100 times more semiconductors than electric cars and internal combustion locomotives
Industry responds by adjusting production plans
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As automotive semiconductors are depleted, domestic automakers are struggling with concerns about production disruptions. Companies are responding by adjusting production plans including production cuts.
According to industry sources on the 28th, GM Korea plans to operate only half of its Bupyeong 2 plant by mid-next month, and then report on the supply and demand of semiconductors for vehicles, and then decide on a production plan.
GM Korea has been operating 50% of its Bupyeong 2 plant, which produces Chevrolet Malibu and Trax since the 8th. Bupyeong Plant 1 and Changwon Plant are in normal operation. Previously, General Motors (GM) announced that it would extend production cuts for three assembly plants in North America to at least mid-March due to a lack of automotive semiconductors.
In addition to GM, major global automakers such as Toyota, Volkswagen, Stellaantis, Ford, Renault, Subaru, Nissan, Honda and Mazda are also experiencing production disruptions. It is reported that Tesla has also stopped production of the model 3, an entry-level sedan, for the last two weeks.
Recently, market information company IHS Markit predicted that automobile production in the first quarter of this year will be delayed by nearly 1 million units due to a disruption in the automobile semiconductor supply chain.
It has been found that Hyundai Motors and Kia are also operating their factories in a difficult way as the supply and demand for vehicle semiconductors has prolonged. There is no plan to cut production, but as the sense of crisis over production disruption has risen, the stock of semiconductors for vehicles is checked on a weekly basis, and production lines are being operated mainly on models in stock. In addition, it is not entrusting only the primary suppliers to secure inventory, but is directly negotiating with the semiconductor maker to secure the quantity of semiconductors for vehicles. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are receiving automotive semiconductor-applied parts from component partners such as Bosch, Continental and Hyundai Mobis.
An official in the automobile industry said, “Hyundai and Kia are adjusting their production plans, starting with popular models first.”
In the industry, as the semiconductor supply and demand problem prolongs, there are concerns that there will be a disruption in mass production of the first exclusive electric vehicle’Ioniq 5’that Hyundai Motor Company unveiled on the 23rd. Electric vehicles contain at least 100 more semiconductors than general internal combustion locomotives. Ioniq 5 has set a new record of 23,000 units from the first day of the pre-contract, and is about to achieve this year’s sales target (26,500 units).
The industry predicts that the disruption in supply and demand for vehicle semiconductors will continue for more than six months until the third quarter of this year. Automotive semiconductors are less profitable than other system semiconductors and are difficult to increase supply in a short period of time as it is not easy to enter new companies due to defects, safety accidents, and recalls. The global automotive semiconductor supply and demand situation is expected to worsen as major automotive semiconductor companies such as NXP and Infineon stop operating their lines due to the record blackout in the US.
/ Reporter Seo Jong-gap [email protected]
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