Ford and General Motors are both now finally closing their plants in North America until March 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak having earlier ignored pleas to do so from The United Auto Workers union.
FCA had already shut temporarily but both Ford and GM decided to do likewise today after workers at both carmakers were found to be carrying the virus.
All three automakers have now implemented more stringent cleaning regimens and put restrictions on access to their plants to keep employees safe.
GM CEO Mary Barra said, “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.”
She added, “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.”
Hyundai also announced that production at its facility in Alabama was being suspended after an employee tested positive. The plant is now being deep cleaned before workers are allowed back.
