Ducati extends shutdown of its production lines over coronavirus
Ducati closes the doors to its factory in Borgo Panigale for an extra week due to the growing coronavirus crisis sweeping Italy
Ducati has confirmed it has extended the shutdown of its production lines in Borgo Panigale to March 25 as Italy continues to reel from an escalation of the coronavirus pandemic.
Italy has become the epicentre of Europe’s widening outbreak of the COVID-19 virus with officials confirming more than 1800 deaths since the crisis began in February.
Despite the government enforcing a nationwide lockdown to limit movement and ban public gatherings, production of motorcycles has largely been able to continue on in the meantime with Ducati employing temperature screening methods, distancing for its staff and a revision of schedules.
However, on Friday 13 Ducati decided to suspended production until 18 March, but this has now been extended by a week to Wednesday 25 March
Ducati maintains new product development and market support will continue despite the halting of productio
"I am proud of how Ducati's workers are facing this difficult moment for our country. - said Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding.
“My thanks go to all those who, on a daily basis and even in a difficult situation like this, are confirming the great value of a united, cohesive but also sensitive and attentive workforce.
“For them, for their safety and for their security, measures and choices like the ones we are making are necessary and owed. However, all the support services for our customers are guaranteed, first and foremost the supply of spare parts.
“We want to reassure Ducatisti and our dealers all over the world: we are organising ourselves to be ready for the restart and, even in this period of downtime we will not fail to provide support."
Ducati’s confirmation comes after KTM announced it would be shutting its factory for two weeks in lieu of the annual summer shutdown due to an a stress on parts supplies.
