Due to the worsening situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mercedes-Benz South Africa Limited (MBSA) has decided to begin gradually reducing manufacturing operations with a view to suspending production at its East London manufacturing plant, as well as work in selected administrative departments, on 9 April 2020 for a period of five weeks.
Connected to this is an assessment of global supply chains, which currently cannot be maintained to their full extent.
An extension of this measure will depend on further developments.
Stakeholders can be assured that measures are in place to detect, manage and contain any cases of SARS-COV-2 related to our manufacturing operations. In the interim, wherever operations need to be continued, Mercedes-Benz will take appropriate precautions to protect the health and safety of its employees and inhibit the contagion of SARS-COV-2, the diseases that causes COVID-19, amongst its employees. In order to do so, MBSA is adhering to the directives of the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Department of Health for recommendations and guidelines on how to combat COVID-19.
With this suspension, Mercedes-Benz is helping to protect its workforce, to interrupt chains of infection and to contain the spread of the pandemic. At the same time, this will help the company to prepare for a period of temporary lower demand and to protect its financial strength.
Management is constantly monitoring the situation and will take further measures as required. Full operations will be resumed when the situation improves and will be communicated accordingly.
