US-based Ford would become the first automaker in Vietnam to suspend operation in response to the growing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Inside the Hai Duong Assembly Plant. Source: Autodaily.

Following the announcement on March 23, Ford would temporarily halt vehicle and engine production at its international market group (IMG) manufacturing sites in India, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.

The IMG production suspensions began on March 21, and will continue for several weeks depending on the pandemic situation, national restrictions, supplier constraints and dealer stock requirements.

While Ford will continue to monitor the situation, the company is adjusting its original IMG production schedule and will temporarily suspend production market-by-market. 

In Vietnam, Ford Vietnam's Hai Duong assembly plant is scheduled to stop operation by March 26.

Ford is also requiring employees to work remotely unless they are performing a business-critical job that requires being onsite.

General Director of Ford Vietnam Pham Van Dung told Dan Tri that except for production activities, the company continues to maintain customer services and sales activities as normal.

In early January, Ford announced an an injection of VND1.9 trillion (US$82 million) to upgrade its Ford Hai Duong assembly plant, bringing its total investment in Vietnam to US$200 million.

The expansion, once completed in mid-2022, would increase the production capacity of the plant from 14,000 cars to 40,000 annually.