Message from the Tata Motors MD

Since last reached out to you, the Coronavirus has spread further across the country, endangering more lives every day. These are trying times for all of us, but I urge you to stay vigilant and follow the advisories to help curb the spread. In an effort to safeguard the lives of our employees and loved ones, we rolled out a three-tier response plan based on incidence of infection in cities we operate. In addition to strict protocol across our sites it included introducing a work from home policy for all office-based staff. This is in fact, in line with our Chairman's message, which, was issued earlier this evening. 

As a manufacturing organisation we have a complex situation at hand. A large part of our workforce operates in plants and at our Engineering Research Centre. Their work cannot be done remotely and therefore we have people working on-site in these locations with heightened degree of personal hygiene and safety. 

We have been monitoring the situation closely and all data seem to point out that Maharashtra has been the most impacted. In the interest of safety of our employees in the state, we have decided to rapidly scale down activities at Pune site to get to skeletal operations by end of Monday, 23rd March 2020 and be ready for plant closure by end Tuesday March 24th, 2020 if the situation warrants. We shall remain in this mode till March 31st 2020 and reviewit in due course. 

We shall continue to closely monitor the situation in all the states where our offices and plants are located and make appropriate and proactive decisions should the need arise. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to urge you to practice self-quarantine if you have travelled recently from any of the reported affected areas/countries (both business and personal) or have come in close contact with any individual who has travelled recently from any of the reported affected areas/countries. I call upon each one of you to avoid going out to the extent possible- markets, public areas, social gatherings, travelling to any other place using personal/public transport. 

In line with the Prime Minister's message last night, I would also encourage you to participate in the "Janata Curfew" on March 22 from 7am to 9 pm IST. 

These are challenging times for all of us and we thank you for you unstinting support and cooperation. Please continue to practice social distancing and take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Stay safe, Guenter Butschek

CEO & MD, Tata Motors