Hurricane Causes Automakers to Temporarily Suspend Facility Operations

Several automakers have announced they plan to temporarily cease production at their South Carolina facilities in anticipation of Hurricane Florence’s impact.

Both Daimler AG and Volvo, based in Charleston, have decided to suspend operations, while BMW, based further inland in Spartanburg, has decided to continue operations according to reports.

If Florence continues on its predicted path, the storm stands to make a major impact in North and South Carolina, both hubs for automobile and tire manufacturing. More than 1 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes, including those in the area around Volvo’s facility. Daimler, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz and other brands, opened their Charleston facility just last week.

Florence is currently tracking as a category 4 storm, with winds reaching up to 130 miles per hour. According to the national Hurricane Center, it is expected to make landfall between Thursday and Friday. President Donald Trump has already signed declarations of emergency for both North and South Carolina.