Big three announce production suspension as the world fights COVID-19.

The number of manufacturers closing their plants temporarily continues to grow. Ford announced that production at their U.S., Canadian and Mexican manufacturing facilities will be halted after Thursday evening’s shifts to March 30.

“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,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of North America. “In these unprecedented times, we’re exploring unique and creative solutions to support our workforce, customers, dealers, suppliers and communities.”

General Motors will suspend manufacturing operations in North America until at least March 30. The situation will be reevaluated week-to-week after that.

“GM and the UAW have always put the health and safety of the people entering GM plants first, and we have agreed to a systematic, orderly suspension of production to aid in fighting COVID-19/coronavirus,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “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.”

FCA will cease production at plants across North America through to the end of March.

“Working with the UAW, and having visited many of our plants yesterday, we need to ensure employees feel safe at work and that we are taking every step possible to protect them,” said FCA CEO, Mike Manley. “We will continue to do what is right for our people through this period of uncertainty.”