Ford to cancel summer shutdowns to boost truck production at four U.S. plants On March 30, Ford announced that it was canceling summer shutdowns at its four plants that produce F-150 and Super Duty trucks to make up for volumes lost due to an aluminum shortage stemming from the Novelis plant fire in Oswego, New York in fall 2025. Ford said that its Dearborn Truck Plant, Kentucky Truck Plant, Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri and Ohio Assembl...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/01

Stellantis Sochaux plant, France faces production slowdowns amid eDCT supply shortage On March 26, multiple sources reported that the shortage of eDCT transmissions for mild hybrid vehicles is causing production problems for Stellantis at several European plants. The issue has worsened in recent weeks and is affecting French factories, especially Stellantis Sochaux plant, leading to slower production and suspended shifts. Demand for eDCT transmis...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/27

Stellantis Melfi plant, Italy halts first shift production over component shortage on March 24, 2026 On March 24, multiple sources reported that production in Stellantis Melfi plant, Italy, was halt for the morning shift on March 24, 2026, due to a shortage of components. The problem was linked to supply chain difficulties, which continue to show weaknesses when parts are delayed. The Plastics department can produce only 150 dashboards per shift,...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/25

Stellantis halts van production at Vigo plant from March 20 to March 22, 2026 On March 20, multiple sources reported that Stellantis suspended van production from March 20 to March 22, 2026, at its Vigo plant. The operations are expected to resume on the night of March 22, 2026. The halt is likely due to production adjustments or a shortage of components, although the exact reason has not been confirmed. Based on multiple sources...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/20

fined crude oil, 60% is covered by imports, and more than 70% of these imports depend on the Middle East. Domestic chemical manufacturers have begun reducing output at their ethylene production facilities that produce raw materials, such as plastics from naphtha, and there is concern that a naphtha shortage will have downstream impacts. According to METI, by combining imports from regions outside the Middle East, such as the United States and Sou...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/17

.  As a result, the link between truck demand / truck sales and oil prices is tenuous, at best. Recent history suggests that the European truck market is likely to ride out the storm, provided the conflict does not trigger a wide-ranging supply crunch along the lines of the 2021-2022 semiconductor shortage/Ukraine invasion supply disruption, which constrained the EU truck market recovery during those years (albeit not nearly to the same extent a...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/11

Shortage of naphtha causing concerns over procurement of automotive plastics and synthetic rubber Due to attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, concerns are rising that there will be a shortage of plastics, synthetic rubber and other raw materials used in products such as automobiles. Japanese petrochemical companies have been importing crude oil and naphtha (crude gasoline), which is a base ingredient of plastics and others, mainly from the Mid...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/10

PG Electroplast, India, faces gas supply shortage amid Middle East shipping disruptions On March 9, PG Electroplast Limited (PGEL) announced that its gas suppliers have communicated regarding a shortage of gas under its gas sale and purchase agreement due to the constraints faced by certain vessels arising from maritime navigation restrictions, considering the recent ongoing war in the Middle East region. It is impacting the gas supply scenario. ...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/09

Honda cites parts shortage behind recent vehicle delivery delays in Thailand Reported on March 2, 2026, Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. announced that recent vehicle delivery delays are due to shortages of certain components required in the production process. The company said it is accelerating corrective measures to restore normal production and delivery operations as soon as possible. Honda also confirmed that customers who reserved vehi...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/06

GlobalData blog: Tackling Europe’s bus driver shortage The automotive sector is a dynamic industry, shaped by digitalization, innovation, and evolving regulations. Yet, one issue remains persistently difficult, and has become even more acute since the COVID-19 pandemic: driver shortages. At Busworld Europe 2025, industry stakeholders emphasized the urgency of overcoming this challenge and showcased a range of solutions, with particular attentio...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/27

Stellantis Melfi plant, Italy, halts production on Feb. 26 again amid component shortage On February 25, multiple sources reported that Stellantis has announced another production stop at its Melfi plant, Italy, on February 26, 2026, due to a shortage of components on the assembly line. This comes as the factory was slowly recovering production after internal reorganization. A third night shift had recently been added in some departments to suppo...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/26

s through these initiatives, it aims to substantially improve operating profit. It is also considering expand the capacity of its Nogata plant (Nogata City, Fukuoka Prefecture). The company has long been promoting investment in automation and labor savings. Against the backdrop of a worsening labor shortage, MAHLE Japan is promoting initiatives to replace tasks that generate little added value with machines. It has already achieved full automatio...

News  Updated at: 2026/02/24

Stellantis Vigo plant, Spain extends production halt due to parts shortage caused by bad weather On January 29, multiple sources reported that Stellantis Vigo plant, Spain has extended the production stoppage due to a shortage of parts caused by recent bad weather across the peninsula. The plant’s management informed that all workshops linked to System 1, where the Peugeot 2008 is built has been impacted. The night shift on January 29 and the m...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/29

Stellantis Vigo plant, Spain adjusts shifts on 2 production lines over bad weather disrupts parts shortage On January 28, multiple sources reported that Stellantis’ Vigo factory has had suspended three shifts on one production line due to a shortage of components caused by recent bad weather. The disruption affected the System 2 line, where vans are assembled, during the afternoon and night shifts on January 28, 2026, as well as the morning shi...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/29

ing a scheme in place since 2023. The report noted that employment at the plant has fallen from over 1,000 workers to around 600 through voluntary retirement and early retirement programs. Alvear remains Argentina’s only plant producing a “redundant model,” to protect the automaker from stock shortage caused by import restrictions etc., as the Tracker is also manufactured in Brazil. Following the reopening of vehicle imports, other automake...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/28

American Honda presents outlook on 2026 U.S. automobile business On January 14, American Honda outlined its 2026 U.S. automobile business outlook, including a review of 2025 sales performance and a preview of 2026 products. American Honda posted sales of 1,430,577 units in 2025, a YoY increase of 0.5% and its best year since 2021, achieved despite the impact of market conditions and a microchip shortage resulting in leaner inventories in Q4. In 2...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/15

been strong until then, has declined year-on-year for three consecutive months since October. Furthermore, as tariff-subject products replace previously un-subjected inventory, prices are rising and sales are slowing. Furthermore, some OEMs are still feeling the effects of the global semiconductor shortage caused by issues at Nexperia, a Chinese-owned Dutch semiconductor manufacturer. Negative factors such as a preference for more affordable mod...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/06

ny providing intelligent technology for industrial robots. They will combine NTT Group’s state-of-the-art communication, cloud, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with Mujin’s core robotic control technologies (physical AI) strongly promote solutions to the increasingly serious labor shortage. Mujin has developed its proprietary technology, MujinController, which enables robots to perform various tasks without being taught. The tec...

News  Updated at: 2026/01/06

Eight Japanese OEMs see decreased global production and sales in November 2025 Eight Japanese automakers’ global November production volume totaled 1,985,727 units, reflecting a year-over-year (y/y) decrease of 6.4% for the second month in a row. Outside Japan, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s production volume decreased by 40% since its North American plants reduced operations due to a shortage of semiconductors. On the other hand, Suzuki Motor Corpo...

News  Updated at: 2025/12/26

Honda’s car assembly plants in Japan and China to suspend operations Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) announced by December 18 that its car assembly plants in Japan and China will temporarily suspend operations due to the shortage of semiconductors. In China, three plants of GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., a joint venture with GAC Group, will stop operations from December 29 to January 2. While the names of Japanese plants have not been disclosed,...

News  Updated at: 2025/12/19