DETROIT – General Motors and Ford Motor Co. said they would close all of their manufacturing sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico until at least March 30 – marking a costly and dramatic step to battle the coronavirus pandemic that the automakers had hoped to avoid.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also said it would begin easing production today, through the end of the month.
Ford said the shutdowns will begin after Thursday’s shifts. GM said it will begin cutting production Wednesday in a cadence.
“We’re continuing to work closely with union leaders, especially the United Auto Workers, to find ways to help keep our work force healthy and safe – even as we look at solutions for continuing to provide the vehicles customers really want and need,” Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president of North America, said in a statement. “In these unprecedented times, we’re exploring unique and creative solutions to support our work force, customers, dealers, suppliers and…
