Toronto, Ontario — Automakers Honda, Toyota and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are extending plant closures by a week amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honda Canada will extend the shutdown of its Canadian site in Alliston, Ont., as well as its four vehicle assembly plants in the United States. The company released a statement Thursday confirming it would continue to provide opportunities for workers to be paid.
“During this time, Honda will continue to provide opportunities for associates to be paid including providing full pay for some non-production days and pulling ahead vacation for others,” the company said in a statement. “Honda will utilize this time to continue deep cleaning of its production facilities and common areas to further protect associates upon their return to the plants.”
Citing vehicle demand, Toyota said it will extend the shutdown of all light-vehicle component plants in North America, including in Mexico, throught Apr. 17, with output scheduled to resume Apr. 20. The company had initially planned to restart plants on Apr. 6.
“Our service parts operations and finished vehicle logistics centers will continue to operate in order to continue meeting the needs of our customers,” the company said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action in a timely manner.”
FCA plants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as headquarters operations and construction projects, will remain closed until Apr. 14, dependent upon the various states’ [and provinces’] stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to return to production. FCA had originally said its plants would shut down through the end of March.
Other automakers—like Ford—have sooner plants to start reopening doors. Ford expects to reopen a Hermosillo assembly plant in Mexico with one shift on Apr. 6 and has plans to restart production Apr. 14 at Dearborn Truck, Kentucky Truck, Kansas City Assembly and Ohio Assembly.
Ford did not comment on dates for Oakville Assembly in Ontario.
