DAILY ROUNDUP: The auto industry amid the coronavirus pandemic

Geely Holding Group, through Li Shufu Charity Foundation and its local distributor, Sojitz G Auto Philippines Corporation, donated 20,000 surgical masks to the Department of Health (DOH). This is the automobile company’s way of supporting the health workers of the country in combating the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic in Italy is also where the Automobili Lamborghini is situated. Thus, Stefano Domenicali, CEO and chairman of the super sports car maker, decided to transform its production facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese to manufacture protective plexiglass shields and surgical masks for donation to the health workers of the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna to aid in combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, Nissan Philippines said it is "committed to supporting... valued customers during the enhanced community quarantine period" by "extending for 30 days the warranty coverage and scheduled periodic maintenance service for all qualified Nissan customers if coverage lapses within warranty period." This is subject to warranty validation. For more information, call the Nissan Customer Center hotline at 02 8403 6593.

US macro intelligence and credit company Fitch Solutions predicts the Philippine auto industry growth will slow to 0.4% due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to control the spread of Covid-19. The initial projection had been 7.4%.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), under the leadership of new president Atsuhiro Okamoto, has reached out to various local government units and their respective disaster risk reduction and management offices, health offices, and city transport heads with the intention of dispatching as many vehicles as possible to increase the mobility of frontline workers. Currently, TMP has lent out 47 vehicles.

Four organizations are working together to respond swiftly to the pressing need for protective equipment for frontliners in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The global economy is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, and as a result Toyota Motors witnessed a huge decline in demand in the overseas markets. Thus, the company has decided to halt the production at the seven manufacturing sites of Japan until April 3, 2020. The suspension period will be different for the different production lines.