Audi and Renault have both started to resume production at factories in Europe, even though much of the continent is continuing to struggle due to the pandemic.
According to Bloomberg, approximately 100 workers at Audi’s site in Györ, Hungary, a massive engine plant, restarted output on an assembly line in a single-shift system earlier this week. A second line will open up before the end of the week.
Bloomberg Intelligence believes the slump in car production across Europe could result in 3 million lost vehicles this year and €60 billion ($66 billion) in lower revenue. Governments and corporations are looking at ways to gently re-commence production to get the economy back on track.
Read Also: Mercedes And Audi Gearing Up For Production Restart In Europe
In Germany, for example, Chancellor Angela Merkel is discussing with leaders of the German states possible steps to ease restrictions that are set to influence when and how companies such as Daimler, Audi, and BMW can restart production at their German factories.
Audi is hopeful that in addition to getting its engine plant back up to pre-crisis levels, it will resume vehicle production in Hungary towards the end of next week. “The company is doing everything to safeguard the health of employees,” Audi said in the statement.
Over at Renault, a company spokeswoman recently confirmed it has restarted a portion of operations in Portugal and intends on resuming production in Romania on April 21. Elsewhere, Hyundai’s car manufacturing site in Nosovice, Czech Republic is resuming output this week with two shifts instead of the usual three.
