Three global automotive giants, Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW, believe that the shortage of chips could extend until the end of 2022 or 2023. It is another discouraging forecast that, together with that of some semiconductor suppliers, reveals that supply problems will continue to negatively impact the assembly lines , many of which have had to stop for days, weeks or months, have been idle for days, weeks or months due to lack of electronic components.
The statements have had their epicenter at the Munich Motor Show. According to Automotive News, the CEO of Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, Ola Kallenius, acknowledges that several suppliers say they are having problems meeting the growing demand for semiconductors. “This could influence 2022 and it could be more relaxed in 2023, “he says.
For his part, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse believes the chip shortage will affect them well into 2022.” I expect the overall supply chain tension to continue in the next six to 12 months , “he said. However, he does not hesitate to put forward an optimistic long-term view when considering that the automotive industry is an “attractive customer” for semiconductor manufacturers.
The president of the Volkswagen group, Herbert Diess, understands the shortage of chips as a global problem which, affected by the growing demand for electronic items by the consumer market, will continue in the long term. “Increasing capacity [de producción] will take time. It will probably be a bottleneck for the coming months and years “, says the executive.
The shortage chip hits German manufacturers
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Murat Aksel, head of purchasing of the Volkswagen group considers semiconductor manufacturers should increase 10% its production capacity . This in order to satisfy the needs of the global automotive sector. It also indicates that supply continues to be very volatile and tight. “We expect a gradual recovery by the end of the year, “he says.
The chip shortage hit the German automotive industry hard. Daimler and BMW were forced in July this year to reduce or completely stop activity on its assembly lines in Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as reducing orders to suppliers operating in the Netherlands and Austria. Volkswagen, for its part, is analyzing a further cut in production.
But it is not only about Europe, in North America they also suffer the consequences of the shortage of chips. General Motors, the largest carmaker in the United States, said last Thursday that it will temporarily close several of its factories due to a lack of essential components.
