Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announced it will provide free standard oil changes and enhanced cleaning services for U.S. healthcare workers at participating dealers nationwide. This program, which began on April 16, is not limited to Mazda owners and is available for most makes and models from other manufacturers. The Essential Car Care program, developed in partnership with the Mazda dealer network, will invest a minimum of $5 million as part of the initiative.

“Supporting the communities where we live and work is rooted deeply in Mazda’s 100-year history. We are honored to give back to those dedicated to saving lives during this pandemic,” MNAO President Jeff Guyton said.”

Dealer XT, an auto dealer compliance firm, has created a petition to urge California Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare auto dealers as essential businesses.

In the online petition, Dealer XT asked Newsom to “expressly add” auto dealerships to the list of the essential businesses. It said the state’s position only lists auto repair and supply businesses as essential and is unclear and conflicts with other local government lists.

The petition states, “Automobile dealers are currently experiencing confusion about whether they can remain open as an ‘essential business’ as it relates to automobile sales. As an example, the Counties of Sacramento and Merced have specifically listed automobile dealer sales as ‘Essential Businesses’ while other counties have not. Some counties have now amended their orders to allow cars sales with certain restrictions.”

The petition shares stories of healthcare workers who, for various reason, were left without transportation because they could not buy a car. It also explains that most dealerships have small staffs and are able to social distance and protect customers. The petition adds, “Over the past few weeks, simple solutions have successfully been applied by many essential businesses across the state to provide a safe environment. Why not allow car dealerships to do the same?”

Total industrial production fell 5.4 percent in March, as the COVID-19 pandemic led many factories to suspend operations late in the month.

Manufacturing output fell 6.3 percent; most major industries posted decreases, with the largest decline registered by motor vehicles and parts. Total industrial production for manufacturing saw its largest declines since January 1946 and February 1946, respectively. The indexes for utilities and mining declined 3.9 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively. At 103.7 percent of its 2012 average, the level of total industrial production in March was 5.5 percent lower than a year earlier. Capacity utilization for the industrial sector decreased 4.3 percentage points to 72.7 percent in March, a rate that is 7.1 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2019) average.

The weakness in consumer durables was led by a drop of 27.2 percent in automotive products, while the decline for consumer energy products reflected decreases in both fuels and utilities. The production of business equipment decreased 8.6 percent, held down by a drop of 22.8 percent in transit equipment that reflected cutbacks in the output of both motor vehicles and civilian aircraft.

Manufacturing output dropped 6.3 percent in March and at an annual rate of 7.1 percent in the first quarter. In March, the index for durable manufacturing fell 9.1 percent; the most sizable decline among its components was in motor vehicles and parts, where output fell 28.0 percent.

Hyundai Motor America announced the expansion of its support for COVID-19 drive-thru testing to 22 hospitals nationwide with $4 million in grants through its Hyundai Hope On Wheels program. These grants are designed to combat the coronavirus by providing increased access to testing throughout the nation.

The company also announced an in-kind donation of 65,000 COVID-19 RT-PCR tests developed by Seegene, a South Korea-based global leader in multiplex molecular diagnostics.

“As a global automaker, we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and its potential harm to the U.S. and beyond,” said Jose Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America. “A best practice that was crucial in South Korea’s handling of the coronavirus was drive-thru testing. This approach protects the healthcare workers and patients from the potential spread of the virus, while diagnosing those most in need.”

Hyundai and its over 825 dealers have also provided support to local institutions with financial assistance, food donations, face-mask headband production and loaned vehicles.