COLOGNE, Germany — Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen, Daimler and Ferrari announced this week that they will temporarily shut down vehicle and engine production at its factories in Europe in response to the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by the coronavirus.

Ford said its shutdown will begin Thursday and is expected to continue for a number of weeks. The company did not provide a specific timeline, but said that it hopes the closure will only be required for a short period. The the duration depends on a number of factors, including the spread of the coronavirus, government restrictions, supplier constraints and the return of customers to dealerships, many of which are now closed.