The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is causing widespread concern and economic hardship for consumers, businesses and communities across the globe.
As the pandemic disrupts business as usual and throws the economic outlook into uncertainty, the automotive industry is on the front line. Some of the most affected regions are major production hubs and home to key links in the sector’s global supply chain. Typical contingency plans help enable operational effectiveness following events like natural disasters, cyber incidents and power outages, among others. They don’t generally take into account the widespread quarantines, extended school closures and travel restrictions that are being instituted in countries around the world to help stem the spread of the virus. With production shutdowns taking effect, automotive companies need to remain focused and nimble to better navigate this crisis.