https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Africa|Automotive|Export|Logistics|supply-chain
Africa|Automotive|Export|Logistics|supply-chain
africa|automotive|export|logistics|supply chain

Auto industry’s supply woes unlikely to be resolved in 2023 – VW's Schäfer

Image of Volkswagen passenger car brands global CEO and former Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) boss Thomas Schäfer

Thomas Schäfer

14th November 2022

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

It seems unlikely that the supply-chain issues in the global automotive industry will be resolved in the next year, says Volkswagen passenger car brands global CEO and former Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) boss Thomas Schäfer.

He notes that the semi-conductor shortage is “still not over”, and that industry faces “incredible disruptions” in the global supply chain.

There are supply-chain choke points to and from China, as the country persists with lockdowns to execute a zero-Covid policy, with the logistics industry in Europe facing a shortage of truck drivers as many drivers from the Ukraine have been pulled into the war with Russia.

Schäfer says Volkswagen has seen cancelled shipments and plant shutdowns worldwide owing to strained supply chains, also in South Africa, despite a situation of “incredible demand”, with order books filled up “to next year”.

He notes that the German car maker receives supply reports on roughly 80 000 parts every week to determine which parts are available and which parts are in short supply, to see “if we can build cars, or not”.

Sometimes the manufacturer has to scramble to find an alternative supply source for a particular part, as a vehicle cannot be completed without 100% of its parts.

Schäfer says this is a situation unlike anything he has ever experienced before, with “everyone’s nerves a bit raw at the moment”.

He also expresses concern about a possible economic storm brewing in Europe as high inflation and rising interest rates do not bode well for the near term.

Europe is South Africa’s biggest new-vehicle export market.

VWSA produces the Polo and Polo Vivo for the local and export markets.

* Schäfer spoke during a media conference on a recent visit to South Africa.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

ESAB showroom image
ESAB South Africa

ESAB South Arica, the leading supplier of high-end welding and cutting products to the Southern African industrial market is based in...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
John Deere (Pty) Ltd
John Deere (Pty) Ltd

In 1958 John Deere Construction made its first introduction to the industry with their model 64 bulldozer.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/11/2024)
15th November 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.309 0.421s - 192pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now