Some Canadian suppliers are warning that the coming weeks could prove to be “stop-and-go” for auto manufacturing as production ramps back up.
“At the moment, we’re good to start. But what we can’t see is the Tier 3 [suppliers]. We’re relying on our Tier 2’s to tell us if our Tier 3’s are OK,” said Pat D’Eramo, CEO of supplier Martinrea International Inc. “My view is it’s going to take time over the next 2-3 weeks. It’s going to be stop and go. There may or may not be some employee issues if there’s an outbreak of some sort.”
Auto production is resuming in North America this month, about two months after the COVID-19 pandemic forced automakers and suppliers to shut down their factories. Output was expected to be considerably lower than pre-pandemic levels as companies ramp up production, implement new health procedures and adjust to weakened new-vehicle demand.
In an email to Automotive News Canada, Flavio Volpe, the president of the Automotive Parts…
