Ford Motor CEO Jim Hackett warned staff Thursday that "more durable actions" akin to job cuts might be wanted relying on the severity and size of the coronavirus pandemic and its influence on operations.

In a letter to staff, Hackett mentioned the automaker's objective is "to handle by means of the disaster with out eliminating Ford jobs," however famous that there are circumstances that might drive the corporate's hand. He mentioned if the "results of the coronavirus on the worldwide financial system and Ford go on for longer -- or are extra extreme -- than we at present anticipate, we might should take more durable actions. However not at present."

The message comes a day after Moody's Traders Service downgraded Ford's credit standing to junk standing and shortly after the corporate introduced plans to restart its North American manufacturing operations starting in early April. The vegetation shuttered final week amid strain from the...