The eco brief. Semiconductor shortage: Scania temporarily suspends truck production in France

The automotive industry is one of the sectors most affected by the shortage of electronic components. Stellantis (formerly PSA Peugeot-Citroën), Renault and other manufacturers … Between lack of raw material and strong demand with the recovery, traditional semiconductor suppliers, mostly Asian, are still not keeping pace and a new group announces the drop in production. This is Scania, Volkswagen’s truck subsidiary. For now, buses are not affected. The Swedish heavy truck manufacturer will suspend truck production for a week in Sweden, the Netherlands and France.

The Scania plant in Angers employs just over 700 people. Jobs will not be affected by this temporary measure. Opened in 1992, the Angers site, from which the trucks destined mainly for southern Europe come out, has already built 250,000. It is a major factory for the Swedish manufacturer, which in turn has been caught up by the shortage of electronic components. which adds to the difficulties linked to the pandemic. Already last year, Scania had to stop production for more than a month.

Between electronic components and raw materials, 37% of French industrial companies have a shortage of supplies, according to the Rexecode Conjuncture Institute. As far as chips are concerned, semiconductors have to be produced again in Europe, but the accumulated delay is too great. Many manufacturers are reluctant to build presses in Europe because they are far too expensive and unprofitable in the face of fiscal and social dumping from Asia.

Should we attract Asians to Europe and set up cross-shareholding factories with them? Encouraging Western groups to invest in the Old Continent is again a strategic subject on which our technological and industrial sovereignty depends.