A global semiconductor shortage is forcing Audi to delay the production of high-end cars and to furlough workers.
The Volkswagen AG brand has put more than 10,000 workers on furlough owing to reduced production but overall output for 2021 should not be affected because the company expects to make up for lost time in the second half, VW chief executive Markus Duesmann told the Financial Times.
The world’s biggest carmaker last month issued a warning about major production disruption in first-quarter manufacturing around the globe because of the bottleneck.
Daimler, Nissan, Honda, Ford and FCA have also said they are being affected by the chip shortage.
Honda has even been forced to shut its Swindon factory in England for four days this week.
"The situation is currently being monitored with a view to restart production on Friday, January 22," it told workers last Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a lobbying organisation for General Motors, Ford and the US operations of FCA has been petitioning American authorities to pressure Asian semiconductor makers into reallocating output from consumer electronics to essential chips for cars instead.
The American Automotive Policy Council is in talks with both the current US Commerce Department and the incoming administration of president-elect Joe Biden, according to Bloomberg.
The semiconductor shortage is a manifestation of changing consumer behaviour brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With more and more people working, playing and staying at home, demand for consumer electronics has boomed. At the same time, the demand for cars plummeted worldwide in 2020.
This has meant chip manufacturers have pivoted production to focus on the consumer side but an unexpected rise in demand for cars, fuelled by a rebound from China, has caught them cold, Mr Duesmann told the Financial Times.
Bosch and Continental, parts suppliers to the likes of Audi and other leading carmakers, also spoke of difficulties in sourcing enough chips earlier this month.
Despite the challenges, Mr Duesmann said that Audi is doing all it can to limit production shortfalls to fewer than 10,000 models for the first quarter.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
RESULTS
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