Why is there a shortage of Volkswagen car chips?
3 Answers
The reasons for the shortage of Volkswagen car chips are as follows: 1. Due to the global shortage in the chip industry supply: the production of certain models of several automakers, including FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen, has been affected to some extent. With the advancement of vehicle electrification and intelligence, the importance of semiconductor chips in the automotive manufacturing industry has become prominent. Such electronic components are widely used in automotive parts, including multimedia entertainment systems, smart keys, automatic parking systems, engine and transmission control systems, airbags, etc. 2. The self-sufficiency rate of domestic semiconductor materials is relatively low: basically less than 30%, and most of them are packaging materials with low technical barriers and value. The domestic rate in wafer manufacturing materials is even lower, mainly relying on imports.
I noticed that Volkswagen's chip shortage is mainly related to global supply chain issues. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many chip factories shut down, and transportation was disrupted, leading to supply shortages. The automotive industry relies heavily on these chips, and as a major manufacturer, Volkswagen already had high demand. However, the slow recovery of factories, coupled with natural disasters like earthquakes in Taiwan affecting production, made the situation worse. The chip manufacturing cycle is long, taking several months from order to delivery, resulting in severe order backlogs for companies like Volkswagen. In the short term, this has caused delays in new car deliveries and increased used car prices, leaving car owners anxious. In the long term, companies are learning lessons, such as promoting localized production to reduce risks, but the chip shortage may persist for a while longer.
I think the core of Volkswagen's chip shortage is the surge in demand. Cars are becoming increasingly intelligent, with Volkswagen's electric vehicles and autonomous driving features requiring a large number of chips, but chip production capacity hasn't kept up. During the pandemic, people bought more electronic products, and chip manufacturers prioritized supplying mobile phones and computers, squeezing out automotive demand. Later, car sales rebounded, and companies like Volkswagen rushed to secure chips, but the supply chain was in chaos. This isn't just Volkswagen's problem—the entire industry is facing the same issue. I heard Volkswagen is looking for new suppliers or collaborating to build factories, but it's hard to solve in the short term. Car owners need to be patient—wait times for vehicles are longer, and prices have increased. I recommend asking about inventory before buying a car.
