Porsche is planning to restart vehicle production in Germany on May 4 on a site- and task-specific basis after implementing the required measures needed to ensure the safety of its employees.
“The restart is an important signal — for our employees as well as for our customers. We have monitored and analyzed the situation very carefully right from the start and flexibly adapted processes,” said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG. “Now is the right time to look forward with optimism and to resume work — subject to special precautions.”
Porsche wants to ramp-up production at its main factory in Zuffenhausen and at the site in Leipzig in stages once production begins, so it can make its way back up to full capacity.
The automaker said the Works Council and Health Management department agreed with the adjusted processes in production, logistics, and procurement that are meant to keep employees safe and ensure an orderly and efficient production. “The requirements of the respective authorities will also be observed,” said Porsche in its news release.
Some of the measures include requiring production employees to observe a minimum distance of 1.50 metres, follow basic rules of conduct, or wear a face mask when working in certain areas.
“It will take a great deal of effort to get the economic and social system moving again. Everyone must make a contribution to this,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “It is important to have a positive fundamental attitude. Every crisis also offers opportunities. And we want to make the most of them.”
Production at its two factories stopped on March 21, and has been halted for a total of six weeks. The company said the stricter measures it implemented around the time it suspended production will remain in force, which means employees in indirect production areas will continue with “mobile working”, and meetings will take place through video or phone conferences. There is also a ban on business travel, which still applies.
Production has already been restarted at its multi-brand plants.
