In Coronavirus COVID-19 news today are Faraday Future, Comscore, GM, Kid, Hyundai, RepairSmith, Branch and Rainforest Car Wash.
Faraday Future Gets Stimulus Loan
Even with a bankrupt founder Jia Yueting, Faraday Future has obtained a $9,167,800 loan from the Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The loan will be forgiven as long as Faraday Future continues to pay for payroll, interest on mortgages, rent, or utilities, and doesn’t lay off any of its employees.
The company continues to pay Jia his $30,000 a month is salary.
Comscore Shows Rebound
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect consumer demand, there are indications that the worst might be over for the automotive industry. New insights from Comscore a trusted partner for planning, transacting, and evaluating media across platforms, shows that the significant drop in consumer demand for new vehicles seen across March 2020 began leveling off at the end of the month, and even slightly increased week over week into the first week of April.
Comscore’s In-Market New Vehicle Demand Indicator has been tracking consumer demand since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. This data is an early indicator of industry health and provides insight into what is on the horizon for the auto industry. It is measured via engagement with lower funnel shopping KPIs across 40+ third party automotive shopping sites, such KBB, CarGurus and Edmunds.
In prior editions, Comscore reported significant declines in weekly new vehicle demand compared to the same period in 2019. Demand in the last two weeks of March 2020 fell more than 30 percent compared to the same period in the year prior. The first positive indications since the U.S. began implementing stay-at-home measures are seen during the week of April 5, 2020, which registered an increase of 12 percent week over week.
“While we could be in for a long recovery and the way forward still remains largely unknown, this early data shows a rebound may be just around the corner. Manufacturers are discussing dates for assembly plant reopenings, dealers are rolling out contactless sales promotions, and the country in general is eager for any ways to get back to what feels normal,” said Dennis Bulgarelli, Vice President, Automotive, Comscore. “In the meantime, existing inventories should be able to accommodate pent-up demand from prospects returning to the market.”
GM Expands PPE Production
With ventilators and face masks now in production, GM is expanding its manufacturing of personal protective equipment, including latex-free face shields, protective gowns and aerosol boxes. All of these supplies are being donated.
These projects have been led by employee volunteers looking to apply their automotive-production skills – from 3D printing to sewing upholstery – to help those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Initially, these projects were grassroots efforts, with employees delivering handmade samples to hospitals for feedback and tweaking prototypes based on feedback, which fed into the final designs.
Today, with the help of suppliers, GM will apply its scale and manufacturing capabilities to amplify these efforts, mass-producing up to 50,000 face masks per week, and ramping up production of protective gowns and aerosol boxes.
GM is coordinating with the State of Michigan’s personal protective prioritization team to identify which hospitals in the state need face shields most urgently. GM employees are delivering protective gowns to hospitals in the Henry Ford Health System and aerosol boxes to other area healthcare facilities.
Face shields
Depending on the location and 3D printing technology used, the shield visors were printed from three different types of material, including:
- Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate for FDM printers
- DuraForm PA Polyamide Nylon Plastic for SLS printers
- Accura Xtreme Gray for SLA printers
The shields were cut from clear .7-millimeter polyester sheets on an Eastman Machine Company M9000 static table cutting system that is normally used to cut trim pieces for concept vehicles.
For full production, GM is collaborating with suppliers, including Summit Polymers of Kalamazoo. Summit Polymers donated a P20 steel injection mold that will enable GM to increase production from roughly 4,000 to 25,000 units per week. GM is purchasing a second injection mold to help increase production up to 50,000 units per week.
Summit Polymers plans to donate the first 100,000 face shield components it makes to GM.
Protective gowns
Today, the skilled tradespeople from UAW Locals 1869 and 160 who make up these teams are assembling protective gowns and aerosol boxes at the Warren facility.
Skilled tradespeople from the color and trim departments sewed sample protective gowns that were distributed to local hospitals for evaluation. The first prototypes were made from old car covers to perfect the pattern.
The final gowns approved for use have been sewn from Tyvek supplied by Henry Ford Health System, are lightweight (approximately two ounces), breathable and protective. The completed gowns are being delivered directly to HFHS by GM employees.
Aerosol boxes
Local hospitals are also in critical need of aerosol boxes, see-through containers that protect medical personnel while they are intubating patients. GM’s design fabrication team came up with an initial concept, demoed it with local intensive care personnel and used their feedback to come up with a design that is now being distributed to local hospitals.
GM’s aerosol boxes measure 20 inches high, 20 inches wide and 16 inches deep, with arm holes on the side to help protect doctors while treating patients. These boxes are hand-formed on a heat bar from polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified sheets in quantities of 40-46 per day.
Kia Makes PPE
In response to a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kia Motors today announced that production of face shields has begun at its manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. Initial donations of medical use face shields assembled at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) will be made in Georgia, Alabama, New York and California.
With a monthly capacity of 200,000 units, the face shields are being assembled by paid volunteers from KMMG, which has implemented a series of safety measures to protect team members, including: conducting temperature scans, providing face masks and gloves, and staggering work stations. Materials are being sourced from vendors such as 3-Dimensional Services Group, a Michigan-based rapid response manufacturer supporting prototype and low volume production applications that has partnered with Kia to provide components used in the assembly of the face shields.
Face shield production is the latest expansion of Kia’s Accelerate the Good program following the company’s pledge to donate a total of $1 million to non-profit partners that assist homeless youth nationwide, including Covenant House, StandUp for Kids and Family Promise. Kia’s donation will help provide much needed shelter and care to help fight the spread of COVID-19. Earlier, Kia donated N95 masks and gloves to medical facilities throughout Orange County, California, where the brand’s U.S. headquarters is located.
Hyundai Updates
The safety, health and well-being of Hyundai employees, customers, business partners and the communities where we do business are of the utmost importance during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Hyundai has established a COVID-19 response team at all affiliated companies to monitor the situation, minimize the risks and prepare for all potential scenarios.
The following is an update on the COVID-19 impact at Hyundai’s U.S. operations and the proactive and preventive measures each operation has taken. This information will be updated in real time.
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- Hyundai’s First Responders Program now includes healthcare professionals and hospital employees (as defined by the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics), making them eligible to receive $500 off all-new Hyundai vehicles
- Offering a complimentary three-month extension of Hyundai’s Blue Link® Connected Care service, which includes SOS Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Automatic Collision Notification, for customers with accounts expiring March 20 through the end of May
- All employees are working from home
- In compliance with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s “Safer at Home” order, the Hyundai National Headquarters building in Fountain Valley, CA is closed
- Suspended all travel
- Providing all full-time employees up to 10 extra days of paid time off for those directly impacted by COVID-19
- Extended the suspension of production until May 1 to protect the health and well-being of team members, their families and communities
- Production is expected to resume on Monday, May 4
- HMMA employees will continue to receive medical, dental and vision benefits during this interruption to vehicle production
- Team members may use their paid vacation time or leave during this period
- Select dealers are offering online purchase and home delivery for new-vehicles and pick up and drop off for service customers
- Launched Click to Buy to allow customers to purchase a new Hyundai without leaving the comfort of their home
- Contact local dealers to get the latest information on their operations and business hours
- Additional cleaning of dealer facilities and Hyundai vehicles that are in for service
- Electronic signature authorization for repair approvals and digital communication between the dealer and customer
RepairSmith Expands to AZ
RepairSmith announced the at-home car repair and maintenance service is now available in the greater Phoenix area. The southwest expansion brings safe, ‘No-Contact Car Repair’ direct to car owners and fleets.
RepairSmith is also extending its $100K program offering free, ‘No-Contact Car Repair’ with an additional $10,000 donation to Phoenix residents to support members within the community who are facing hardship because of the coronavirus. This includes government workers, service workers, delivery drivers, healthcare professionals, employees of grocery stores and pharmacies, volunteers.
Through the program, individuals can receive up to $500 in free repair and maintenance services to keep their car safe and operating during this critical time. All repairs will be completed on a first come, first served basis, following an application review.
RepairSmith offers on-site repair and maintenance for car owners at their home or workplace and on-location service for fleets. All mechanics are certified technicians and all work is backed by a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty. RepairSmith is backed by Daimler AG, one of the most trusted and successful global automotive companies.
Branch Gives Rebates
Columbus-based startup Branch announced they are giving back 15% of monthly insurance premiums to auto policyholders in response to the current health crisis. This compassionate initiative recognizes clients’ reduced driving due to shelter in place orders in effect and works to ease the financial burden many are facing across the country.
This credit will apply to auto policies in effect during April and May and will be offered in unique options. Policyholders will be able to receive this credit themselves or help someone that is struggling financially, through the Branch nonprofit entity SafetyNest®.
ZT Corporate Pays for Testing
ZT Corporate, a Houston based private equity firm specializing in healthcare and automotive companies, today announced it will offer and pay for COVID-19 testing for its 1,500 employees, including 1,150 employees across Houston. ZT Corporate is conducting testing in an effort to help drive private sector led solutions to transitioning through this crisis that focus on public health and responsibly reopening our economy and workforce.
Testing will be offered through an independent, third-party healthcare provider beginning April 20 and is voluntary for ZT Corporate employees across Houston, Southeast Texas, New York City, Arizona, Fort Walton Beach and Atlanta. Employees will have the option to receive an FDA-approved COVID-19 molecular, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (diagnostic test for COVID-19).
ZT Corporate’s portfolio of companies includes many essential businesses, including healthcare clinics, financial services, automotive dealerships and more – all of which require employees to be on the frontline.
As responsible providers of emergency and healthcare services deemed elective by the State during this crisis, ZT Corporate leveraged its network of healthcare vendors to gain access to third-party testing. The company also announced a commitment to working with city and county elected and health officials in areas it operates to share results of testing within HIPPA regulations and human resources compliance.
Rainforest Car wash Gives Back
Rainforest Car Wash is doing their part to give back to their local communities, offering free car washes to all Health Care workers and giving free washes to those who support local restaurants by ordering take-out. All three Rainforest Car Wash locations, Brunswick, Medina, and Cleveland Heights, are participating.
Health care workers can get their free wash by messaging a photo of their ID badge to the Rainforest Car Wash Facebook or Instagram page. Those who have been supporting local restaurants by ordering take-out can get their free wash by messaging a photo of their receipt to their social media pages.