Ferrari announced on Saturday, in response to the coronavirus outbreak and a growing shortage of parts, the closure of its two facilities in Italy.
The luxury auto company adds to a list of Italian car giants that have shut down assembly lines or reduced output levels in reaction to the global health crisis, threatening to derail the heavily-battered automotive market in Europe.
Ferrari said the decision to close down operations at its Formula 1 and road vehicle factories had been initiated "for its personnel's wellbeing" and part of a wider lockdown that started last week across the virus-ravaged country.
Chief Executive Officer Louis Camilleri stated: "We have agreed on this course of action out of our respect for them, their peace of mind and their families." Operations will stop immediately at the Modena and Maranello plants until March 27, Ferrari bared in a statement.
According to local health officials, the automaker's home base of Emilia-Romagna is after Lombardy -- the area hardest hit by the virus, with nearly 200 fatalities and around 2,200 cases.
Ferrari added that the company was now facing the first critical problems in the supply chain, which no longer allow production to continue.
Popular brake manufacturer Brembo, whose customers include Ferrari, announced it would indefinitely shut its four factories in Italy this week. Tire company Pirelli stressed it was reducing production at its Settimo Torinese facility near Turin, after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.
At the moment, most F1 teams continue to operate, given the doubts of when this year's season will start. The two F1 plants of Mercedes in the United Kingdom will start regular activities but for 14 days all team leaders returning from Melbourne must self-isolate.
Ferrari's move comes following the suspension of the F1 season after the cancelation of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
For its part, Fiat-Chrysler declared on Wednesday the temporary shutdown of its main locations with a view to thoroughly disinfect them, stressing that production would fall as a result of keeping only a skeletal force at the interim sites.
Industrial carmaker CNH Industrial said it was also temporarily stopping operations at some of its facilities in Italy to comply with the government's containment efforts against the coronavirus.
Later this weekend, Italian authorities were expected to outline comprehensive steps aimed at helping the Euro Zone's third biggest economy, which the pandemic has crippled.
According to sources, Ferrari's employees will continue to receive their full wages and won't be asked to use their day-off allowance in the closure period.
