Mercedes-Benz has been forced to reduce production at the factory in Rastatt, Germany. The reason is an insufficient supply of semiconductors.
Many manufacturers are currently plagued by the delayed supply of parts or raw materials for their car production. Daimler now joins that list, because according to Automobilwoche A-class production in Rastatt has been put on hold since Friday. Mercedes-Benz is responding to a reduced supply of semiconductors with a reduction in working hours. According to Mercedes-Benz, everything is being done to ensure that the production of the fully electric EQA, which also rolls off the production line there, is not compromised. As long as it lasts, the problem may therefore mainly be shifted to the A-class.
In conversation with Automobilwoche the Dutch semiconductor manufacturer NXP already rang the bell last week. According to the company, the problem is not with their production, but with the manufacturers themselves. Too little response would have been made to potential shortages, simply because too little has been ordered.
Earlier this month we heard about other production cuts from various manufacturers. However, this had various reasons. At Honda, production of the Civic was temporarily shut down in Swindon due to supply problems attributed to both Brexit and the pandemic. A few days later, Honda also appeared to have problems in Japan due to a parts shortage. Volkswagen further fears the production of ‘up to 100,000 cars’ due to a shortage of electronic components from a supplier. It is not entirely clear whether the latter concerns a situation comparable to that in which Daimler finds itself now.