Microchip Supply Shortage Continues to Hamper Vehicle Production

The ongoing microchip supply shortage has caused automakers to trim 87,500 more vehicles from their production forecasts putting the total number at 1.5 million below 2021 levels, according to the latest estimate by AutoForecast Solutions (AFS).

AFS reports manufacturers axed about 1.59 million vehicles since January 1. Automakers also lost 10.5 million vehicles to the shortage in 2021, putting the total vehicles lost since the shortage started at 12 million vehicles worldwide.

Of the roughly 87,500 vehicles added to the total over the last week, around 35,600 were lost at North American factories and 32,800 from assembly plants in Asia outside of China. 

European plants trimmed around 16,500 vehicles from their schedules, while 2,600 were cut from South American factories. China and the Middle East/Africa region reported no further cuts.

According to a Bloomberg report, quarterly microchip production in China fell in the first quarter for the first time since 2019. Output of semiconductors fell 4.2% in the first quarter compared with 2021 levels, largely due to COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today