2020 Detroit auto show canceled; venue to be used as field hospital

Mid-April appears to be the earliest that most North America production could resume, but the deaths of at least four UAW members at FCA underscore the worries many workers have about returning to the factory floor.

Japan and South Korea carried on as business-as-usual in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping their auto factories open until now. But the economic contagion is finally catching.

Anthony Levandowski is a genius, albeit a flawed one, some say. After a career marked by technology triumphs and a generous dose of controversy at Uber and Google, the autonomous-driving pioneer now faces his greatest obstacle yet: possible prison time.

When one of his employees' siblings tested positive for coronavirus, the chairman of a Michigan Ford dealership acted quickly, shuttering the store for two weeks and switching commissioned workers to a daily pay rate. 

An earlier memo covered automotive repair and maintenance as well as transportation equipment manufacturing and distribution facilities. Guidance for retail operations, including leasing and rental activities, had not been clear.

KAR Global's additional actions follow a decision last week to halt sales at all North American ADESA locations for at least two weeks. That includes simulcast-only sales.

Toyota Motor North America said it had made an initial batch of 300 face shields for medical workers in Texas, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan, and expected to produce up to 50,000 by next week for distribution.

As chief cost optimization officer for North America, he will work with the automaker's various business units across the region to improve efficiencies.

Magna, Linamar and Martinrea have agreed to assist in the production of much-needed ventilators during the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. They'll work with a trio of medical suppliers.

Both Roush and Ford Motor Co. encouraged individuals who have been in Roush's "Building 9" from March 6-20 to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date they were last at the facility.