Hyundai Motor has blamed a shortage of Chinese made parts, due to coronavirus, for its February sales downturn.

The automaker on Monday told Reuters its sales fell 13% year on year to 275,044 vehicles globally last month.

Last Friday, the automaker stopped operations at its second Ulsan factory after a worker tested positive for the virus.

The company said it disinfected the site and put five co-workers into self-isolation.

The second factory makes the GV80, Palisade, Santa Fe and Tucson, producing 1,000 units daily. about 4,000 employees work there.

The plant has since been restarted, a spokesman told Reuters.

The flu-like virus is continuing to spread across the globe but recent reports suggest the number of new cases reported in China is slowing.

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