Elm Analytics - Automotive Supply Chain Risk Digest #221 - April 30 - May 6, 2021
CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT
Lucid Motors announced Sherry House as its new CFO among a series of new management appointments. House will steer Lucid along the path to becoming a publicly traded company.
LABOR DISPUTE
Employees of Renault's Fonderie de Bretagne in Caudan, France, still occupy the foundry after preventing management from leaving last week. The plant is scheduled to close, and workers are protesting its sale.
Tridonex workers in Matamoros, Mexico, are frustrated with their union's (SITPME) representation and looking to replace it.
LITIGATION
Hyundai has recalled 390k vehicles for problems that can cause engine fires.
MERGERS, VENTURES, ACQUISITIONS
Nissan is selling its 1.5% stake in Daimler, following a similar move from Renault. Both companies had exchanged stakes ten years ago to strengthen their partnerships.
VW is looking for partners to invest in building battery plants in Europe, saying that it cannot fund the plants alone.
Arrival, a UK EV startup, has partnered with Uber to develop a vehicle purpose-built for ride-hailing.
BMW and Ford are leading another funding round in Solid Power. The solid-state battery startup is looking to expand in-house manufacturing.
National Instruments (NI) has acquired monoDrive, an AV simulation startup.
OSRAM Continental and Rehau have partnered to develop new lighting materials and product solutions.
PLANT EXPANSION
Volkswagen is expanding its Emden site in Zwickau, Germany, adding six new production halls for EVs.
Bosch is investing $100m in its operations in Toluca, Mexicali and Hermosillo, Mexico.
Axalta has expanded its waterborne coatings plant in Jiading, China, doubling production capacity.
PLANT OPENING
Le Bélier is building a new production facility in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. The aluminum caster will produce master cylinders, brackets, and chassis components.
PLANT SHUTDOWN
Semiconductor shortage:
Ford is shutting down its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne for two weeks. Its Chicago, Avon Lake, and Flat Rock plants will remain closed through May.
The shutdown at the Stellantis' Windsor minivan assembly plant has been extended again. Workers are currently due to return on May 17th.
PRODUCTION DECREASE
Stellantis cut Q1 planned production by 11% due to the semiconductor shortage.
Ford has limited production at its plants in Cologne and Saarlouis, Germany. Workers have shortened shifts from May 3rd through July 9th.
PRODUCTION INCREASE
BE Semiconductor will ramp up production in the US and Taiwan to meet demand.
REGULATION
NISSTC, China's government standards body, has drafted regulations on connected EVs to reduce national security risks. The move aims to limit cross-border data transfers from those vehicles unless the government inspects decrypted data.