Robots deliver food to isolated citizens in Shanghai 0:57 (CNN Business) — Toyota and Volkswagen are gradually restarting their factories in China after they were closed for weeks due to Covid-19 lockdowns. Toyota said Monday that it is preparing to resume operations in the city of Changchun, Jilin province, one of China’s biggest auto manufacturing hubs, after a month-long hiatus. “We have been gradually preparing to resume operations at our Changchun plant since the end of last week,” the Japanese automaker said in a statement. “However, the timing of the full-scale operation has not yet been determined,” he added. Toyota suspended production at its Changchun factory on March 14, 2022. Chip shortage hits Toyota production 0:45 Volkswagen on Monday restarted production at its Changchun plants, which also closed in mid-March. But its Shanghai factory, which it runs in partnership with state-owned automaker SAIC, remains closed. “The feasibility of the resumption of the SVW Anting plant is being evaluated [en Shanghái]Volkswagen said in a statement. Tesla was reportedly preparing to resume production at its Shanghai plant on Monday after a three-week stoppage, according to Reuters. Tesla did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment. Business: Tesla shares fall after Musk survey 0:51 Factory closures due to covid-19 China’s worst covid-19 outbreak in two years has prompted authorities to intensify the country’s zero covid policy, locking down several cities and tens of millions of people Strict lockdowns in places like Shanghai and Jilin have risked delaying shipments at a time when global demand for vehicles is strong Tightening COVID-19 restrictions have dealt a heavy blow hit to economic activity.Government statistics on Monday showed consumption plummeted in March, while unemployment rose, dimming the economic outlook. No of Jilin announced over the weekend that he would allow companies to resume work and production, after declaring victory by eliminating community spread of the coronavirus outside of quarantined areas. Shanghai, the epicenter of the current Covid outbreak, has been in lockdown for more than three weeks. In a bid to ease the disruption, the Shanghai government on Friday published a “white list” of 666 companies that will be allowed to resume production. Nearly 40% are car manufacturers or companies involved in supplying the automotive industry. But it’s unclear exactly when those companies will be able to resume production. — CNN’s Beijing bureau contributed to this report.