RICHBURG, S.C. — Giti Tire (USA) Ltd. is planning to suspend production for two weeks at its plant in Richburg, starting April 5, "to adjust for current market conditions due to the impact of COVID-19."
Giti Tire's decision to suspend work at the 3-year-old factory in upstate South Carolina comes a week after the U.S. subsidiary of Singapore-headquartered Giti Tire Group disclosed that production at the factory was not affected.
The decision will affect roughly 800 workers at the factory, which makes passenger and light truck tires.
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based Giti said its sales and distribution operations will continue to serve dealers and customers.
The company also said it continues to monitor and follow guidelines and protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and federal, state and local government to ensure the health and safety of employees, customers, suppliers, and communities.
Giti Tire will continue to monitor market conditions during the shutdown, and will maintain communication with dealers.
Giti opened its lone U.S. tire plant in 2017. It maintains warehouses at its headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga and in Fairburn, Ga.; Coppell, Texas; Pataskala, Ohio; and at the Richburg factory.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order on March 31 ordering "non-essential" businesses to close to the public, but manufacturing operations are not specifically identified on the list of businesses affected.