After a large part of the world manufacturers, here are the French automobile firms which are also affected. Renault and PSA, which is now part of Stellantis, are starting to feel the impact of the shortage of semiconductors from Asia, which is leading them to suspend production at some of their sites in Europe and the Maghreb.
Automotive factories around the world are affected by problems with the supply of electronic components from their suppliers. This shortage is attributable to the coronavirus epidemic which has boosted IT demand linked to teleworking, but also to the action of the former Trump administration against Chinese chipmakers. The appetite for 5G smartphones and the rebound in car sales are also fueling the pressure on semiconductor manufacturers.
To cope with the situation, Renault is adjusting the allocation of components and will also suspend production for two to three days next week at three of its factories in Sandouville (Seine-Maritime), Tangier (Morocco, on one line only) and Pitesti (Romania).
Addiction. Two sites formerly PSA of Stellantis are also affected by the crisis: Eisenach in Germany, where production was stopped on Friday February 5, and Zaragoza in Spain, where a line was closed Thursday and Friday, said a spokeswoman for the group. .
The shortage of automotive chips has already hit Volkswagen, Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Nissan and the Fiat Chrysler part of Stellantis in particular. Illustration of the gravity of the situation: Ford is expected to reduce its vehicle production by 20% in the first quarter of 2021. Other industrial sectors are disrupted.
Taiwan, home to chip giants like the world’s number one semiconductor Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), is at the forefront of dealing with the crisis and finding ways to address it. The situation illustrates the dependence of the automotive sector on Asian producers. To find a long-term solution in Europe, Volkswagen is putting pressure on Berlin and Brussels so that the institutions support a European sector.
(With Reuters)
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