FULL SPEED AHEAD: Large automotive plant projects press on, despite economic chaos

摘要

Conomic recessions usually cause businesses to pause expensive projects, downsize bullish ambitions and focus on shoring up their core operations. But the auto industry works differently sometimes. Especially now. Despite the chaos caused by this year's pandemic crisis, several large-investment projects are pushing ahead this summer. Some began before the pandemic hit. Others are undertakings barreling ahead now in a bid for market share later. "The industry has been cautious for a while," observed Bernard Swiecki, director of the Automotive Communities Partnership, an auto project-monitoring program associated with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. "A number of projects have been walked up to the point of making a final commitment, but then put into suspended animation. So there is a bit of pent-up investment just waiting to get a green light of confidence.