Japan’s carmakers cut output as competing demand by gadgets amid Covid-19 lockdowns lead to global shortage of silicon chips

Japan’s major carmakers have cut production at various factories due to the worsening global semiconductor shortage brought about as chip makers struggle to meet soaring demand from consumer-electronics companies. Lockdowns and travel restrictions are prompting housebound shoppers to snap up more phones, game consoles, smart TVs and laptops, which in turn has fuelled demand for the chips used in those devices. That means carmakers from Toyota Motor to Volkswagen are at risk of not getting enough parts to fuel a fledgling recovery in their own industry. That’s forced carmakers all around the world to cut back on production. Here’s the state of play for Japan’s firms: Toyota Motor Toyota said on January 10 that it’s cutting production of its full-size pickup truck Tundra due to the global shortage of semiconductors. The company expects to trim output of its Tundra model manufactured in San Antonio by 40 per cent this month as a result of limited chip supplies. In China, Toyota halted lines at its factory in Guangzhou on January 11 due to parts shortages. Toyota jointly operates the facility with Guangzhou Automobile Group; the plant has produced upwards of 300,000 vehicles annually in recent years, including the Camry. The lines resumed operation on the eve of Jan. 12 as the necessary parts were able to be procured, spokeswoman Shino Yamada said. Chen Shihua, a deputy secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said the chip shortage had caused a relatively big impact on China’s automobile industry from late December and may persist into the second quarter. He noted that some chip makers have boosted their prices, so it’s hard to measure the impact in terms of vehicle sales reductions. SCMP Infographics: Global carmakers and their Chinese venture partners Honda Motor Honda was among the first global carmaker to warn of chip shortages, announcing a two-day halt in output at its UK plant on January 5 and 6. Established in 1985, the Swindon facility produces Civic hatchbacks and employed about 2,900 workers as of November. The plant is set to operate until July 2021, when it has been marked for closure, a decision that was announced in 2019. On Wednesday, Honda again said it would stop production at Swindon from January 18 due to supply issues, and aim to restart on January 22. In North America, Honda said this week it will reduce production of the Accord, Civic and Insight sedans, as well as the Odyssey minivan and Acura RDX, a crossover sports-utility vehicle. Honda will adjust production at its Marysville and East Liberty plants in Ohio, as well as at facilities in Alabama, Indiana and Canada. Honda will cut output by a few thousand units by the end of January, and the adjustment is likely to continue, according to the Nikkei, which earlier reported the decreases at Honda North America. Honda is also seeing the impact of chip shortage in China and is considering cutting production. “We will replace some models and adjust our work shifts when necessary,” a Honda spokesperson said Wednesday. Nissan Motor Nissan said on January 8 that it’s cutting back on production at one of its plants in Japan this month. “A global shortage of semiconductors has affected parts procurement in the auto sector,” spokeswoman Azusa Momose said. “As a result of this shortage, the Oppama plant in Japan will adjust production in January, reducing production of the Nissan Note.” The Nikkei reported that the Note’s production would be reduced to 5,000 from 15,000 a month. Subaru Subaru will cut output by a few thousand units each in January at factories in Japan and the US, a spokesperson said Thursday. “We are adjusting production of multiple models in our Gunma and US facilities due to chip-delivery delays,” the spokesperson said. “The adjustment started from January 11 for Gunma and from January 8 in the US. We are checking the end dates. Other companies are involved in the delivery delays, so our plan depends on them. The impact on output in February and beyond is unclear.” Suzuki Motor There will be an impact on production, but the carmaker is still checking details including which models may be impacted, a spokesman said by phone. Mitsubishi Motors While Mitsubishi Motors is still checking regarding any impact on output, it hasn’t been forced to adjust its production for the time being due to chip shortages, a spokeswoman for the company said January 12. Mazda Motor Mazda is currently examining whether there has been any impact on production, spokesman Naoto Mawatari said by phone Tuesday.

Japan’s carmakers cut output as competing demand by gadgets amid Covid-19 lockdowns lead to global shortage of silicon chips

Toyota is cutting the production of its Tundra pickup truck in San Antonio, Texas by 40 per cent due to a shortage of chips Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki all said their production had been affected by the shortage of chips

Toyota is cutting the production of its Tundra pickup truck in San Antonio, Texas by 40 per cent due to a shortage of chips

Honda, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki all said their production had been affected by the shortage of chips