Fiat Chrysler is halting production at the majority of its plants until 27 March, as the car makers reacts to the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
It follows Saturday’s news that Ferrari will close its Maranello factory until the same date. The supercar firm cited supply issues as the reason. Premium brakes firm Brembo, which supplies Ferrari, has closed its four Italian plants for the time being.
Fiat Chrysler will close its six Italian plants including Modena as well as factories in Serbia and Poland.
In a statement it said: “It enables the Group to effectively respond to the interruption in market demand by ensuring the optimisation of supply.”
FCA continued: “The Group is working with its supply base and business partners to be ready to enable our manufacturing operations to deliver previously planned total levels of production despite the suspension when market demand returns.”
Ferrari, which only last week said business continued as usual, commented in its statement: “The Company, that had ensured continued production so far whilst placing employees’ wellbeing as its main priority, is now experiencing the first serious supply chain issues, which no longer allow for continued production.”
Italy has been European country worst hut by coronavirus, last week implementing a nation-wide lockdown. To date, it has 24,747 reported cases of coronavirus, three times more than the second most affected European country Spain.
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