With no hope of sponsorship funding due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bloodhound LSR program has been put on hold through 2021. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s headlines:

+   Volkswagen Group is burning through around $2.28 billion per week with operations shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak, CEO Herbert Diess reported. More at Automotive News Europe. 

+   General Motors will convert its Mound Road plant in Michigan to produce surgical masks and will manufacture ventilators at its Kokomo, Indiana facility in partnership with Ventec. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Originally scheduled for June, the 2020 North American Auto Show in Detroit has been cancelled and the venue, TCF Center, will be converted into a temporary hospital. More at Autoblog. 

+   NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson is hoping to do a new version of “the double” by competing in the Indianapolis Grand Prix and the Brickyard 400 on the same weekend. More at Racer.  

+   Parts manufacturing giant Magna International has developed a sanitizing device that may be capable of killing the COVID-19 virus and is searching for a testing partner. More at The Drive. 

+   Automotive market analysts are bracing themselves for what they expect will be horrible sales figures when the March and first-quarter 2020 results arrive on April 1. More at WardsAuto. 

+   After failing to reach a fundraising target of $10.25 million, Bloodhound LSR owner Ian Warhurst has once again shelved the land speed record program for 2021. More at Hemmings Daily. 

+   Many auto dealers and service facilites are keeping their doors open during the coronavirus pandemic, asserting that they provide an essential service to the public. More at USA Today. 

+   Former Formula 1 czar Bernie Ecclestone says he would abandon the 2021 season at this point rather than try to paste together a partial event calendar. More at Motorsport.com. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from March 27 here.

Photo courtesy of Bloodhound LSR. 

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