European and American car companies are "fancy" against the epidemic. Can China's supply chain become a life-saving medicine

According to the data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, the number of new car registrations in the European passenger car market dropped by 7.3% year-on-year to 2,22,1? Car, the European auto market hit the worst situation since 213.

meanwhile, the market data analysis organization LMC? Automotive has lowered its forecast for US car sales in 22 by 3, to 16.5 million, which will be the lowest sales level in the US auto market since 214.

under the epidemic situation, the European and American auto markets suffered an unprecedented blow.

No car company can be immune to the epidemic. When China was ravaged by the epidemic, some multinational car companies already had different degrees of influence. With the spread of the epidemic, the scope of this influence is constantly expanding, the automobile manufacturing industry will stagnate, and the task of automobile enterprises in various countries has also shifted from production to anti-epidemic.

the three giants of the United States unite to fight the epidemic

On March 15th, the three giants of American auto companies, General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Yafeite Chrysler, announced that they would form a coronavirus special group with the United Auto Workers' Union to improve the protection measures for manufacturing workers and warehouse employees and strictly control the outbreak of the factory epidemic.

Image source: General Motors

It is reported that the three car companies will cooperate to screen visitors, increase the cleaning and disinfection of public areas, and take a series of isolation and protection measures for people with symptoms and related contacts.

The three car companies said in a joint statement: "This is an unprecedented turbulent situation, and the working group will take prompt action and take extensive preventive measures. We will work together with Qi Xin to ensure the safety and health of employees. "

Since Monday, Ford's factories and enterprises around the world have required non-frontline employees and employees in key positions to work from home. And GM has also made the same requirements for employees to telecommute. It should be noted that neither Ford nor GM's telecommuting requirements include their China companies and workers on the production line.

At the same time, Ford removed its car advertisements in the United States and replaced them with anti-epidemic advertisements. Mark Truby, a spokesman for Ford Motor Company, said that although the current situation is rather unstable, he did not think that any of Ford's major factories would be completely closed. GM and Fiat Chrysler also expressed this attitude.

although American auto giants have said that they will not stop production, the three major auto companies in the United States decided to close their North American factories until March 3 due to the pressure from American trade unions and concerns about the spread of the epidemic.

European car companies are caught in a wave of production suspension, and British car companies plan to switch to medical supplies

On March 14th, Ferrari, an Italian ultra-luxury sports car manufacturer, announced that it would stop production for two weeks for the safety of workers.

on March 16th, Ferrari, an Italian sports car manufacturer, announced that it would suspend production at its factories in Maneira and Modena. Lamborghini, which has all its production capacity in Italy, also announced that it would stop the Italian production line, and it is expected to resume production on March 25th.

Image source: Ferrari

On March 17th, audi ag, the world's largest automobile manufacturer, also announced that it would close all its factories in Europe for 2-3 weeks.

on the same day, two French car companies, Renault and PSA, also announced the suspension of production. Renault will close its 12 factories in France, affecting 18, people. One day ago, Renault had closed its two factories in Spain.

According to the statistics of Geshi Automobile, European head car groups such as Volkswagen Group, PSA, FCA and Nissan-Renault Alliance will all close their factories all over Europe, and at least 23 automobile brands will be involved. For a time, European car companies have fallen into a wave of production stoppage.

in addition to OEMs, Brembo, Ma Ruili? Marelli) and other European head auto parts suppliers also need to stop production.

during the closure of the factory, audi ag said that he would work by teleconference and video conference, isolate employees who have been to the epidemic area, require employees to work at home, and restrict business trips.

It seems that the anti-epidemic work of British car companies is more active.

According to British media Autocar, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed with British car companies including Ford, Honda and Rolls-Royce whether their production lines can be temporarily converted into masks, ventilators and other medical equipment needed by NHS. This news has been confirmed by Ford and Honda, and they said that they are preparing for this work.

Image source: Ford Motor Company

Will China be a life-saving medicine

With the global epidemic worsening, the situation in China is gradually improving.

As of March 18th, newly confirmed cases, newly suspected cases and existing suspected cases in Hubei have been cleared, and 7,42 cases have been cured and discharged nationwide.

As the fourth largest automobile manufacturing industrial base in China, Hubei has more than 1,5 automobile manufacturing enterprises above designated size, producing more than 2 million automobiles annually, accounting for 8.8% of China's output. In Wuhan, the center of the epidemic area, there are 7 complete vehicle enterprises, 12 automobile assembly plants, more than 5 parts enterprises and 14 automobile research and development institutions above the provincial level, with an annual automobile output of over one million.

At present, enterprises in Hubei have resumed production. Xin Guobin, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, said at the press conference held by the Office of the State Council that he would support Hubei auto parts industry to give priority to the resumption of production, so as to alleviate the parts gap faced by global automobiles due to the epidemic.

Foreign auto companies have imported parts from China to cope with the possible supply failure crisis. A few days ago, an Eastern Airlines cargo flight carried 8.45 tons of auto parts from Pudong Airport to Chicago. GM used 16 charter flights to transport China parts to its production bases in North America, Brazil and Argentina.

in addition to air transportation, marine logistics is also the main way for multinational auto companies to transport spare parts. It is understood that since the outbreak, haitong international Automobile Terminal has completed 94 berthing operations, loaded and unloaded 58,378 vehicles, and shipped 3, sets of spare parts to Thailand and 2, sets of spare parts to India.

importing spare parts from China will alleviate the crisis of supply failure of global car companies, but China car companies are also facing a shortage of spare parts and need to fill the demand. If we receive orders from all over the world again, it will inevitably increase the production pressure. In addition, the cost of charter flights is expensive, which will increase the production cost of car companies; Slow shipping speed will increase the time cost of car companies. Either way is not a long-term solution. It is hoped that European and American countries can learn from China's anti-epidemic experience and complete the resumption of work and production as soon as possible.

This article comes from the author of Chejia, car home, and does not represent car home's standpoint.