During the Covid-19 pandemic that has been going on since 2020, one of the biggest challenges and obstacles in the world’s automotive industry is the scarcity of Semiconductor Chips. Even one of the automotive giants from Germany, Volkswagen predicts that the problem of scarcity of Semiconductor Chips could continue until 2023.
In an interview conducted by the German automotive media, Automobilewoche on Wednesday (21/9/2022), Volkswagen’s Head of Procurement Council, Murat Aksel said that they predict the shortage of Semiconductor Chips could continue until 2023 and even 2024. He said that to overcome this problem, The company has prepared a number of preventive measures so that the scarcity of this chip is not even worse.
Aksel called the steps taken by Volkswagen as “New Normal” by taking several new approaches. He said the problem of structural deficiencies that occurred globally made Volkswagen’s move more complicated and difficult to solve in such a short time.
“With geopolitical problems that are quite complicated, making the problem of scarcity of these chips difficult to solve. You have invested in increasing chip production capacity which, although you are on the right track, has not completely solved the problem,” added Aksel. He also hopes that what has happened in the last 2 years will end soon which will result in a decline in production in the world automotive industry.
In February last year, Volkswagen had already limited chip production at the Wolfsburg plant and introduced an early warning system. This system is present as a marker to find out how the scarcity of this chip will affect their car production. In a report from Fortune, there are about 150 Technical Alternatives that will prepare a backup plan for the production of the chip.
