In response to the global spread of COVID-19, Mazda has decided to adjust production at their production facilities globally in consideration of difficulties in parts procurement, plummeting sales in overseas markets, and the uncertainty of future markets.

Mazda plans to suspend production for 13 days and operate day-time shifts only for eight days at the Hiroshima Plant and Hofu Plant starting March 28 until April 30. Mazda intends to transfer part of the production originally scheduled for this period to the second quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2021 or later while monitoring how the situation develops. During this period, administrative operations will be undertaken as usual.

For overseas plants, Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation will stop production starting from March 25 while AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT)—the Philippines’s source for the BT-50 and Mazda2 will also suspend production from March 30. The stoppage will last for about 10 days.

Despite the plant shutdown, Mazda will continue its sales operation, but will abide by each respective country’s policies aimed to prevent the spread of the virus. Prevention measures such as teleworking (work from home) and sterilization at Mazda offices and dealerships are being done.

For its part, Bermaz Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country assures its customers that they have ample stocks of new vehicles and spare parts that will last them “several months” in time for when Mazda plants in Japan and Thailand go back online.