Chennai, India’s Detroit rolls out cars despite the Covid-19 risk and ongoing lockdown

During the first Covid-19 wave (2020), the Central government had enforced a pan-India lockdown. Back then, automobile industries were shut down for months together, following which they resumed as curbs were gradually relaxed. This meant that work happened in a staggered fashion and less employees worked at the factories. 

The Covid-19 peak during the last two months have been a tough time for those working at major automobile manufacturing plants in the Southern Indian city of Chennai. Known as the ‘Detroit of India’, Chennai and its outskirts are home to several automobile manufacturing and allied industries. Major global players such as Ford, Hyundai, Renault-Nissan have had to shut factories temporarily and cut down production by a significant percentage.  During the first Covid-19 wave (2020), the Central government had enforced a pan-India lockdown. Back then, automobile industries were shut down for months together, following which they resumed as curbs were gradually relaxed. This meant that work happened in a staggered fashion and less employees worked at the factories.  In the second wave however, as per orders of the Tamil Nadu Government, Automobile industries were permitted to work, by categorizing them under Continuous Process industries. This meant, they were permitted to function even during the total Lockdown when cases were at their peak. Major auto makers shut their plants for a few days, but again resumed production, at a considerably lesser rate.