Elm Analytics - Automotive Supply Chain Risk Digest #211 - February 19 - 25 , 2021

HUMAN CAPITAL

Stellantis is laying off 150 workers at its Jeep Cherokee assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, due to falling demand for the Jeep Cherokee crossover vehicle.

Autoneum is temporarily laying off around 75 employees at its plant in London, Ontario, Canada, due to the global semiconductor shortage. The company says the number of temporary layoffs has been varying each week as production levels are adjusted.

INDUSTRY DIRECTIONS

The Center for Automotive Research examines OEM projected AV deployments. Their excellent timeline highlights the massive number of missed and abandoned milestones.

LITIGATION

Ford has recalled over 150k Rangers that may have obsolete Takata airbag inflators. NHTSA pressed the company after it was unable to locate 45 of the inflators.

Hyundai recalled 82k Kona EVs worldwide to replace battery systems that pose a fire risk. The $900M recall is one of the first mass battery pack replacements conducted by a major automaker.

MERGERS, VENTURES, ACQUISITIONS

Goodyear is buying Cooper Tire, which will combine the two largest US tire manufacturers. The companies are looking to save money on R&D, administration and expect to optimize sales.

Nascent EV maker Fisker is partnering with Apple supplier Foxconn to develop a new electric vehicle. The vehicle will be built by Foxconn, bear a Fisker nameplate, and start production in the fourth quarter of 2023.

BorgWarner has signed an agreement to buy AKASOL. The German company designs and manufactures vehicle battery packs.

France's Faurecia has become the majority stakeholder in China's CLD. The company manufactures high-pressure tanks used for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Although Volvo and Geely announced they no longer plan to merge, the company will create a powertrain joint venture.

PLANT EXPANSION

Samsung SDI will spend $849M to expand its Hungarian EV battery plant and consider building another in central Europe. The plant currently supplies Ford and BMW, producing batteries for 50k EVs / year.

PLANT OPENING

Magna is planning to invest $70M into a new EV battery component plant in St. Clair, Michigan. The 345k sf plant will employ 304 and supply parts to the 2022 GMC Hummer EV.

PLANT SHUTDOWN

GM is idling production at its Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, from March 1-5 due to a shortage of unnamed parts.

Tesla has halted production at its Fremont, California assembly plant through March 7. Reports speculate the closure on the Model 3 line is due to the semiconductor shortage.

PRODUCTION INCREASE

BMW is looking to double production at its Dingolfing plant in Germany this year from 20k to 40k EVs.

REGULATION

President Biden issued an executive order this week calling for a 100-day review "to address vulnerabilities in the supply chain" for products such as semiconductors, large capacity batteries, and more.

RISK ANALYTICS

Automotive News: Chip shortage shows need for new thinking

SUPPLY CHAIN

Nikkei Asia examines the impact of the recent 7.3m earthquake on Hitachi Astemo. The ripple of its supply chain impact was multiplied by being a sole-source provider, on top of the largest producer of hydraulic suspension.

Reuters: US manufacturers grapple with steel shortages, soaring prices