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Lack of Semiconductors Leads to 15% Drop in Vehicle Production in Spain So Far This Year

The semiconductors shortage is affecting the production of vehicles around the globe. Spain remains the world’s eighth-largest vehicle producer ahead of Brazil. In February, exports fell by 12.5% compared to the same month last year, with 160,053 vehicles in total shipped outside Spain’s borders. For the cumulative 2022, a decline of 14.1% is recorded, with 315,800 units shipped.

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The shortage of semiconductors continues to take its toll on Spanish factories. As expected, the first quarter of the year was going to be complicated due to the lack of these components.

In February, vehicle production fell by 12.9% year-on-year, with a total of 189,145 units manufactured. Thus, in the first two months of the year, vehicle production has fallen by 15.2% compared to the same period of the previous year, to 369,053 units assembled, according to data from Anfac, the association of car and truck manufacturers.

Thus, so far this year, production is down 25.4% compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, while accounting for 26.5% less than in the first two months of 2020. These data do not yet fully reflect the conflict in Ukraine, given that it began on February 24th.

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With these figures, Spain remains the world’s eighth-largest vehicle producer ahead of Brazil, a position it regained last January after ending 2021 as the ninth-largest producer

Thus, Brazil has produced a total of 311,352 vehicles in the first two months of the year, which is 21.6% less year-on-year, according to data from the Brazilian manufacturers’ association Anfavea.

For Anfac, the lack of components that was marking the pace of vehicle production, not only in Spain but throughout Europe, has been compounded in recent weeks by the shortage of certain components, such as cables, aluminum, nickel, or palladium, from Ukraine and Russia. Likewise, the increase in energy costs, derived from the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, the main exporter of gas and oil to Europe, is a conditioning factor that also affects vehicle factories.

In addition, the main European markets continue to record registration figures well below those of the pre-pandemic period. Specifically, falls of 28% in Germany, 33% in France, or 28% in the United Kingdom have been recorded in the two months of 2022 compared to 2019.

The production of alternative vehicles (electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, non-plug-in hybrids, LPG, and natural gas) in February reached 22,100 units, which represents a drop of 4.5% compared to the previous year, mainly due to the sharp decline in the production of gas and LPG vehicles. Despite this figure, alternative vehicles increased their share of production by one point, representing 11.7% of total national production.

Electrified vehicles continue to grow in total production, accumulating 9.8% of the manufacturing share in February and 10.4% in the cumulative two months of 2022.

Spain registered a drop in exports

In February, exports fell by 12.5% compared to the same month last year, with 160,053 vehicles in total shipped outside Spain’s borders. For the cumulative 2022, a decline of 14.1% is recorded, with 315,800 units shipped.

The slow recovery of the main European markets is the main factor behind the drop in vehicle exports. In February, shipments to European markets accounted for 65.6% of the total, a total of 3 percentage points less than February 2021.

Anfac’s CEO, José López-Tafall, explained that “the shortage and rising cost of basic materials together with the increase in energy costs complicate a situation that is already difficult for the entire value chain of the sector.”

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(Featured image by CristianIs via Pixabay)

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First published in elEconomista.es, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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Daphne Freeman has worked in the crowdfunding and impact investing industry for the past few years, gaining experience in marketing, and connecting businesses and entrepreneurs in need with the right investors. As a seasoned grant writer as well as financial market journalist, she is passionate about making a social impact in the world. A free spirit, Daphne also enjoys writing and exploring topics of interest, currently CBD, health and beauty, and social media influencers.