This rare 1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition, one of 51 produced, brought $135,000 in an online auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s headlines:

+   A number of car insurers, including Geico, Allstate, and American Family Insurance, are offering partial refunds and flexible payment options due to the COVID-19 outbreak. More at Car and Driver. 

+  General Motors is set to begin producing medical ventilators at its Kokomo, Indiana plant next week in partnership with Ventec Life Systems, with plans to produce 30,000 units. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Volkswagen announced it will furlough 1,500 workers at its U.S. assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee starting April 11 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. at Reuters. 

+   The 31 entries for the IndyCar iRacing Challenge event at the virtual Michigan International Speedway will include Ryan Hunter-Reay and Dale Earnhardt Jr. More at Racer. 

+   Yeo Jing Cheng, 30, was arrested for organizing an illegal 50-car street race in Singapore to exploit the relatively light traffic caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. More at The Drive. 

+   Ruben Burks, the first African-American secretary-treasurer in the United Auto Workers and an appointee of union icon Walter Reuther, has passed away at 86. More at the Detroit Free Press.

+   Germany’s automotive lobby group and the country’s largest union called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to allow car sales in the country to resume. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   Ford workers at the Troy Designing and Manufacturing unit in Plymouth, Michigan produced one million plastic safety shields for medical workers in 13 days. More at USA Today. 

+   The market for collectible Japanese cars continues to heat up, as a 1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition in top condition brought $135,000 in an online auction at Bring a Trailer. More at Autoblog.

+   NASCAR announced the 15 nominees for its Hall of Fame Class of 2021, introducing the Modern Era and Pioneer Ballots to the ballots for the first time. More at Jayski.

Review the previous Executive Briefing from April 6 here.

Photo copyright and courtesy of Bring a Trailer. 

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