[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] As the supply shortage of automotive semiconductors prolongs, the damage to completed car manufacturers is growing.
According to the related industry on the 18th, Hyundai Motor will shut down its Asan plant for two days on the 19th and 20th.
The company stated that although it is making every effort to secure automotive semiconductors, some semiconductor supply issues are not smooth, making the shutdown unavoidable.
Previously, Hyundai Motor's Asan plant had suspended operations on the 12th and 13th due to automotive semiconductor supply problems.
Hyundai Motor's Asan plant produces the Grandeur and Sonata. The Grandeur is a best-selling model that ranked first in sales for four consecutive years, selling 145,463 units domestically last year alone. This year, it has continued to lead sedan sales with 25,861 units sold up to last month.
However, the company explained that it will not conduct a full plant shutdown but will only suspend the production lines producing the Sonata and Grandeur, while the automobile engine production line is scheduled to operate normally.
Korea GM has also maintained the operating rate of its Bupyeong 2 plant, which produces the Trax and others, at 50% since February due to automotive semiconductor supply issues, adjusting production volume. However, as the supply shortage continues, both Bupyeong 1 and 2 plants will suspend operations next week.
In particular, Bupyeong 1 plant produces the Trailblazer, an export hit product, raising concerns about the impact on this month's sales performance and second-quarter business results.
Ssangyong Motor will also suspend operations at its Pyeongtaek plant from the 19th to the 23rd due to difficulties in procuring production parts caused by supplier delivery refusals. Production is scheduled to resume on the 26th. The court recently decided to initiate rehabilitation procedures for Ssangyong Motor.
Ssangyong Motor had also suspended production at the Pyeongtaek plant from the 8th to the 16th due to the automotive semiconductor supply shortage.
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