To say that the automotive industry has struggled in recent years would be an understatement. It’s already a Covid-19 pandemic, has slowed down production and delivery of cars since 2020. This happened in 2021 shortage of chips from China. These micro-components or “semiconductors” have further punished car manufacturing. With electronics becoming ubiquitous in our cars, they are necessary for the operation of most of our equipment. From the infotainment system to exterior lighting, from the instrument panel to certain driver aids. result: delivery times that sometimes reached 12 monthscompared to 3 in normal times (ie in 2019)…
The car is delivered without equipment
As if for the worse, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a shortage of some plastic and composite components. This gave rise to unprecedented situations. Like Peugeot, which was forced to store thousands of cars at an abandoned airfield waiting for spare parts. Others were able to deliver their vehicles, but sometimes without a touch screen, digital meters or manual mirrors. BMW, already forced to supply several models without Apple Car Play/Android Auto, was forced to extend its deadlines even further because it was unable to manufacture…keys of great electronic complexity! So where are we today?
After the lack of a microcircuit, the lack of a driver
According to Carlos Tavares, boss of Stellantis, “the semiconductor crisis is 95% solved”. Already because supplies from Asia have increased. But that’s also why groups secured their supplies from the beginning of the shortage, by looking elsewhere, but for more money. However, the tensions that concern Taiwan — the world’s No. 1 producer of the precious chip — amid a standoff between China and the United States could complicate things again. So much for fleas. But in reality, delivery dates may last until 2022 due to another serious problem: historic shortage of truck drivers, which disrupts the entire supply chain. So we’ll have to wait a while before we hope to return to “normal” timing for a the car was delivered in three months…
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Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.