would start producing ventilators, and Britain became the first country in Europe to call on domestic automakers to switch to medical devices.
In Italy, where the epidemic is the most serious, the car manufacturers Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler said on March 19 that they are negotiating with the country's largest ventilator manufacturer to help increase the life-saving production urgently needed in the coronavirus crisis.
It is reported that as of local time 19, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Italy has reached 4 1035, with a cumulative death of 3,405, which has surpassed that in China.
According to incomplete statistics, plus Jaguar Land Rover, at least 10 car companies have joined the production of ventilators, and this number may continue to grow.
When Audi, Ford and Kia stopped production,
The suspension of production necessary for epidemic prevention and control continues.
According to Reuters, the Audi brand of Volkswagen Group said that the global supply chain of the company was affected by the epidemic, and the factory in Puebla will stop production from March 23rd to April 13.
In addition, Audi's Hungarian factory also reported that it would stop production. At present, the Volkswagen Group's factories in Italy, Spain, Slovakia and Portugal have all stopped working.
Volkswagen also said that most other factories in Europe, including the factory at the headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, will stop working for 2-3 weeks from this week.
It is worth mentioning that Audi's factory in Brussels, Belgium is also struggling to maintain production, and many workers have given up their jobs because they are worried about their health.
On the other hand, Ford also said that due to the epidemic, since March 19, the production of automobiles and engines in manufacturing plants in continental Europe has been suspended, and the closure is expected to last for several weeks. In addition, the Ford turkey factory will also stop production for two weeks.
Previously, Ford's assembly and engine factory in Valencia, Spain, had temporarily stopped production because three workers were diagnosed. In the United States, a product developer of an automobile manufacturer in dearborn, Michigan was also diagnosed with the virus, but the employee had been working at home for many days. A spokesman said that the people who worked with the employee were not in danger.
In addition, due to the impact of the epidemic and the decline in automobile demand, Hyundai Kia will also suspend production at its factory in Eastern Europe for two weeks from Monday.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.