DETROIT, MI (WTVB) – Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Fiat-Chrysler will close their plants due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Ford said in a statement Wednesday that its United States, Canadian, and Mexican manufacturing facilities will be halted after Thursday evening’s shifts through March 30 to “thoroughly clean and sanitize the company’s plants.”
“UAW and Ford leaders will work together in the coming weeks on plant restart plans as well as exploring additional protocols and procedures for helping prevent the spread of the virus,” reads the statement from Ford.
General Motors also released a statement Wednesday, saying their shutdown will be until at least March 30.
“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.
GM says it is working with the UAW to make sure all employees will be compensated.
The decision to shut down plants comes after COVID-19 cases were confirmed at FCA’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant and at the final assembly building at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.
