ElringKlinger AG, an automotive supplier, has declared its intention to halt operations at its plant in Thale, Germany, reflecting the profound changes and challenges within the automotive industry in Europe, particularly the shift toward electromobility. This decision is aligned with the company's SHAPE30 transformation strategy, which involves assessing the future viability of its product groups and shaping its global site strategy accordingly. The Thale plant's closure is set for February ...

Sumitomo Rubber has announced plans to terminate all production activities at its tire manufacturing plant in New York, impacting approximately 1,550 jobs. The Japanese tiremaker came to this decision after its attempts to control costs, along with investment in the aging plant, had failed to offset mounting financial losses. “The plant closure is primarily due to overall facility performance within the increasingly competitive international tire market. This difficult decision follows a mu...

South Korean automaker Hyundai has temporarily suspended the production of its popular model Kona due to a strike at its key supplier Hyundai Transys, resulting in shortage of parts, Business Korea reported Nov. 5. Hyundai halted production of the Kona on Line 11 of Ulsan Plant 1 until Nov. 8 as it became challenging to source essential transmission components, particularly for the intelligent variable transmission (IVT). According to the report, Hyundai Transys holds a 65% share of the domes...

Michelin has announced plans to close its two tire manufacturing plants, located in Cholet and Vannes in France by early 2026, affecting 1,254 employees. The French tiremaker has cited the structural transformation of the passenger car and light truck tire market, truck tire market, and the worsening competitiveness of Europe for the unavoidable plant closure. The situation has been further aggravated by low-cost Asian tire imports in the European market. “Despite the teams’ rem...

Ineos Styrolution has announced plans to permanently shut down its acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) production facility in Addyston, Ohio, in 2025. The Addyston facility is known for manufacturing ABS and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) polymers for various industries such as automotive, household, healthcare and construction. The closure, according to Steve Harrington, CEO of both Ineos Styrolution and Ineos ABS, is prompted by increasing competition in the ABS market, especially from ...

General Motors (GM) has decided to close its cold-weather testing facility in Kapuskasing, Ontario, a significant site that has contributed to the automaker's cold-weather testing in North America for over half a century, The Detroit News reported Oct. 22. "GM will begin winding down operations at Kapuskasing Proving Grounds, which has made significant contributions to GM’s North American cold weather testing for over 50 years," GM Canada spokesperson Jennifer Wright said in a statement. "O...

Sibelco has restarted its mining and processing operations in Spruce Pine, NC, following the disruption caused by Hurricane Helene last week, the company said in a press release on Oct. 10. Sibelco has also resumed shipments to customers. Both production and shipments are gradually ramping up to full capacity.   “I want to thank our employees for their remarkable resilience and teamwork under these extremely difficult circumstances,” said Sibelco CEO Hilmar Rode. “While the road to...

In North Carolina, US, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has led to the shutdown of facilities operated by Sibelco Group and The Quartz Corp., both pivotal in mining high-purity quartz essential for semiconductor production, as reported by Automotive News on Oct. 2. These shutdowns, initiated on Sept. 26 due to the hurricane's severe flooding, have sparked concerns over potential impacts on the global semiconductor supply chain. This interruption is particularly significant, given the locatio...

Yanfeng International Automotive Technology has announced its plans to close its Riverside facility in Kansas City, Mo., local media outlet KSHB 41 reported Sept. 19. The move is expected to result in a loss of 444 jobs, including 398 union workers. This announcement follows a similar notification from Adient, another automotive supplier, which revealed plans last week to lay off 172 employees at its Riverside location, with members of United Auto Workers Local 710 affected. These layoff d...

Stellantis has decided to suspend production of the Fiat 500e electric car for a month starting Sept. 13, citing low demand, Reuters reported Sept. 12. Fiat produces the 500e electric car at its Turin plant in northwestern Italy. The declining sales of electric vehicles, partially due to diverging policies on green incentives, have pushed automakers to adjust their EV plans. "The measure is necessary due to the current lack of orders linked to the deep difficulties experienced in the European...

Electric vehicle battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) has confirmed the reports of adjusting its lithium production activities in Yichun, Jiangxi province, mainland China, Yicai Global reported Sept. 12. This decision comes in response to the current conditions in the lithium carbonate market. CATL’s confirmation comes a day after a report from UBS claimed that the Chinese battery supplier has suspended its lithium spodumene mining operations in Jiangxi, mainly becaus...

Stellantis will suspend manufacturing operations at its Trenton Engine Complex in Michigan, US, for a week to deal with rising inventories, The Detroit News reported Aug. 15. The plant builds V-6 Pentastar engines used in vehicles sold by Ram, Chrysler and Jeep brands. The temporary suspension will affect over 600 hourly and salaried employees across two shifts. The decision comes as Stellantis struggles with a surplus of nearly 20,700 engines ready for deployment. The measure is part of...

The United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 282, which represents nearly 500 union workers in Lear’s manufacturing plant in Wentzville, Mo., has reached a tentative agreement with the company’s management, ending a strike that lasted nearly three days, The Detroit Free Press reported July 25. The end of the strike has enabled General Motors (GM) to resume production at its Wentzville Assembly plant, which had been idled due to the lack of seat supplies from the Lear Wentzville facility for GM's mids...

Ultium Cells, a joint venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors (GM) in the US, has halted the construction of its third electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan, US, due to a temporary slowdown in global demand for EVs. This decision impacts the timeline for the plant, with its operations initially slated to begin in 2025. Previously scheduled to complete by the second half of 2024, analysts now project the completion may be delayed until 2025 or possibly later. Among the facil...

Hino Motors Manufacturing (HMM), the US subsidiary of Hino Motors, has decided to withdraw from the auto-parts manufacturing business and close its Marion plant in Arkansas, US, by mid-2027, according to a press release on June 5. The decision comes a few weeks after Hino’s board of directors decided that the plant was unprofitable with no sign of recovery. The plant suffered an operating loss of $189 million. Hino invested $160 million in the Marion plant when it began operations in 2...

Bharat Seats Ltd, a complete seat system supplier to India’s leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki, has reported a fire at its manufacturing plant situated in the Maruti Udyog Joint Venture complex in Gurugram, Haryana, on May 31, according to a report by Autocar Professional. The incident, reported around 10:30 a.m., caused a temporary disruption in production which was restored after the fire was controlled. There were no reported casualties. Bharat Seats is investigating the cause of the fire a...

According to a Reuters report dated March 8, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, one of the world's largest tire makers, plans to shut down its plant in Malaysia on June 30 — a decision expected to affect more than 500 employees, the company and Malaysia's investment promotion agency said. Goodyear said the decision to shutter the plant in the Shah Alam district in Selangor state, which opened in 1972, is part of its Goodyear Forward corporate restructuring program, which aims to deliver $1 bill...

South Korean automaker Hyundai plans to stop operations at two parts-forging plants in South Korea in 2024, as the automaker accelerates a shift away from petrol-powered cars, according to a Reuters report on Dec. 21, 2023. The report said the plants in Ulsan, South Korea, which have been in operation since 1991 making engine parts, are expected to be closed in January and October, respectively. Hyundai Motor, the world's No. 3 automaker by sales with its affiliate Kia Corp., is gradu...

French tiremaker Michelin has announced that it will be closing three production sites in Germany and transferring its customer service center to Poland, due to a lack of competitiveness of its German operations in European and export markets, according to a press release on Nov. 28. The closure will affect 1,532 jobs by the end of 2025. Michelin currently employs over 8,000 people across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company has included an approximately €425 million provision in i...

French auto-component supplier Valeo said that as part of its decision to divest its production activities in Russia, it has signed an agreement with NPK Avtopribor for the sale of all production assets of its Thermal Systems business in the country. According to the company’s press release dated Oct. 31, the completion of this transaction is subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. It will enable the 124 Russian employees in this business to keep their jobs. This sale will ...

Japanese automotive supplier, Akebono Brake Industry, said it will close a US factory in December 2025, in an attempt to retreat from a failed expansion in the world's second-biggest auto market, Nikkei Asia reported October 21. The report further said that fast-increasing materials prices and other factors had driven the Elizabethtown plant in the state of Kentucky, US, into the red in recent years. Job-search support will be provided to the 629 employees at the factory, which...

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor has suspended operations at three lines in two domestic assembly plants due to an accident at a supplier's facility, news agency Reuters reported October 17, quoting a company spokesperson. The incident at supplier Chuo Spring, which makes engine and valve springs used in vehicles, also halted some production at group companies Toyota Auto Body and Toyota Industries, the spokesperson said. According to the spokesperson for Chuo Spring, an accident involving an ...

United Auto Workers (UAW) leaders have escalated their strike against the Detroit Three automakers by shutting down Ford's largest global plant in Kentucky, US, halting production of lucrative pickup trucks with little warning. The UAW is seeking higher wages, the abolition of a two-tier wage system and the expansion of unions to battery plants at all three companies, according to Reuters report on October 12. Ford's Kentucky truck plant, its most profitable operation, generates $25 billion i...

Two US automakers, General Motors and Ford Motor, said they are laying off another 500 workers at four Midwestern plants because of the impact on some of the facilities due to the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike on its 18th day, Reuters reported October 3. Separately, the UAW confirmed it presented a new contract offer to GM. The automaker said it received the counterproposal "but significant gaps remain." The UAW also held a new round of bargaining with Chrysler-parent Stellantis. Ford s...

German automaker Volkswagen is planning to scale back production of the ID.3 and Cupra Born electric cars at its Zwickau and Dresden plants in Germany during the first two weeks of October due to weaker demand, a company spokesperson said, according to Reuters in a report dated September 26. Due to the current market situation, vehicle production will be reduced during the autumn holidays in Saxony, Germany, from October 2 to October 13 at Volkswagen's Zwickau plant, the spokesperso...

Facing the ongoing strike by United Auto Workers (UAW), automaker General Motors said it idled its Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kan., around 1 p.m. September 20, and that most of the 2,000 workers across two shifts there will be laid off indefinitely, Detroit Free Press reported September 20. The layoff is a result of the UAW's strike at GM's Wentzville Assembly Plant in Missouri, US. GM builds its midsize pickups and cargo vans at Wentzville, Mo., and the plant also does stamping w...

Auto-parts maker Marelli plans to close one of its Italian plants producing components for internal combustion engines (ICEs), as the business had become "unsustainable" due to the transition to electric mobility. The plant, located in the town of Crevalcore in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, currently employs about 230 people. It manufactures plastic components and processes aluminum components for ICEs, Reuters reported September 19, quoting the company. Marelli said in a stat...

Automotive component suppliers are preparing for potential layoffs if the United Auto Workers (UAW) continues to hold strikes against General Motors, Stellantis and Ford Motor Co., disrupting production and supply chain operations in the US, according to a news report published by Automotive News on September 15. The report said that automotive suppliers are closely monitoring the evolving situation and are working on a plan to deal with prolonged work stoppage. The UAW, the labor union which...

According to a report by Reuters on September 15, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union launched simultaneous strikes at three factories owned by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler-owner Stellantis, kicking off the most ambitious US industrial labor action in decades. The walkouts at the "Detroit Three" will halt production of the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck, along with other popular models. "For the first time in our history we will strike all three of the ...

After a massive fire in March at South Korean tiremaker Hankook Tire & Technology's tire factory in Daejeon, South Korea, the company has announced the partial resumption of its production operations. As of September 1, tire production has been restarted at the site's Plant 1 facility, according to a disclosure made to the Korea Exchange (KRX), a report in Tyre News said September 11. The fire, which happened on March 12, led to a shutting of production, adversely impacting the company’...

A Reuters report dated August 31 said that German automaker Volkswagen's Autoeuropa factory in Portugal will suspend production between September 11–November 12, due to a shortage of auto parts from a Slovenian supplier affected by recent floods in the country, quoting the workers' commission. It said in a statement that the company would temporarily lay off staff during this time, but that the situation as it stands now should not have a negative impact on workers' income. The...

According to a Reuters report dated August 22, Toyota Motors has halted production at its Czech Republic plant, due to a parts shortage caused by a fire at a local supplier, quoting a spokesperson for the carmaker. Toyota produces two cars at its Czech Republic plant — the compact, elevated crossover Aygo X, and the midsize sedan Yaris. This is the second outage in 2023 at Toyota’s Czech Republic plant, which produces 1,000 cars a day, after a break in February. The compan...

According to a press release on August 2, Japan Display Inc. (JDI) announced that the company has planned to end the production of LCD panels at its Tottori Fab in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Japan, by March 2025, and to continue business functions there as a strategic site. JDI’s Tottori Fab primarily produces automotive LCD panels using older amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology on G4 glass substrates (size: 680 mm x 880 mm). Given that a-Si is less capable of producin...

Lumax has announced the closure of two manufacturing plants in India, it said in a press release May 30. The two plants are the Bhosari unit in Pune, India, and K-76 unit in Aurangabad, India. The Bhosari unit contributed a revenue of 218.1 million Indian rupees (about $2.64 million) for the year ended March 31, 2023, which represented just 1.65% contribution to the company's total standalone revenue during the period. Significance: For the Bhosari unit, the company said tha...

The European Rubber Journal (ERJ) reported on 6 September that Japanese tire manufacturer Yokohama had resumed tire production at its factory in Lipetsk, Russia, roughly six months after it had halted operations due to raw material supply chain issues. According to a statement provided by the company to the ERJ, the company decided to restart operations as some of the raw materials had become available. Significance: Financial (sanctions on Russian banks, a freeze of US-based assets of sta...

Ford Motor Company’s Cologne-based manufacturing plant in Germany is being prepared to produce electric cars in Europe at a time when the assembly lines at the unit are idle on account of factory vacation, the automaker said on 15 July 2022.   The company said that the vehicle assembly lines at the Cologne plant are slated to remain idle until 1 August 2022 on account of factory vacation. However, vacation is being utilized by the company in retooling and expanding capacity to produce ...

Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian announced via a press release on 28 June that its board of directors had decided to initiate a controlled exit from the Russian market in response to tightening sanctions affecting its operations in the area. According to the press release, the exit preparations will start immediately and will involve the company recording impairments of approximately USD313 million (EUR300 million) in relation to its assets in the region in the second quarter of financial yea...

General Motors will shut down its Factory Zero in Detroit for four weeks, starting 27 June, as it plans to expand the capacity to produce more battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), a report published by news publication The Detroit Bureau on 23 June 2022 said. GM’s Factory Zero currently produces the electric Hummer pickup truck. “GM will expand production capacity at Factory Zero sooner than originally planned by pulling forward the installation of tooling, machinery, and equipment. These up...

According to a report published by Reuters on 24 June 2022, two of the Stellantis plants have halted production in France due to shortages in components from German supplier Continental. The report cites, one of the sources claimed that Continental was unable to supply its networked entertainment and navigation systems to a Citroen facility in Rennes. The other said Continental had failed to produce touch displays, which caused a Peugeot facility in Sochaux to be shut down. The news was or...

Hyundai Motor Co. has said that the ongoing truckers' strike is affecting production at its main domestic plants, which are already suffering from a global chip shortage, according to a report published by Yonhap on 9 June 2022. About 6,500 of the 22,000 members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity went on strike, asking that the government prolong a freight rate system that would ensure their basic wages amid growing diesel costs. From 2 pm. Wednesday, striking cargo truckers refused to tra...

Carmaker Stellantis plans to suspend operations at its key Melfi plant in southern Italy from 6 to 11 June due to shortages of various parts, including semiconductors shortage, according to a report published by Reuters on 1 June 2022. According to the union leader, the production halt impacts 7,000 plant workers and adds to an already scheduled holiday period in Italy. He said that chip shortage was the main problem. "Fortunately the plant has worked regularly all throughout May, but when ch...

Japanese vehicle manufacturer Subaru Corporation announces temporary suspension of production at its automobile manufacturing facilities in Japan due to interruptions in the supply of certain parts, according to an official press release by Subaru on 1 June 2022. The company said that the operations at the following Gunma Manufacturing Plant will be temporarily suspended for two days from 2 June to 3 June. Automobile plants: Main Plant and Yajima Plant Engine and transmission plant: O...

Canadian chemical company Neo Materials announced via press release on 18 May that its high-purity heavy rare earth separations facility in Jiangyin (JAMR), China has reopened for full operations. The site had been shut down until 18 May for 12 days due to a government-mandated city-wide lockdown order. According to the press release, the JAMR plant manufactures rare earth products like dysprosium and terbium at the JAMR site that are used to make sintered neodymium-iron-boron (N...

Ford Motor Co. has announced that the automaker will suspend production at its Flat Rock plant in Michigan, US, where it assembles the Mustang citing shortage of semiconductor chips, Reuters reported on 28 April. The automaker has delayed shipping of 53,000 vehicles as it awaits final parts held up due to chip shortage, report added.   Significance: A global chip crisis has impacted companies ranging from consumer electronics to automobile manufacturers, prompting several automakers t...

Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company has said that it is planning to reduce the total production output due to semiconductor chip shortages and COVID-19 related curbs in Japan, according to a report published by Automotive News on 21 April 2022. The company intends to cut down production by about 50 per cent on two lines at one of its Japan factories in early May. The company’s Suzuka factory will also reduce output by half in April, increasing the size of the reduction from an earlier an...

German auto parts supplier Bosch has suspended production at two of its manufacturing facilities complying with locally enforced COVID-19 restrictions, Reuters reported on 12 April. The affected plants include Thermotechnology factory in Shanghai and an automotive components site in Changchun in northeastern Jilin province. Bosch said in a statement, "We are currently seeing temporary effects on logistics and supply chain sourcing. In this situation, we are doing everything we can to maint...

Japanese automaker Nissan Motors has again delayed the release of the Ariya B6 sport utility vehicle (SUV) due to a global shortage of semiconductors and COVID-19 related supply chain disruptions, according to a report published by Reuters on 5 April 2022. Nissan Ariya, the company's second all-electric vehicle following the Leaf hatchback, will go on sale in Japan on 12 May 2022. The management had previously stated that the launch will take place in late March. The Ariya was supposed to ...

Automaker Stellantis has announced that its van plant in Russia will have to close soon due to a shortage of parts, according to a report published by Reuters on 31 March 2022. As previously reported, the carmaker has suspended all exports and imports to Russia, where it operates a van plant in partnership with Mitsubishi in Kaluga. As a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kaluga's production remains for the local market for the time being. Stellantis unveiled its first business strateg...

German conglomerate Thyssenkrupp AG, which is also a supplier of automotive parts such as steering systems, dampers, camshafts, chassis, and body-in-white (BIW), has closed its facility in Shanghai until 6 April 2022 to comply with locally enforced COVID-19-related restrictions, according to a Reuters report filed on 29 March 2022. The company assembles production lines for automotive components, including powertrains and batteries, at its Shanghai plant. Notably, the authorities in main...

Ford Motor Company will suspend their production at the Michigan plant due to parts and semiconductor shortages, according to a report published by Reuters on 31 March 2021. The company is going to halt production in the coming week at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant, which produces the Mustang, owing to a global semiconductor shortage. Based in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford Motor Company stated that manufacturing at its other North American factories will continue as usual. Significance: The a...

Chrysler has halted Pacifica minivan production in the company’s Windsor, Ontario citing components shortage, The Detroit News reported on 28 March. Chrysler has confirmed production halt is not in relation to the semiconductor shortage. The production halt comes as a shortage in automotive components and continues to cripple vehicle production. The unit, which manufactures Pacifica and Voyager models, has been closely working with suppliers to plug the production gap. Significance:...

Premium electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla is planning to halt operation at its Shanghai factory for at least one day amid COVID-19 restrictions, according to a news report published by Bloomberg on 27 March 2022. China would impose lockdown in two stages to conduct COVID-19 testing. The report cites that Tesla's plant production will be suspended on Monday and the company has not yet informed employees whether the suspension will last beyond Monday. Significance: At a time when automakers ...

Japan-based automaker Mazda Motor would suspend operations at two domestic plants in Japan due to auto parts shortage, according to a report published by Reuters on 24 March 2022. The company plans to suspend production at its factories in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures on 4 and 5 April. A spike in COVID-19 cases in China was one of the variables likely to cause supply interruptions, according to the report. Significance: The COVID-19-related supply chain disruption has had a signific...

Germany-based auto parts supplier Leoni has resumed its wire harnesses production at 40% capacity in Ukraine, according to a report published by NASDAQ on 23 March. The company said that the night shift will allow it to increase its production capacity to 70%, although workers are still subject to a nightly curfew and rocket assaults. The company is still able to make cross-border trade since it can source its components and raw materials and export them. Leoni has 7,000 employees in Ukraine ...

Toyota will shut down a total of 18 manufacturing plants due to inability to secure parts from suppliers impacted by the earthquake in Japan, reported HT Auto on 18 March. According to the statement, the Japanese automaker will incur a loss of around 20,000 units due to shortage of components. The halting of production lines by several OEMs and manufacturers was due to the earthquake that hit the coast of Fukushima Prefecture. Significance: A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s northeast r...

Renesas, on 18 March, announced an update on the impact of the earthquake that hit the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on 16 March. The company operates three factories near the epicenter: Naka Factory (Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture), Takasaki Factory (Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture), and Yonezawa Factory (Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture). At the Naka factory, Renesas restarted manufacturing equipment on 17 March with production resuming partially on the same day. The company expects to reach ...

Russian automaker, Avtovaz has partially halted production at its plants in Togliatti and Izhevsk on 21–25 March owing to a shortage of electronics parts, according to a report published by Reuters on 21 March 2021. Avtovaz further said that all assembly lines would be idled during 23–25 March, but certain manufacturing functions will continue to operate during this time. Citing a Citibank study, the report mentioned that Renault makes 8% of its core earnings in Russia. The French ca...

Several Japanese manufacturers have reopened their affected facilities following Wednesday's earthquake in the country's northeast, according to a report published by Reuters on 18 March 2022. Earlier, manufacturers were forced to halt some of the production facilities after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake jolted the country's northeast on 17 March. Murata Manufacturing will start production on 18 March in two of its affected factories. However, the other two would still remain idled as a&n...

Japan-based chipmaker Renesas Electronics and component maker Murata Manufacturing halted some of its production after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake jolted the country's northeast, according to a report published by Reuters on 17 March. Renesas has stopped production temporarily at two semiconductor plants and partially stopped output at a third production after an earthquake caused a tsunami in the country's northeast, causing blackouts and disrupting transportation. Murata stated it had shut d...

Japanese supplier Fujikura Automotive halts operations at Lviv Plant in Lviv city following the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, the company announced in a press release on 1 March. The halt in production is in line with many other manufacturers and suppliers who have taken a similar approach to ensure employee safety and on the back of shortages of components from supply chain constraints. Significance: Ukraine is home to major suppliers including Fujikura, Leoni, Kostal, Aptiv, and Nexan...

French tire manufacturer Michelin announced via press release on 3 February that it would be halting production at some of its European plants in response to supply-chain problems caused by geopolitical tensions in the Russia-Ukraine region. The company stated that it was facing logistical and transportation issues in supplying its plants and delivering products to its customers because of the crisis. To optimize its operations and adapt its flow management to the current situation, the compa...

Toyota announced that it will restart domestic production, a day after all its manufacturing facilities throughout Japan was halted following a cyberattack at a supplier, according to Reuters on 1 March.    Significance: The Japanese automaker resumes production at its 14 factories nationwide and the suspension disrupted output of around 13,000 vehicles, Reuters said. The statement also said that Kojima Industries discovered an error on its file servers demanding the plastics and el...

Automakers Toyota, Ford and Stellantis have halted some production as anti-COVID-19 mandate protestors blocked the US-Canada border crossing, reported Reuters on 10 February. Copycat protests spread to New Zealand, France, and Australia. Jen Psaki White House spokesperson, said, "I think it's important for everyone in Canada and the United States to understand what the impact of this blockage is—potential impact—on workers, on the supply chain, and that is where we're most focused," Si...

Toshiba has resumed its chipmaking production in its Oita, Southern Japan facility after it was hit by an earthquake, the company said in a press release on 26 January. Significance: The plant reported damage due to the quake and had initially halted all operations and post analyzing the damage and other interior impact the facility began production. Toshiba confirmed the safety of all its employees and said in a statement that no substantial loss occurred to either infrastructure or manufact...

According to a press release published on BusinessKorea on 24 December, Hyundai Motor Group abruptly closed the Engine Development Center at its research and development (R&D) Headquarters. It has officially stated that it will no longer release new models powered by internal combustion engines. On 17 December, the company completed the largest-ever reorganization of its R&D headquarters. The Namyang Research Institute, which employs 12,000 R&D personnel, is a critical organi...

Toyota Motor Corp has halted production at two factories in Japan due to a supply shortage, according to a press release dated 9 December, a spokesperson told Reuters. Production at the factories was halted on 8 December, and the suspension is expected to last about three days, according to a spokesperson for Reuters, who added that this was due to a supply chain disruption in Japan as well as a labor shortage in Vietnam caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Significance: As a result of th...

General Motors said that vehicles sold without heated and ventilated seat features due to the global semiconductor shortage will be eligible starting in the middle of 2022 for a retrofit that will help activate these seat function features according to a statement by Reuters on 19 November. Significance: The US automaker will bear the cost to retrofit new vehicles built without the chips needed for the heated and ventilated seat features and expects the chips to be available for the retrofits...

Eberspaecher Group, a German automotive exhaust and heat management system supplier was hit by an organized cyberattack, it said in a statement posted on their website on 25 October. Significance: Commenting on the attack the company said, “Our team is working at full speed with external cybersecurity specialists and data forensics experts to eliminate threats and restore normal operations,”. “The relevant investigative authorities have been called.” The ransomware attack has disru...

Japanese auto parts manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation announced via press release on 8 October that it will be consolidating its plants for automotive seat pads in Japan as part of its global expense and cost structure review plan. According to the release, Bridgestone will be closing its Ageo Chemitech plant in the fourth quarter of 2023 and concentrating the manufacturing of pads in its other Nabari, Hofu, and Tosu plants. The company believes that this move will contribute to ...

According to a press release on Retuers dated October 18th, Volkswagen's Skoda Auto began a two-week outage on Monday as the carmaker deals with a global shortage of chips and other components, according to CTK news agency. Skoda plans to finish 10,000 unfinished vehicles during the outage, which will leave only one production line operational, according to CTK. "Skoda Auto has been struggling with a big shortage of critical components, which has forced it to limit production significantly...

Japanese manufacturer of brake products Akebono announced via a press release on 1 October that the IATF 16949 certification had been restored for its Iwatsuki and Sanyo brake product manufacturing subsidiaries. According to the company’s press release, the quality management certifications for the two subsidiaries has been restored after a series of audits conducted by the Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited (LRQA). The certification organization had withdrawn the certificati...

According to a Reuters press release dated 6 October, Japanese automaker Nissan will implement temporary work stoppages at two Mexican plants for several days in October due to production adjustments required to manage a semiconductor chip shortage, its Mexico unit said. "We continue to make adjustments to our production process to minimize the impact this has had on the automotive industry locally and globally," said Nissan, adding it was working to recover production and make good on delive...

Michigan-based vehicle manufacturer Ford Motor Company has announced on 9 September that the company will stop manufacturing cars in India. The move comes as part of a larger restructuring exercise wherein the company plans to continue its operations in India via its Chennai-based Business Solutions team but cease local manufacturing amid accumulating losses. In its official statement, the company said that it plans to significantly expand Ford Business Solutions team and implement the strate...

Japanese manufacturer of brake products Akebono announced via a press release on 6 September that the IATF 16949 certification had been restored for its Yamagata and Fukushima brake product manufacturing subsidiaries on 27 August and 3 September respectively. According to the company’s press release, the quality management certifications for the two subsidiaries had been restored after a series of audits conducted by the Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited (LRQA), the certification...

Indian vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors Ltd forecasts that semiconductor shortage would continue to impact its monthly production schedules in the coming months. In a regulatory filing on 1 September, the company said that while semiconductor shortage continues to impact the vehicle production globally, the surge in new coronavirus cases across East Asia has worsened the supply situation. “The recent lockdowns in East Asia have worsened the supply situation and hence Tata Motors is forced t...

According to an ETAuto press release dated August 27, production at a Stellantis plant in Italy producing light commercial vehicles will be halted next week due to a semiconductor shortage, a carmaker spokesperson said on Friday, confirming a trade union statement. "I can confirm production at the Sevel plant will be suspended next week due to a shortage of chips from a supplier," the spokesperson said. Significance:Carmakers, who are increasingly reliant on electronic components, face sti...

There is a need to develop an alternate and localized supply chain to mitigate the impact of disruption and push localization in the domestic automotive sector, SS Kim, managing director and CEO at Hyundai Motor India said, according to a report filed by the news agency PTI on 27 August. Kim said so while delivering a keynote address at the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) annual session organized on 26 August. Kim said that to achieve significant localization...

Swedish car maker Volvo Cars has stated that it will suspend production at its facility in Torslanda, on the outskirts of Gothenburg in Sweden, next week owing to the global shortage of semiconductor chips. According to a report filed by business news agency Reuters on 23 August, Volvo Cars stated that it is likely to resume manufacturing operations on 5 September. The Gothenburg manufacturing facility had a similar production hold approximately a fortnight ago. The company is also ...

The maker of popular Land Cruiser sports utility vehicles (SUVs), Toyota Motor plans to cut down its vehicle production in North America in August and September as a resurgence of COVID-19 cases rattle the automakers supply chain, according to a report filed by The Dallas Morning News on 19 August. It said that the carmaker plans to produce a total of 170,000 fewer vehicles in August and September combined in North America. The production cut scheduled for September would translate to about 4...

According to a press release on Yonhap News dated 7 July, Hyundai Motor Co. has suspended operations at its Brazil plant for the first time since it opened in order to deal with prolonged automotive chip shortages, highlighting serious supply chain disruptions. At its Brazil plant, the company used to produce 300,000 vehicles per day in a three-shift system. According to sources on Tuesday, the largest South Korean carmaker has halted operations at its Piracicaba, São Paulo plant since Mo...

According to a CBS News press release dated 30 June, Ford Motor Company announced the closure of several plants in the United States for a few weeks in July and August due to a global semiconductor shortage. The vehicles affected include the Ford F-150, Mustang, Escape, and Lincoln Nautilus, among others. "The global semiconductor shortage continues to affect global automakers and other industries in all parts of the world," the company said in a statement. "While we continue to manufacture n...

Subaru Corporation plans to shutdown its plants in Japan in July on account of a global shortage of semiconductors, Reuters reported on 18 June. The Japanese carmaker’s production facilities located in the Gunma region, northwest of Tokyo, will be idle on 16 July as part of production adjustment due to the shortage of semiconductors, the news agency reported, quoting a company spokesperson. Another Japanese carmaker, Suzuki Motor Corporation is also looking to slash production next month...

Steering gear systems supplier ZF Steering Gear (India) has announced that its plant in Madhya Pradesh will remain closed for 10 days, reports Business World quoting a regulatory filing the company has submitted. Significance: ZF Steering Gear (India) has suspended operation at its Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh from 10 June to 20 June, due to lower demand and piling up of finished goods inventory. ZF manufactures power and mechanical steering gear systems for commercial vehicles and tract...

The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) forecasts that the auto component industry’s fiscal year (FY) 2020–21 revenue would decline 10–12% year on year (y/y) on account of COVID-19 led disruptions. The lobby body, however, is expected to release annual results on the industry’s performance during the last fiscal quarter later this year. “We have not yet prepared the actual numbers, but we expect that the auto parts industry has performed better than t...

Apollo Tyres has announced that it has received permission to resume operations at its plant situated at Perambra in Kerala, India, from 21 May, according to an Economic Times report. Significance: On 17 May, the company had reported the that it was closing the Perambra plant till 23 May, in accordance with government directives issued by the District Government Authority, to prevent the spread of second wave of COVID-19 pandemic ongoing in India. “The operations of our plant situated at...

Bosch has announced the suspension of operations at its Nashik plant in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra from 12 May until 23 May. The suspension is owing to a government-mandated lockdown to combat the rising number of COVID-19 virus infections. In a press release dated 12 May, Bosch said that the shutdown of operations will marginally impact the supplies to OEMS as well as the automotive aftermarket segment, which is already reeling with lockdowns and supply-chain issues. Signific...

Stellantis will extend its downtime by a week at its Chrysler minivan plant in Ontario, Canada, The Detroit News reported on 11 May. The extension comes as a shortage in automotive semiconductors continues to cripple vehicle production. The plant will be idled for the week beginning 17 May. The unit, which manufactures Pacifica and Voyager models, has been down since March and was shut down for three weeks in February. The auto chips are used in electronics from the steering wheel to the infotai...

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has announced plans to close its UK manufacturing facilities. According to a company press release on 28 April 2021, its subsidiary Toyoda Gosei UK Ltd. (TGUK) has informed its employees of a proposal to close the business in the United Kingdom. TGUK employs 458 people as of 31 March 2021. TGUK has two plants—the Rotherham plant, which makes weatherstrips, and the Swansea plant that makes interior and exterior parts for the automotive industry. Significance: ...

Continental has announced plans to shut its tire plant in Aachen, Germany, by end of 2022. According to a company press release on 27 April 2021, in a reconciliation of interests and comprehensive social plan, Continental and the employee representatives of the tire plant in Aachen have agreed on the general conditions for the socially responsible discontinuation of tire production by the end of 2022 at the latest. The social partners have agreed to continue tire production at the Aachen plant w...

Stellantis has extended the suspension of operations at its Windsor Assembly Plant for another week as the automaker grapples with the shortage of automotive semiconductors, Windsor Star reported on 16 April. The plant has been idle since 29 March and will restart on 3 May. The initial target was to resume operations on 26 April. The suspension at Windsor assembly plant would take the total number of weeks to seven this year. The plant was previously shut down for three weeks in February and ...

A US carmaker Ford Motor has announced plant shutdowns in the United States and Turkey owing to the global semiconductor shortage, Reuters reported on 15 April. Five facilities will be impacted. Ford announced production cuts during the weeks of 19 and 26 April in Chicago, Flat Rock, Michigan, and Kansas City, as well as implementing a reduced schedule at its Ohio assembly plant in the US. Ford also announced downtime for its Louisville, Kentucky truck plant the weeks of 26 April and 3 May, and ...

Subaru Corp will shut its Yajima plant in Japan between 10 and 27 April due to a shortage in semiconductor supplies, Reuters reported on 5 April. The shutdown will impact the production of 10,000 vehicles. The automaker is expected to restart all production lines at the Yajima plant from 10 May, adding that the impact on the group’s financial results is uncertain. Subaru manufactures some of its popular models such as the Legacy sedan and Forester SUV at the Yajima plant. Significance: T...

Ford Motor is idling production at two truck plants that make its best-selling F-150 pickup on the back of the global semiconductor shortage, reports Bloomberg Quint. The truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan, US, will shut for two weeks starting April 5. Ford will also cease production of the F-150 at its Kansas City plant next week. The company is canceling overtime shifts at both manufacturing facilities through June. Significance: Ford is one of the several automakers shutting down plant...

Mainland China-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio has suspended production for five days at its Hefei plant due to a shortage in automotive semiconductors, Reuters reported on 26 March. NIO cut its first quarter delivery forecast to around 19,500 vehicles, compared to the 20,000–20,500 vehicles it had earlier forecast. Significance: Earlier in March, NIO said it expects a shortage in supply of semiconductors and batteries to impact its EV production in the second quarter. In February 202...

Hyundai Motor is set to suspend production at its Ulsan No.1 plant in South Korea due to a shortage in semiconductors and components, Reuters reported on 29 March. The plant will be shut between 7 and 14 April. Supply issues reportedly involve front view camera systems for Kona SUV and power electric modules for the IONIQ 5 model. “We are closely monitoring the situation to take prompt and necessary measures and optimize production in line with the supply conditions,” Hyundai said in a st...

Stellantis has decided to suspend production at its Melfi plant in Italy from 2 April to 12 April, Reuters reported Italian labour union UILM saying on Monday. The company is adjusting production in response to week vehicle demand triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Melfi plant produces Jeep Renegade and Compass as well as Fiat 500X. All of the 7,000 employees that work at the plant will be put on a furlough scheme for the period. Significance: Stellantis has been repeatedly adjusting pro...

Stellantis is set to temporarily suspend operations at five plants in North America as the automotive industry continues to feel the supply chain pressure due to a shortage of semiconductors. According to a Detroit Free Press article on 26 March, the idling of plants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico may go on for several weeks beginning 28 March. The shutdowns are expected to directly affect over 18,300 employees at the five plants, which produce trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs)...