Coronavirus: Rolls-Royce announces factory shutdown

The luxury carmaker said it was closing its production plant to ensure the well-being of its employees

The manufacturer’s Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce has announced it is closing its manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom, as fears grow that the country has yet to see the worst of the coronavirus contagion.

The British manufacturer, well-known for its bespoke creations, said it is suspending production for two weeks in a bid to secure the health and welfare of its employees.

The day-to-day operations of the company will be assured by non-production employees who will remain at work at the company’s head office in West Sussex, southern England, or work from home on a rotational basis.

Social distancing measures have been introduced throughout the company.

This action, unprecedented for the company, has been taken following the introduction of additional measures by the UK government to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that production at the company’s Goodwood-based manufacturing plant will be suspended from Monday 23 March for two weeks,” the company said.

“In order to further secure the health and welfare of the employees of the company this suspension will be followed by an already-planned two-week Easter maintenance shutdown.”

The move follows similar decisions by Ferrari, Volkswagen, Nissan, Audi, BMW and Porsche, among other carmakers.