VW extends production halt in Germany, Renault idles Turkish plant

Frankfurt, Germany – Volkswagen Group is extending its production halt at its factories in Germany to 9 April, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a 26 March statement, the German automotive group said the four-day extension was in response to weakening demand and supply chain disruptions.

The move applies to all German plants for VW passenger cars, commercial vehicles and components.

The German group owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat and Skoda brands.

VW said that it had applied for a government programme to reduce the working hours of 80,000 employees in Germany.

Meanwhile, French automotive manufacturer Renault said that it was suspending production in Bursa, Turkey, starting on 26 March.

The automaker's manufacturing complex in Bursa, which operates as Oyak Renault, is halting production "due to disruptions in the global supply chain," Renault said 25 March.

The complex has an annual capacity of 360,000 cars, 750,000 engines, 394,000 gearboxes and 428,000 chassis, Renault said.

The factory is the principal assembly site for Renault's best-selling model, the Clio small hatchback, and employs 6,600 people.

Renault has also shut down its industrial sites in France, its factory in Slovenia, its two car plants in Morocco and a powertrain factory in Cacia, Portugal, until further notice.

The company temporarily halted production at its seven factories in South America.