The German automotive supply chain is continuing to be under pressure from chip shortages caused by the Nexperia trade dispute. Bosch said the problem had caused production disruptions for thousands of its employees.Although the Dutch government has sent a high-level delegation to Beijing this week to seek compromise in an attempt to ease the deadlock caused by the dispute over control of Nexperia, the two sides have not yet reached a clear solution.
Affected Bosch production sites include Ansbach and Salzgitter in Germany and Braga in Portugal. Bosch said that the company is making every effort to prioritize supply to customers and avoid or reduce production restrictions as much as possible.
Nexperia's chips are widely used in automotive electronics and consumer products. In September this year, the Dutch government took over the Chinese-controlled company due to concerns about technology transfer. Subsequently, China imposed restrictions on the export of its finished products, forcing major suppliers such as Bosch, Aumovio, and ZF to urgently find alternative sources. Some companies have obtained export exemptions from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
In response to the production slowdown, Bosch has initiated temporary furloughs for employees when necessary. According to statistics,About 300 to 400 employees at the Salzgitter factory in Germany and about 650 employees at the Ansbach factory have been included in the government-supported short-term leave plan; at the Braga factory, about 2,500 employees face working hour adjustments or temporary leave.
ZF said that its chip supply can be maintained until the middle of next week and there are currently no plans to lay off employees, but it does not rule out the possibility of taking similar measures in the future.
Marcus Bollig, general manager of the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA), pointed out that the current situation is still tense. "It is too early to judge the crisis now, and the possibility of further impact on the supply chain in the coming weeks cannot be ruled out."
In addition, the impact of supply chain shortages has spread globally. According to people familiar with the matter, Nissan will cut production again by about 1,400 vehicles at its Kyushu plant in Japan next week. However, Honda has released a positive signal, stating that it will gradually resume normal production rhythm at its North American factories.
