GM restarts operations; Nissan starts engines

Automakers in Mexico continue setting conditions to restart operations. GM, Mexico's largest vehicle exporter and producer became the first car manufacturer to resume operations last Friday at some of its facilities. While Nissan, the country's second largest producer, announced it is already implementing necessary sanitary protocols to resume operations.

GM Mexico announced on May 21 the long-waited restart of its operations at the Ramos Arizpe and Silao engines and transmission facilities. On Friday May 22, the company restarted assembly operations in both locations. Resuming operations was only possible after IMSS granted that the company complied successfully with the Sanitary Safety Self-assessment at its facilities. 

The transport equipment manufacturing sector was labeled essential by the Mexican government in mid-May, companies now must submit an assessment of all the measures taken to ensure employees' safety. After a 72-hour period, IMSS will grant if the company complies with all necessary protocols successfully. 

"Well-being and safety of our collaborators is and has been our top priority, that is why we are doing everything we can to grant them a safe and sound return to operations." said Francisco Garza, President and Director General of GM Mexico. "After almost two months of suspended operations, we will reopen our manufacturing complex under the strictest safety protocols", Garza said.

Mexico's market leader and second largest producer, Nissan Mexicana, has also announced the upcoming restart at its manufacturing facilities. While the exact dates are to be set for each manufacturing plant, all corporate work will remain in home office mode.  

"At Nissan, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our employees. We have been working in setting the necessary conditions according to the government´s protocols to provide safe working environment  with the highest health protection levels so we can gradually resume operations" said Armando Ávila, Manufacturing VP of Nissan Mexicana.

Among health protocols both GM and Nissan have implemented include: social distancing in all the stages of employee’s commute to work, including transportation, dining halls and working stations; closed locker rooms, masks, hand-washing, sanitization of all facilities, temperature checks, ventilation and self-assessment questionnaires for COVID-19 symptoms. 

Sanitary control measures should not be taken lightly since a single contagion would imply a total suspension of the manufacturing plant. This was the case of Ford's plant in Dearborn, Michigan, which closed just two days after it resumed activities due to a positive case of COVID-19.