Ford Soon to Resume Operations in Mexico
Ford’s President of North America announced its plans to restart operations at its Hermosillo plant on April 6
Ford expects to resume operations aiming for a better cash flow. Ford's President of North America, Kumar Galhotra, said in a statement that the company is planning to resume production at Key North American plants, including its Hermosillo Assembly Plant, starting on April 6.
The company suspended operations on March 19, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Ford was planning to restart operations on March 30, earlier than other non-US OEMs, but it announced its intentions to extend the suspension up to April 6. However, Michigan governor's order to restrain non-essential business operations until April 13 changed the circumstances.
Payment for the 2,800 employees at Hermosillo will be 75 percent of the regular amount as long the suspension lasts."
Nevertheless, Ford will resume operations as planned, on April 6, at its Hermosillo assembly plant, home of the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedan models. Ricardo Martínez, member of the Ford Motor Company Union in Hermosillo, had previously confirmed that the payment for the 2,800 employees at the facilities will be 75 percent of the regular amount as long as the suspension lasts.
On April 14, the company will restart operations at eight facilities in the US, although it is unclear how many employees will get back to work. UAW said in a statement: “We are reviewing with great concern and caution today’s [Ford’s] announcement. Our priority is the health and safety of our members.”
Meanwhile in China
PSA Group’s joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group in China announced last Wednesday that production had resumed at its three manufacturing facilities in Chengdu, Ziangyang and Wuhan, according to Reuters. Has China finally started to recover?