Seoul (AFP)
The first American automobile manufacturer, General Motors, announced on Wednesday the partial suspension of operations in South Korea, the deliveries of certain parts of Chinese suppliers being disturbed by the epidemic of the new coronavirus.
The Covid-19 epidemic has killed more than 1,100 people in China, where more than 44,200 cases have been recorded. The viral pneumonia epidemic has spread to around 30 countries and territories.
The measures taken by China, which added to the impact of the Lunar New Year holidays, had the consequence of considerably disrupting Chinese exports of spare parts, particularly in the automobile industry.
A manager of the South Korean subsidiary of General Motors announced to AFP that one of the two assembly lines of its factory in Bupyeong, west of Seoul, would be closed next Monday and Tuesday due to a shortage the rooms. The factory can release 400,000 vehicles per year.
GM Korea said operations could quickly "return to normal" after the two-day hiatus as Chinese workers "return to work".
Japanese giant Nissan announced this week that it would suspend operations at its Kyushu plant for February 14-17 for the same reasons.
The South Korean Hyundai Motor - fifth worldwide manufacturer taking into account its subsidiary Kia - last week suspended operations at its Ulsan complex.
Production is also suspended at the Renault Samsung Motors plant in Busan.
© 2020 AFP