CLEPA provided a longer overview of the facts, predictions and activities related to the corona virus. We draw particular attention to a brief analysis of the impact on the automotive industry.
COVID-19, INFECTION FORM:
According to the latest data from John Hopkins University, there are now more than 2 million confirmed cases worldwide, with 121,000 people dead. Italy, Germany, France and Spain see the number of newly confirmed cases falling, and the spread of the disease in the UK appears to have stabilized. France has extended the lock-up until May 11, after which kindergartens and schools will slowly reopen and industrial production remains possible if special conditions are met. Spain eases the lock on Monday, allowing production to restart, while Italy decides to extend the lock due to most facts until May 3. WHO warned on Tuesday of prematurely easing restrictions: "90% of cases globally come from Europe and the US, so we certainly don't see the peak. Cases are decreasing in Italy and Spain, and Turkey and the UK continue to show an increase."
Although not binding, most European countries will struggle to adhere to guidelines published by the World Health Organization to ease restrictions, such as the ability to carry out extensive testing and follow-up and find new infections. In the meantime, it seems that social distance measures in the US would help stabilize the spread of Covid-19. President Trump, however, on Tuesday halted U.S. funding by the United States, many considered a way to divert attention from the administration's management of the crisis.
Covid-19, Medical Progress:
There are 70 virus vaccines globally, with three candidates already tested for human trials, but WHO does not expect a vaccine in the next 12 months.
Several drugs are currently being tested for other diseases, the biggest goal of which is to stop the virus from spreading or to shut down the body's immune system, which goes into overdrive.
Gilead is expected to share findings from two Phase 3 trials evaluating remdesivir in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients in May, which could be one of the drugs that help better control the impact of the disease as long as the vaccine is available. After immunity recovery, another major unknown remains, and some recovered patients have very little or no measurable antibodies. Dr. Robert Gallo, the developer of the first HIV antibody test, indicated that high antibody measurements do not guarantee that the patient cannot become ill again and that the true antibody test must be very accurate to ensure that the right type of antibody is measured.
ENTERTAINMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT MEASURES COVID-19:
CLEPA has prepared an overview of containment measures in Member States. The review also includes the most recent OEM announcements of planned resumption of production by country.
Country |
Shut down of Dealership (new car sales) |
Shut down of Workshops (Repair/Maintenance) |
Automotive industry classified as essential (OEM and component production) |
Announcements by industry |
Lockdown until |
|
|
Austria |
Open as of 14 April |
Open |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Magna Steyr indicated on 9 April it is slowly restarting production, on 6 April production of protypes restarted, followed by production of G-class. Extensive measures taken. |
Started easing restrictions |
|
|
Belgium |
Dealers cannot open their showrooms on weekends, but repair and parts sales are allowed. |
Emergency and essential repairs |
Automotive not listed as essential, production allowed to continue if social distancing measures are implemented |
Audi plans restart of Brussels plant as of 20 April. |
19 April |
|
|
Croatia |
Open as of 14 April |
Open - workshops were exempted from closure |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Started easing restrictions |
||
|
Czech Republic |
Closed exception of service parts that are still open |
Open - workshops exempted from closure |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
The Hyundai plant in Nosovice was allegedly the first car factory in the Czech Republic to resume operations after a three-week Corona break. Škoda Auto extended the shutdown of production at all three of its Czech plants due to the pandemic coronavirus until 27 April. |
Started easing restrictions |
|
|
Finland |
Some open some closed |
Some open some closed |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
13 May |
||
|
France |
All sales activities are prohibited, except for deliveries. Repair services and parts sales will continue. |
Open - workshops exempted from closure |
Automotive not listed as essential, but production is allowed if sufficient safety requirements are implemented |
Toyota wants to resume production at its Onnaing site, near Valenciennes, from April 21, 2020. At least one union has protested. |
11 May |
|
|
Germany |
Closed until April 19th, some available online only |
Depeding on state restrictions, apply, some closed some open |
Automotive production allowed with additional requirements |
VW restarted component production for Chinese market on 14 April. Daimler plans restart with one shift a day on 20 April. |
4/19/2020, further guidance expected on 15 April |
|
|
Hungary |
Open - with restricted opening hours |
Pick-up and drop-off service only |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Audi is slowly starting up its production, starting at the Györ plant in Hungary. A first engine assembly line with around 100 employees has opened there 14.04. It will only be operated in one instead of the usual three shifts. According to a spokeswoman, the production is several hundred engines a day. |
Indefinitely |
|
|
Italy |
Only repair, maintenance and related activities, such as parts sales are permitted |
Closed |
Automotive not listed as essential industry, production not allowed |
FCA reached agreement with unions on restart when allowed. Ferrari is getting ready to restart production at Maranello facility. |
3 May |
|
|
Netherlands |
Open |
Open |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Nedcar plans to restart production of BMW X1 and Mini on 4 May. |
28 April |
|
|
Poland |
Open |
Open |
Production allowed if social distancing requirements are implemented |
Toyota plans slow production restart from 22 April |
4/19/2020, easing will start on 19 April |
|
|
Portugal |
Some open some closed |
Some open some closed |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Renault has resumed production. Volkswagen's Portuguese factory will initially start at 27 April with two shifts, with the remaining workers remaining on a layoff regime. |
1 May |
|
|
Romania |
Open |
Open |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Dacia plans restart from 21 April onwards, Renault plant also expected to reopen. |
15 May |
|
|
Slovakia |
Closed - only online sales |
Emergency and essential repairs |
Production possible if social distancing measures are implemented |
Only in Nitra's Jaguar Land Rover plant few people are preparing to launch production of Defender. |
Indefinitely |
|
|
Slovenia |
Open as of 14 April |
Open |
Restart allowed with additional requirements |
Companies which have suspended their production due to the coronavirus epidemic are gradually restarting operations. Renault plant in Novo Mesto to restart on 21 April. |
Started easing restrictions |
|
|
Spain |
Open |
Open |
Non-essential workers in industries like manufacturing and construction have been allowed to return since 14.04 — tentatively |
Renault plans 1 shift production restart in Valladolid and Sevilla. VW and PSA have indicated publicly to plan to restart 20.04 |
4/1/2026, extension likely |
|
|
Sweden |
Open |
Open |
Production was continuosly allowed with additional requirements |
Volvo Cars extends production stop in Sweden until April 20th. Previously, the plan was to start after Easter, April 14. According to Volvo Cars, the extended production stoppage is partly due to the fact that car sales have decreased and that it is difficult to get all parts to production. |
Much less restrictions |
|
|
United Kingdom |
Closed |
Open |
Manufacturing was not included in shutdown as announced by government, treasury communicated last week that manufacturing should still be possible if conditions are respected |
JLR was planning to reopen on the 22st, but postponed for the time being. |
5/7/2020, likely to be extended |