Automotive Exports November 2021

Continued
microchip
shortage forces
Audi to shorttime
work
Due to the continuing shortage of
semiconductors, the German carmaker
Audi extends the summer holidays for
around 10,000 workers at its plants in
Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.
The employees will work short time, a
company spokesman said and added
that the measures would mean a cut in
production of several thousand planned
cars.
At the main plant in Ingolstadt, all assembly
lines will be at a standstill until August
30. Two of these close-downs are caused
by the microchip shortage, the other
because of conversion work for the start of
production of the electric Q6 Etron.
Audi has also announced short time
work for September as a precautionary
measure, but at the same time has planned
additional shifts on several weekends.
The company has full order books but
was unable to build about 50,000 cars
in the first half of the year due to a lack
of components. When components are
delivered, the carmaker will try to catch
up with the lost production. “You have
to plan from week to week. In the past,
even planned additional shifts had to be
canceled,” the spokesperson explained.
CFO Juergen Rittersberger warned in July
that there could be further production
stoppages and short-time work in August
and September due to semiconductor
shortages. Where possible, the chips would
be installed in vehicles with the highest
profit contribution and the lowest carbon
dioxide emissions.
Other carmakers are also short of
microchips. BMW could probably sell
70,000 to 90,000 more cars this year
without the shortages, according to chief
financial officer Nicolas Peter.
“At the moment, however, all plants
worldwide are well supplied,” a BMW
spokesperson said.
November 2021 34