Ford vehicles are rolling off the production lines again at facilities in Germany, Romania and Spain following a seven-week suspension of production in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
As part of a phased restart, production has begun at a low level and will gradually be ramped up over the next few months before full production is resumed. Priority will initially be given to sold customer vehicle orders from dealers.
At all facilities, Ford’s global standards on social distancing and health and safety protocols are in place to protect returning workers. Each day, employees are required to complete a wellness self-assessment process and also receive personal “care kits” which include Ford-made face masks and other hygiene items.
“The response from our employees has been incredible. Our teams have been highly proactive in helping support their local communities through the coronavirus crisis and now they are back to what they do best – making the vehicles that will help get Europe moving again,” said Dale Wishnousky, vice president, Manufacturing, Ford of Europe. “We monitored the situation very closely to ensure the timing was right and all the measures were in place to provide a safe and protected workplace.”
The Saarlouis Vehicle Assembly Operations and Cologne Assembly Operations and Engine Plant in Germany, Valencia Vehicle Assembly Operations in Spain, and Craiova Vehicle Assembly Operations and Engine Plant in Romania all resumed production on May 4. Production will restart at Valencia Engine Plant on May 18. The resumption date for Ford’s Dagenham and Bridgend Engine Plants, in the U.K., will be confirmed at a later date.
On Monday, across the facilities, everything went smoothly with great teamwork helping to ensure that a strong restart delivered the reduced volumes that had been planned.
Ahead of production resuming, Ford had contacted all employees, via various channels, outlining the return to work process and the measures implemented to ensure a safe working environment. This included sharing with employees a specially made Return to Work Safety Protocol video. Flyers offer employees further detailed information as regards the usage of PPE equipment. The plants in Cologne, Craiova and Valencia are all producing face shields for internal use.
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Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 188,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 45,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and consolidated joint ventures and approximately 59,000 people when unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 19 manufacturing facilities (12 wholly owned facilities and seven unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
