The Telegraph
Audi has become the latest carmaker to be struck by the global shortage in electronic chips needed to make modern vehicles. Volkswagen Group, which owns Audi, Seat and Skoda, has furloughed more than 10,000 staff because of the shortages. In an interview with the FT, Audi boss Markus Duesmann said production of some of the premium brand’s cars would be delayed because of the “massive” shortage of semiconductors. He added the chip shortage was a “crisis upon a crisis”, with the automotive industry having been rocked by the impact of the pandemic on sales and its supply chain. Volkswagen Group, the world’s largest carmaker, said production would drop by 100,000 in the first quarter, while Mr Duesmann hopes to limit the fall to 10,000 fewer cars in the Audi marque. The German automotive giant has been hit by an issue affecting car manufacturers worldwide. Mercedes-owner Daimler, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Renault and Toyota have also been affected.