Amid the shortage of automotive semiconductors, major global automakers were hit by a direct hit, and a sense of crisis over production disruption among domestic automakers is rising.
GM Korea is scheduled to continue production cuts next month, and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are running their production lines centering on models that have semiconductor stocks.
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 until 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.
Although there is no plan to cut production yet, 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 Bosch, Continental, and Hyundai Mobis[012330] Automotive parts are being supplied from suppliers with semiconductors for vehicles.
An industry official said, “Hyundai Motor and Kia seem to be working hard to prevent disruptions as much as possible while adjusting production plans, such as prioritizing production of popular models with the current inventory.”
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.
Ioniq 5 set a new record of 23,000 units from the first day of the pre-contract, and has reached its sales target (26,000 units) this year.
Ioniq 5 is a model that Hyundai Motors announced this year as the first year of electric vehicle leap forward, so if it cannot meet the crowded demand, it will inevitably damage its corporate image.
An industry official said, “Electric vehicles contain at least 100 more semiconductors than general internal combustion locomotives.”
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.
This is because automotive semiconductors are less profitable than other system semiconductors, and it is difficult to increase supply in a short period of time because it is not easy to enter new companies due to the burden of defects, safety accidents, and recalls.
In addition, as major automotive semiconductor companies such as NXP and Infineon stop operating their lines due to the record blackout in the US, the global automotive semiconductor supply and demand situation is expected to worsen.
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