Volkswagen halted manufacturing at two of its facilities in China due to ongoing Covid 19-related lockdowns throughout the country.
While recently speaking with German publication Automobilwoche, a VW spokesman confirmed that production at the Chengdu plant has been paused, not because it was ordered into lockdown but due to difficulties in sourcing parts from suppliers that have had to decrease production due to the coronavirus. The halt in production in Chengdu also impacts the Jetta brand. Vehicles including the VW ID.4, VW Golf, VW T-Roc, and Audi Q2 are also produced at this site.
VW has also been forced to stop two of the five production lines at its Changchun plant over a lack of parts. This move will impact the production of the Audi A4, A6, Q5, and e-tron models made for the Chinese market.
VW is eager to restart production at the Chengdu and Changchun sites as soon as possible.
“The possibility of resuming production at the locations mentioned is being reviewed on an ongoing basis,” the spokesman told Automobilwoche.
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The impact on production comes in the midst of unprecedented civil unrest across China triggered by frustrations over the government’s ongoing zero-Covid policy.
Automobilwoche spoke with both BMW and Mercedes-Benz who confirmed that production at their plants is continuing as usual. However, both carmakers said they are monitoring the ongoing unrest and will make decisions when appropriate.
On the other hand, Honda has been forced to halt production at its plant in Wuhan due to restrictions on movement throughout the city. It is unclear how long this plant will remain closed. The Japanese car manufacturer has also extended the suspension of operations at a plant in Chongqing that produces engines for lawnmowers.
