The lack of semiconductors for the automotive industry, which penalizes the activity of automakers’ factories, will probably last until the end of 2023, estimated the executive director of the Stellantis group, Carlos Tavares, in an interview published online on Saturday by the night in the Parisian site.
“The situation will remain very complicated until the end of 2023, then it will relax, in particular because the consumer electronics market is sinking a bit,” estimated Mr. Tavares, during a cross-interview with Renault CEO Luca of Meo. , just over two weeks from the Paris Motor Show.
three years minimum
Referring to this structural problem, Mr. De Meo recalled that during the pandemic, the car market fell, due to the inability of customers to go to the dealership.
“So we got our semiconductor demand forecast. And because people stayed home, they were buying computers, PlayStations, etc,” De Meo explained.
“The semiconductor industry has adapted and has focused on high value-added products for the consumer electronics market,” concluded the head of Renault, which today “struggles to find the basic chip that raises and lowers the window”, which makes it impossible to produce cars.
Mr. Tavares recalled the significant investments – several tens of billions at a time – made by the United States and the European Union to relaunch the “domestic” semiconductor sectors and break away from dependence on Asia.
“When these investments materialize, there will be semiconductors, and even a glut. But we will have to wait at least three years,” Tavares said.
This problem affects all of Europe, a spokesman for the automotive platform (PFA) recalled on Saturday, which published at half-mast the monthly figures for car sales during the first nine months of the year, largely due to the lack of components, even if the last two months have outlined a timid rebound.
The worrying Chinese competition
Asked about Chinese competition in Europe, Tavares did not hide some concern, particularly about the electric car: “China is attacking the market with very low prices, perhaps subsidized elsewhere, but that is another issue,” he said.
He regretted that Europe has “opened an open door” to Chinese exports, considering that the continent “is now under strong pressure” that will probably force European manufacturers, in the coming years, “to reduce their costs very significantly. “.
A context that, according to him, motivated the merger of PSA with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), to create Stellantis and “benefit from a scale effect in cost reduction and, ultimately, avoid social damage.”
“If you are not competitive with Chinese manufacturers, you are going to have to do something… Either you sell more expensively, but you lose market share and your business becomes too big; or you sell at the price imposed by the competition, but at the risk of end up in the red and have to restructure,” concluded Mr. Tavares.
Source: BFM TV
