Two lines begin to move in Alabama

OEMs Hyundai, Mercedes restart production at least in part

2020 Santa Fe Limited

Two OEMs around the South restarted production at least in part on Monday, though with new precautions and safety measures spread far and wide.

Mercedes-Benz US International restarted its plant in Vance, Alabama, according to local press reports. Mercedes is among the more tight-lipped OEMs, and the state’s largest news outlets reported the development with no additional commentary from the company.

A news outlet in South Carolina said the Mercedes plant near Charleston, which produces Sprinter and Metris vans, has apparently not reopened. Neither website, for Charleston nor Vance, had any Covid-19 updates.

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Mercedes began its temporary shutdown in Alabama on March 23.

Hyundai’s Montgomery plant on Monday brought back about 50 percent of its production team, 1,000 or so workers, to restart its first shift from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama spokesman Robert Burns said fuller production should resume May 4.

Other Southern OEMs, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen, are aiming for restarts in early to mid-May.

New industry guidelines encourage plants to issue masks and gloves, space out work stations as much as possible and ramp up cleaning schedules.

 

Alabama

Hyundai Montgomery, April 27

Honda Lincoln, May 11

Toyota Huntsville, May 4

Mercedes-Benz Vance, April 27

Georgia

Kia West Point, May 4

Kentucky

Toyota Georgetown, May 4

Ford Truck Louisville, No date

Ford Louisville, No date

GM Bowling Green, No date

Mississippi

Toyota Blue Springs, May 4

Nissan Canton, mid-May

South Carolina

BMW Spartanburg, May 4

Mercedes-Benz Charleston, TBA

Volvo Ridgeville, May 11

Tennessee

Nissan Smyrna, mid-May

Nissan Decherd, mid-May

VW Chattanooga, May 3

GM Spring Hill, No date

Texas

Toyota San Antonio, May 4

GM Arlington, No date

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