AGENCIES, Molsheim/Crewe: Hyper sports car maker Bugatti has confirmed that it is suspending production in Molsheim, France-based unit “Today we decided to suspend production to protect our staff and prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading to our sites,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “In this extreme situation, our social responsibility demands that we take such a drastic step. For us, the health of our staff and their families, our customers, our business partners and suppliers has top priority.”
Bugatti said in a statement that it was almost impossible to deliver vehicles completed in the Atelier to their owners due to the travel restrictions. Bugatti supports the regulations that have been implemented by European governments as well as the recommendations of health experts and will intensify the measures already taken.
Meanwhile, in UK, Crewe-based Bentley Motors said it will suspend production for four weeks as UK’s finance minister Rishi Sunak announced a raft of job saving measures for workers.
Adrian Hallmark, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said: “The well-being of our colleagues is our number one priority and although this was a difficult decision to take, and doesn’t change our strategic direction, it was necessary to protect them as best we can during these unprecedented times. This will inevitably have an impact on our deliveries to customers, and we apologise for the inconvenience this causes, however we are working hard to minimize this disruption. Our thoughts continue to go out to all those affected around the world throughout this very sad and difficult time for so many people.
“This decision is based on the accelerated rate of infection by coronavirus and understandable restrictions applied, the resulting interruptions in supply chain that will soon be seen, as well as declining demand on some automotive markets. But most importantly the decision is to protect the health of Bentley’s many colleagues, their families and communities,” added Hallmark.
Bentley said, core business functions will continue throughout the shutdown in Crewe, following social distancing policies, or working remotely. Production will not start again until 20 April.
