CNH Industrial announced that it will suspend the majority of its European assembly operations for a two week period due to the supply chain breakdown caused by the COVID-19 emergency in Europe. The suspension will apply to the company’s agricultural, construction, commercial and specialty vehicles production facilities.
Most of the component facilities will remain operational at low speed, and in strict compliance with national health directives so as to ensure a continuous supply to the company’s manufacturing facilities located outside of Europe. Most of the dealer locations and European parts depots will also remain open to ensure uninterrupted service to the customers. CNH Industrial is working in close consultation with unions and councils to execute the temporary shut downs and the re-opening of the plants.
Commenting on the shutdown, Hubertus Mühlhäuser, Chief Executive Officer, CNH Industrial said, “The company takes the health and wellbeing of its entire workforce very seriously, and has implemented all measures to protect the employee population, as well as to help in the fight to contain the spread of the pandemic.”
The CNH Industrial’s COVID-19 global team is constantly monitoring the situation in all markets in which it operates, and will take further measures as required, while continuing to respond to end market demand and service requirements for its mission critical capital goods. Alongside these measures, and those already in place at the company’s locations around the world, the company is largely focusing on the wellbeing of its employees.
Elaborating on why the company took the decision of suspending the operations, Mr. Mühlhäuser said,“The decision to shut down our European assembly plants for a two week period is driven by disruptions in our European supply chain that do not allow for an efficient operation. During these temporary shutdowns, we will also undertake further extensive sanitization and deep cleaning procedures.”
