Ford said that the suspension is effective Thursday, March 19.
Ford said the temporary suspension of production expected to last for a number of weeks depending on the pandemic situation, national restrictions, supplier constraints and dealer stock requirements.
It said the action was taken as national governments restrict all but essential travel and personal contact,and with vehicle sales and component suppliers affected across the continent.
“While the impact of coronavirus at our facilities so far has been limited thankfully, its effects on our employees, dealers, suppliers and customers, as well as European society as a whole, is unprecedented,” said Stuart Rowley, president of Ford Europe.
“Due to the dramatic impact this ongoing crisis is having on the European market and the supplier industry – together with the recent actions by countries to restrict all but essential travel and personal contact – we are temporarily halting production at our main continental Europe manufacturing sites,” he added.
The automaker said component supplies to Ford manufacturing sites in Europe have been increasingly interrupted, while sales of vehicles across the industry have declined with dealerships required to temporarily close their sales operations in some countries.
However, the servicing of vehicles is regarded as an important societal need and Ford dealerships are continuing to provide essential maintenance and service across the continent, the company said in its statement.
The Ford vehicle manufacturing sites in Cologne and Saarlouis in Germany, together with the Craiova facility in Romania, will temporarily halt production from Thursday, March 19. Ford’s Valencia assembly and engine facility in Spain already temporarily halted production from Monday, March 16, after three workers were confirmed with coronavirus over the past weekend. Only essential work, such as maintenance and security, will continue onsite.
Ford has 6,300 employees in Romania who would be forced to go on furlough. During this time, employees will be paid 78% of their regular salary.
Just a month ago, Ford Romania officially announced for the first time that the Craiova plant would reach a record daily production volume – more than 1,000 Puma and EcoSport units, which meant a car assembled every 67 seconds and an engine every 42 seconds.