Audi, Nissan: Global Players Provide Local Support

Despite their operations being suspended for over two months, Audi and Nissan continue to support local communities in the fight against COVID-19. German Audi led the project to supply medical and protection equipment in Puebla while Japanese Nissan, through its dealership network, has provided vehicles for transportation of equipment and medical staff in Mexico City and Oaxaca.

Vehicles to Transport Medical staff

"Before challenging circumstances, as the ones we are living, we reaffirm our ‘One Team. One Nissan’ leadership vision, as we know that together we are stronger and we will pass this because Nissan is with Mexico all the way," said Diego Ramírez, Government and Public Relations Director of Nissan México. Nissan México has been the country's top seller of new vehicles for 10 years straight. Due to COVID-19, the company suspended its manufacturing operations since March 25. 

In Mexico City, the company created an alliance with the Blasanmedical medical network. Through some of its dealerships in the city, the company provided four vehicles to transport medical equipment and medical staff to and from hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 patients. In a similar partnership with top dealership Grupo Surman, the company provided an URVAN NV350 unit to transport medical staff.

In Oaxaca, one of Mexico's southern states with the lowest income levels, Nissan México, along with the state government, has provided a five-vehicle fleet that will be used to help the state’s health system in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read our full interview with President and Director General of Nissan Mexicana, José Román here.

Supporting Puebla’s Health System 

"Audi México is a company committed to society and human rights. We want to contribute directly to fight the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic," said Niels Bosse, Human Resources and Organization VP of Audi México. Audi started the production of Q5 in 2017. The company was among the first automakers in the country to suspend operations on March 23, while later on the company announced an extension to the suspension until May 31.

To support the economic recovery of Puebla, home state to the OEM, the company designed a project to produce 40,000 reusable facemasks that will be donated to local communities near the production plant. In addition, 11,000 additional facemasks with the same characteristics were produced for when Audi's collaborators return to their jobs. 

Audi will also support four medical facilities in Puebla through the donation of medical equipment. The company reported on a statement that "under a sanitary emergency such as this, it is important to practice the value of sharing and solidarity." Bosse added: "We want to support the health sector in Puebla to cope with this situation. As we all know, the most effective way to fight against the virus is staying at home to flat the contagion curve in the state and the country."

Read the full interview with President of Audi México, Andreas Lehe here.

As of May 27, Mexico reached 74,560 contagions and a record of 501 daily deaths to reach a total of 8,134. Essential industries, such as automotive, can resume operations on June 1 after all sanitary protocols are approved by the federal authorities.