“The health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers, partners and communities remains our highest priority,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president, North America. “We are working very closely with union leaders especially, at the United Autoworkers, to develop additional health and safety procedures aimed at helping keep our workforce safe and healthy.”

The automaker had been looking to restart production at its Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico by 6 April, followed by several other key U.S. plants, which were to start 14 April. 

New start dates are to be announced later, Ford said.