COVID-19 Impact on the Automotive Industry
The novel coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted public events, including auto shows, motorsports events, and other gatherings planned for spring and summer. This article outlines major developments in the automotive world related to COVID-19, showcasing fluctuations in fuel prices, event cancellations, and anticipated slowdowns in car sales and new vehicle launches. Continuously updated, this piece ensures you stay informed about the latest changes.
June 16, 2020
The Goodwood Festival of Speed cancels the 2020 event.
June 3, 2020
Overland Expo postpones all of its 2020 events.
May 22, 2020
***Update*** The 2020 New York International Auto Show is canceled.
May 17, 2020
***Update*** NASCAR returns with a fan-free race at Darlington Raceway.
May 13, 2020
General Motors confirms the cancelation of its Maven ride-sharing program.
May 11, 2020
Tesla restarts production against the orders of the local government.
May 7, 2020
***Update*** IndyCar announces its series kicks off on June 6 in Texas.
May 6, 2020
***Update*** General Motors plans to resume production at its North American plants on May 18, 2020.
Honda reveals a modified Odyssey minivan for transporting infected patients in Detroit, Michigan.
May 5, 2020
***Update*** FCA announces plans to open most of its North American plants during the week of May 18, 2020.
***Update*** Ford announces that respirators made in conjunction with 3M are currently shipping. This announcement follows the Blue Oval’s recent donation of face shields to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
***Update*** Bugatti reopens its factory in Molsheim, France.
May 4, 2020
***Update*** Ferrari announces plans to fully resume production on May 8, 2020.
April 23, 2020
Both the San Marino Motor Classic and The Quail are canceled.
The 2020 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is canceled.
April 17, 2020
***Update*** NASCAR is postponing its events scheduled for early May at Martinsville Speedway.
Mazda announces it’s offering free oil changes and car cleanings to healthcare workers.
April 16, 2020
***Update*** Nissan’s U.S. plants will remain shutdown until mid-May.
***Update*** Ford will reportedly restart production at its Kentucky plant on May 4.
Volkswagen is waiving six months of payments for customers who lose their jobs.
April 14, 2020
***Update*** Subaru’s Indiana and Gunma Japan plants will reportedly resume production on May 11, 2020.
April 11, 2020
Production of the Ford Bronco Sport is delayed from June to September.
April 6, 2020
Rivian pushes back the launch of its electric truck and SUV to 2021.
The 2020 Detroit Grand Prix is canceled.
April 3, 2020
***Update*** Ford will continue to suspend European production until at least May 4, 2020.
April 2, 2020
NASCAR announces its Next Gen car is delayed until 2022 due to the coronavirus.
March 31, 2020
***Update*** Ford once again delays reopening its North American plants.
March 30, 2020
Due to the coronavirus, the 2020 Paris Motor Show will not be held “in its current format.”
March 28, 2020
The North American International Auto Show is canceled as Detroit’s TCF Center becomes a temporary hospital space.
March 26, 2020
The Indy 500 is rescheduled to August 23, 2020.
***Update*** Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plans to keep factories closed through April 14, 2020.
March 24, 2020
***Update*** Ford plans to keep its North American plants closed through the month of March and into April.
March 23, 2020
Overland Expo West is rescheduled to July 24-26, 2020.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, originally scheduled for early June, is postponed to a later date.
March 22, 2020
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, originally planned for late May, is postponed to mid-October 2020.
March 20, 2020
The 2020 One Lap of America is postponed until May 1, 2021.
Bugatti suspends the production of its vehicles in France.
After halting production, Kia will reportedly resume at its Georgia plant on Monday.
March 19, 2020
Tesla will temporarily suspend production at its Fremont, California plant beginning at EOD on March 23, 2020.
New technical regulations for Formula 1, set to be introduced in 2021, are delayed by a year.
Toyota will reportedly shut down all North American production starting next week through April 5, 2020.
Volkswagen suspends production at its Chattanooga, Tennessee factory for one week.
The Monaco Grand Prix is canceled.
March 18, 2020
Nissan Group of North America announced the temporary closure of all North American plants effective March 20 to April 6. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has confirmed that production at all North American plants will cease, effective immediately until the end of March.
March 17, 2020
General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plan to implement a rotating partial shutdown of facilities backed by members of the United Auto Workers union.
Daimler Group suspends production in Europe for two weeks.
March 16, 2020
***Update*** NASCAR now postpones all racing activity through May 3.
Renault shuts down all vehicle production in France until further notice.
March 15, 2020
Austin, Texas racetrack Circuit of the Americas announces that it has closed indefinitely and laid off its employees.
Numerous reports indicate that Ferrari has suspended production at factories in Maranello and Modena, Italy, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
March 14, 2020
Multiple motorsport events and auto shows have been affected by the pandemic, leading to cancellations or postponements as organizations adapt to the public health situation.
