Semiconductor shortage: European automotive market collapses in September – archyworldys

In September, the European car market returned to its 1995 level with 718,598 new cars sold, a drop of 23.1% over one year, the Association of European Manufacturers said in a press release on Friday (October 15th).

In September 2020, manufacturers were able to bounce back from the lockdowns, but September 2021 was marked by the “Lack of vehicles caused by the shortage of semiconductors”, can we read in the press release.

The main markets recorded double-digit declines – with Germany falling 25.7%, Italy 32.7%, France 20.5% and Spain 15.7% – between September 2020 and September 2021.

Cumulatively since the start of 2021, more than 7.5 million vehicles have been sold, or 500,000 more vehicles than last year at the same period.

The demand for components is very strong in the automotive sector for vehicles increasingly equipped with electronic systems, from the engine to ABS, including airbags and parking assistance. However, in a context of resumption of activity after the lifting of health restrictions, manufacturers find themselves in competition with other industries greedy in chips – computers, smartphones, connected objects – which capture a large part of these parts manufactured for most of them in Asia.

A situation that should last in 2022

Unless this shortage “Cannot be resolved quickly, the outlook should be further reduced” in October, said Tuesday, October 12 the British Association of Builders (SMMT). This situation “Should last a good part of 2022” especially since “New outbreaks of the Delta variant of Covid affect producing nations [de semi-conducteurs] important in East Asia ”.

In September, only the Hyundai-Kia group posted higher sales.

But over the first nine months of the year, the leaders Volkswagen and Stellantis float with an increase of 8.1% in sales for the German group and 8.3% for the Franco-Italian-American, after a catastrophic year 2020. .

Despite the good scores of Dacia, the Renault group has posted declining sales since the start of the year (- 6.5%), like Daimler (- 5.6%), Ford (- 11.2 %) or Nissan (- 12.4%). BMW-Mini posted an increase of 10.9%, Toyota 19.8% and Volvo 7.4%.