Volkswagen
The bottleneck in computer components has forced Volkswagen to cut production since December.
(Photo: dpa)
Frankfurt According to a report, the car manufacturer Volkswagen, forced to cut production due to a lack of semiconductor components, is examining claims for damages against its suppliers Bosch and Continental. The industry newspaper “Automobilwoche” reported on Sunday that VW was now also talking to possible alternative suppliers in order to eliminate the chip deficiency. Volkswagen wants both Bosch and Continental to share in the resulting additional costs.
According to the report, the Wolfsburg-based company does not want to officially comment. “We’re not commenting on that,” said a spokesman for the industry newspaper. At Bosch it was said that such questions would be “discussed directly with our customers and suppliers in due course”. “Spiegel” also reported on “displeasure” between VW and its two major suppliers because of missing chips.
The bottleneck in computer components has forced the group to cut production and short-time work at individual locations in China, North America and Europe since December. Vehicles of the brands VW and VW Nutzfahrzeuge as well as Skoda, Seat and Audi are affected. Numerous other car manufacturers have also suspended or cut back production in some plants.
Altmaier is probably asking Taiwan for help
In view of the delivery bottlenecks, the federal government has apparently asked Taiwan for help. In a letter from the Reuters news agency to his colleague Wang Mei-hua, Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) emphasizes the importance of the Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer TSMC as a central supplier to German car manufacturers. They are already talking to TSMC to find a solution to the supply problems.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and be notified by email.
The aim is to enable additional capacities or deliveries of semiconductors in the short and medium term: “I would be delighted if you could take on this concern and underline the importance of additional semiconductor capacities for the German automotive industry to TSMC,” Altmaier writes out loud Reuters.
Peter Altmaier
The Federal Minister of Economics asks for help in the face of acute delivery bottlenecks for Autochips Taiwan.
(Photo: dpa)
The ministry in Taiwan initially refused to comment on the report on Sunday morning (CET). However, requests have already been made to the government through diplomatic channels from other countries to provide help to alleviate the delivery bottlenecks. Taiwan has asked the technology companies based in the country for “full support”. TSMC said the company is working closely with customers in the auto industry to resolve delivery issues. This has “top priority”.
In response to a request from Reuters, a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economics in Berlin emphasized that in the medium term it was “important and decisive” to expand capacities in Germany and Europe. The Ministry is therefore committed to expanding funding in the field of microelectronic communication technologies and thus strengthening “digital sovereignty” and maintaining the competitiveness of the European economy.
More: Lucid Motors: How former Tesla top manager Elon Musk attacked