DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday is expected to announce that the state’s factories can reopen soon, removing one of the last major obstacles to North American automakers bringing thousands of laid-off employees back to work amid the coronavirus pandemic, two people familiar with the plans said.
Companies will be told they can begin work next week at their plants, including training their workforces for the restart, the sources said.
This week, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said they were targeting resuming vehicle production in North America on May 18, but suppliers would need time to prepare ahead for that date.
Whitmer is scheduled to provide an update of the state’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak at 3 p.m. EDT.
The governor previously extended the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order through May 15, but lifted restrictions for some businesses other than manufacturing. Neighboring Ohio allowed manufacturing to resume on Monday, and Whitmer had faced increasing calls to follow suit.
Michigan’s shutdown had stymied efforts by the Detroit 3 and rival automakers to restart vehicle assembly anywhere in the United States, because so many critical parts suppliers are based in the state.
Automakers and their suppliers already have begun gearing up for a possible resumption of work at their U.S. plants, but needed the official go-ahead from Whitmer.
On Wednesday, No. 1 U.S. automaker GM said it was aiming to reopen its North American plants on May 18, the day after smaller Italian-American rival FCA provided the same target. Ford Motor Co. has not said what date it is targeting.
