CHENNAI: Hobbled by the supply disruption of a critical part, Ford India’s factory in Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai is taking an extended shutdown of a week after Pongal. The plant, which closed on January 14 for a three-day Pongal shutdown, has extended it up to January 24.
When contacted, a Ford India spokesperson said, “The Chennai plant was supposed to open on January 18, Monday after the Pongal break, which has been extended for a week. Semiconductor (chip) shortage is a serious issue and the team is trying to address the supplies.”
The semiconductor shortage, he added, “will impact Ford operations in India. Production will be impacted across Chennai and Sanand plants this entire quarter”.
According to industry sources, the semiconductor shortage and the resultant impact will hit production of Ford vehicles for both domestic and export market by 50%. Ford made just under 7,000 vehicles in December. Its cumulative April-December production was just under 65,000 units.
A global shortage of semiconductor chips has started disrupting automobile factories worldwide. These chips are used in infotainment systems and other electrical components in a vehicle. Ford has already shut down one of its US plants because of this disruption.
Toyota’s Chinese plant, Audi and Volkswagen’s factories in Germany and Honda’s UK plant have all seen production shutdowns because of this supply disruption.