By Casey Williams
CarDataCom.

(April 3, 2020) As with most industries, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc with the auto industry.  Virtually all plants are on pause, putting many thousands of workers on furlough.  But, as in World War II, automakers represent vast manufacturing, engineering, and philanthropic capabilities that can be tapped for everything from face masks to ventilators and food programs.  Here are examples of automakers doing their part in the current crisis.

(April 2, 2020) PLANO, Texas — Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) announced it has launched a private label business with Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), its first-ever client, through the creation of Mazda Financial Services (MFS). Mazda Financial Services began operations today and offers a suite of automotive finance, lease, wholesale, dealer banking, and insurance protection products and services to Mazda dealers and customers in the U.S.

(April 1, 2020) DETROIT — As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country, it created a critical shortage of face masks. To help protect workers in essential services across the country, GM launched a rapid-response project to produce masks at scale on Friday, March 20. Seven days later, the team had produced their first sample on the new production line. By next week, GM expects to deliver its first 20,000 masks to frontline workers.