What is Ferrari up to during COVID-19?
Photos: Ferrari
Coronavirus has been spreading rapidly around the world, and Italy is one of Europe's most-affected country. In March, the worldwide manufacturer Ferrari closed its factories in Maranello and Modena for two weeks until March 27 for the safety of its employees, and said in a statement that it’s experiencing its “first serious supply chain issues, which no longer allow for continued production”, in other terms, problems in the production and distribution of its cars.
Unfortunately, the increasing number of cases being seen in Italy have had Ferrari to extend the shutdown of its factories and reopen on April 14, then delayed the reopening of its manufacturing activities in Modena and Maranello until 3 May in accordance with the Italian government. Ferrari will gradually restart its Maranello and Modena plants on 4 May. They will return to full production on Friday 8 May. Engine department will restart work on May 13, while the aero/chassis department on May 20.
To protect the health of employees upon the restart of production, and to ensure they can work in a safe working environment, Ferrari said in April that it’s working on a 'Back on Track' project, so that the factories can be reopened. As part of the ‘Back on Track plan’ Ferrari, controlled by the Agnelli family's group EXOR, who control the Ferrari F1 team and automobile business, said Ferrari workers and familiy members are offered blood tests to screen for COVID-19. In a final step, each worker will be given the opportunity to use an app with a tracking health support and psychological system.
This is not the only initiative made by Ferrari to contain the spread of the deadly outbreak. Ferrari, EXOR and the Agneli family donated 10 millions euros, 150 ventilatores, and provided vehicles to the Italian Red Cross. Ferrari and their clients also helped the health care facilities in Italy by raising 1 million euros to fight the COVID-19 pendamic and improve Modena’s healthcare infrastructure, the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. They continued their efforts by producing respirator valves and fittings for protective COVID-19 masks, at its Maranello department that normally deals with new car prototypes.
Ferrari manufactured hundreds of the essential health care equipments that are being distributed to various hospitals in Bergamo, Genoa and Moden and Sassuolo, and also comes to the aid of local communities in response to the healthcare crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aid to the different towns includes the following initiatives:
• Purchasing of COVID-19 test kits and diagnostic equipment for the Policlinico di Modena and the hospitals of Baggiovara and Sassuolo.
• Emergency medical service vehicle in support of the local communities.
• Purchasing of computer equipment for schools.
• Purchasing and distribution of food in Maranello.
The overall fund is almost 2 million euros and was generated thanks to the Chairman, the CEO and Board of Directors pledging their full compensation from April to the end of the year, with the Senior Management Team donating 25% of their salaries for the same period.
Ferrari and any other company in the world is impacted from this crisis, but are making their best on a daily basis to help their nations. We hope the outbreak will end soon and life goes back to normal.