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Skoda will “significantly reduce or even stop” production from October 18 to the end of the year due to the global shortage of chips hampering the automotive sector, writes Automotive News Europe.
“Even Skoda Auto is unable to avoid this global crisis,” said Skoda spokesman Thomas Cotera.
Production restrictions are the largest to date in Central Europe, and economists say they will reduce growth forecasts in the Czech Republic. Skoda, owned by the Volkswagen Group, is the Czech Republic’s largest exporter.
The brand has already stocked up on tens of thousands of cars, completed but waiting for chips. Dealerships across Europe have been waiting months for new cars. The official importer of Skoda in Bulgaria delivers the cars ordered by customers in an average of about 6 months. There are no offers for cars in stock on the official website of the dealer.
Coterra said Skoda wants to focus on ensuring that customers’ almost finished cars lag behind as soon as possible.
Due to the interruption, the total production of cars of the Czech company will be similar to last year’s COVID with about 1.15 million cars, said the local association of the automotive industry. The cars were expected to be 1.3 million.
In addition to Skoda, Toyota also cut production at its Colin plant, including last month.
Hungary, where Mercedes-Benz and Suzuki also had to limit assembly due to the chip crisis, also saw a drop in production more than expected.
Automakers around the world are struggling with a shortage of semiconductor chips amid growing demand after a pandemic. Skoda forecasts a gradual calming of the chip situation in the second half of 2022.
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