Tesla said on Thursday it would suspend most car production at its factory near Berlin from January 29 to February 11, citing a shortage of some parts due to changes in shipping routes caused by attacks on ships in the Red Sea. "The armed conflict in the Red Sea and related changes in shipping routes between Europe and Asia via the Cape of Good Hope also have an impact on production in Grünheide (where the Berlin factory is located)," Tesla said in a statement. "Extended shipping times have created gaps in the supply chain."

Tesla said production will resume fully on February 12. The company did not respond to further details about which parts were missing or how it would resume production at that time.

The Red Sea crisis was sparked when Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked Red Sea ships in a show of support for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group fighting Israel in Gaza.

The Houthi attacks have forced nearly all of the world's top shipping companies to avoid the Suez Canal, the fastest sea route from Asia to Europe and accounting for about 12% of global maritime traffic. These shipping giants choose to go around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. This route adds about 10 days to the voyage from Asia to Northern Europe and increases fuel costs by about $1 million.

Tesla faces greater pressure

Tesla’s partial suspension of production shows thatThe crisis has already hit Germany, Europe's largest economy.

The suspension further increases pressure on Tesla, which is currently engaged in a labor battle with the Swedish union IFMetall over the signing of a collective bargaining agreement, triggering sympathy strikes from many unions in the Nordic region.

On November 24, workers at Hydroextrudes, a subsidiary of Norwegian aluminum and energy company Hydro, stopped producing parts for Tesla automotive products. These workers are members of IFMetall.

It is worth noting thatTesla is the first company to disclose production halts due to supply chain disruptions caused by the Red Sea crisis.

Many companies, including China's second-largest automaker by sales Geely Automobile and Swedish home furnishings giant IKEA, have previously warned of delivery delays.

More car companies may be affected

Analysts expect thatOther automakers may also be affected by the conflict in the Red Sea.

Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, which tracks automotive supply chains and production, noted that reliance on Asia for so many critical parts in automakers' supply chains has been a potential vulnerability. Tesla relies heavily on battery components from Asia, which need to be shipped to Europe via the Red Sea, putting its production at constant risk.

He also said that Tesla is not an exception, but just the first car company to report this problem.