As part of a “comprehensive action package in response to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus,” MAHLE is suspending production at all of its European facilities, the company said.

MAHLE will shut down production “in a controlled manner” by March 25 at the latest, and will reduce indirect administrative and development operations “to a few key core functions.”

MAHLE Aftermarket’s distribution centers will continue to supply spare parts to repair shops, the company noted in a news release.

“We are facing an extreme situation of an unforeseeable scale, and it is completely unclear how things will develop,” said Jörg Stratmann, CEO and chairman of the MAHLE management board. “We must make every possible effort to contain the further spread of the coronavirus in order to protect our employees. At the same time, we are responding as a business to the collapsing markets and, in particular, to the production stoppages of the OEMs in Europe.”

The measures will affect approximately 70 locations across Europe, according to the company.

“MAHLE will decide on which approach to use in each case, such as applying for short-time work, in consultation with the employee representatives,” the company said. “This, as well as further internal measures, will apply until further notice depending on the overall situation.”