Japanese automaker Mazda Motor on Tuesday stated that they are suspending production at its plants in Japan, Mexico and Thailand following the spread of coronavirus that has created worldwide disruption.
The Hiroshima-based automaker stated in Japan, its two plants will be shut for 13 days, between March 28 and April 30. The automaker hopes to make up for this production loss in the July-September quarter of this year.
The automaker has mentioned the reason behind the production suspension as difficulties to components sourcing and sudden decline in sales.
Apart from the Japan plant, Mazda has also declared shutdown for the Mexico assembly plant for 10 days from March 25. Its Thailand plant will also remain closed for 10 days from March 30.
In a statement, the automaker said, many countries have been fast and extensively reinforcing their infection prevention measures such as implementation of curfews, retail business suspensions and restrictions on corporate activities. “Mazda has decided to adjust production at our production facilities worldwide in consideration of difficulties in parts procurement, the plummeting sales in overseas markets, and the uncertainty of future markets,” the statement noted.
The announcement comes just a day after another Japanese automaker Toyota stated that it would suspend operations at five assembly plants in Japan as the global demand has declined significantly. However, the sales operations of Mazda will remain operational in Japan and China.
Coronavirus has so far infected over 454,823 people and killed 20,545 worldwide.
