In order to protect its employees from the corona virus and increasingly disrupted supply chains, the internationally active automotive supplier Swoboda will temporarily and in coordination largely shut down activities at its European locations since March 20th to probably April 17th 2020 in Germany (Wiggensbach, Fürth and Schorndorf), the two Czech locations in Jihlava and the two Romanian plants in Timişoara and Sibiu.
This may also affect the Swoboda locations in the USA (Grand Rapids) and Mexico (San Juan del Río). The Chinese plant in Kunshan was already closed from the beginning of February and continues operations as the infection rate in China is falling rapidly.
Swoboda has been implementing advanced hygiene activities and a close monitoring of the situation for weeks. So far, no employee is infected, but the family business wants to minimize the risk and acts according to the principle: "health first". This decision is prompted by the rising infection rate in Europe and measures taken by local authorities against the virus.
The European locations will use the possibility of short-time work and other locally possible measures .To minimize the impact of the crisis on customers deliveries are precisely coordinated. The developing units and administration departments at Swoboda will also continue to work in mobile office to continue new and development projects.