Availability of components critical to restart manufacturing operations: Automakers

Major carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda have not yet resumed production at their factories stating that availability of components is a prerequisite to re-start operations at factories, which continue to remain inaccessible due to the nationwide lockdown. It has been nearly a month since automakers suspended operations across their plants as Covid-19 pandemic spread across the country. The factories of all major auto component makers as well as sales outlets also continue to remain closed.

The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said it is looking closely at re-starting operations at its two plants in Haryana. “The availability of components is one of the major requirements for restarting the factories and the company management is looking into it. I guess it will take few days to see how and when can we start operations,” MSI Chairman RC Bhargava told PTI. MSI’s Manesar (Haryana) plant falls out of municipal corporation limit while Gurgaon plant is within the city limits. The two plants in Haryana have an installed capacity to roll out 15.5 lakh units per annum. Operations at the plants remain suspended since March 22.

Under the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the extended lockdown period up to May 3, the government, private industries and industrial establishments operating in rural areas, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, have been allowed to operate from April 20. Moreover, manufacturing, industrial units with access control in special economic zones (SEZs), export oriented units, industrial estates, industrial townships have also been allowed.