Why will the Volkswagen group produce fewer cars in the coming weeks?

Production disruptions in the Czech Republic do not appear to be over and are even spreading to the rest of Europe. A little over a week after production ceased at the Toyota Kolin plant, Skoda has announced that it will soon stop car production at its Kvasiny factory for several days..

The duration of this stoppage will be at least one week from Monday September 11, and it cannot be ruled out that these production suspensions will also extend to the Mlada Boleslav factory. Meanwhile, the rest of the Volkswagen Group has also had to reduce working hours at several key factories.

A new shortage, but no semiconductors

If, for Toyota, everything started with a fire in the production plant of a supplier in the country, this time, the problem is the opposite. Indeed, the Czech manufacturer indicated that the closure was necessary due to a flood that occurred at a supplier’s production plant in Slovenia.

According to Automotive News Europe, this is a fairly significant problem that could soon spread to the rest of the Volkswagen Group, for which Skoda produces several cars and small gasoline engines in the Czech Republic.

In a statement, Skoda said: “Due to a disruption in the supply of components across the Volkswagen Group supply chain, Skoda Auto will also face shortages in the coming period. »

“At the moment, we cannot rule out a change in production volumes at the Mlada Boleslav plant, where production is currently taking place without alteration. Our teams are working diligently to minimize any potential impact and deliver as many cars to customers as possible. »

The floods hit the production plant of KLS Ljubno, a specialist gear company that supplies more than 80% of the European automotive market and is only expected to be able to resume production in October.

Bigger problems ahead for the entire Volkswagen Group?

But that’s not all. As also reported by Automotive News Europe, the flooding of the supplier’s factory is starting to pose more general problems for the entire German group.

Volkswagen was, for example, forced to reduce the working hours of its employees at the Wolfsburg plant., where the Golf and Tiguan are currently manufactured, from September 11 until at least September 29. The Hannover factory, where commercial vehicles are produced, is also affected, as is that of Emden and even the Portuguese factory in Setubal until November 22, where vehicles are produced. Barter.

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