FCA extends its COVID-19 production shutdown

Brampton Assembly. PHOTO: FCA

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is extending its COVID-19 plant shutdown across North America until April 14.

The automaker with assembly plants in Brampton and Windsor, Ont., and a casting plant in Etobicoke, Ont. that empl0y about 9,000 people, said the closures will depend on governments’ stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to restart production.

Mopar Parts Distribution Centers, deemed essential to keeping first responders and commercial vehicles on the road, will continue to operate with paid volunteers. Production for FCA’s Mexico operations will be subject to a separate announcement.

The Brampton facility makes the Chrysler 300/300C, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger and Windsor makes the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.

The company is in the process of converting its first plant to produce face masks for donation to first responders and health care workers. Machinery has been delivered and installed with supply and donation coming on stream in the coming weeks. The automaker will be manufacturing and donating more than 1 million masks per month. Initial distribution will follow across the US, Canada and Mexico.

FCA is expanding its program of measures to support coronavirus relief efforts, focused on two principal areas: charities providing food services to children and support for a range of technical, logistical and manufacturing programs, such as face mask production.

Toyota is also extending the length of its production suspension at all of its automobile and components plants in North America, including its Canadian operations in Woodstock and Cambridge, Ont. until April 6.