Jaguar Suspends Production at 2 UK Units on Chip Shortage, Supply-Chain Disruptions

Semiconductors supply gets hindered due to Covid-19

Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover UK has temporarily suspended production from its two factories in Britain, following a shortage of computer chips and supply-chain disruptions due to Covid-19.

JLR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Motors, has halted production at Castle Bromwich and Halewood plants, while manufacturing at its third plant at Solihull will continue unhindered.

Supply chain disruption

“Jaguar Land Rover UK, like other automotive manufacturers, is currently experiencing some Covid-19 supply chain disruption, including the global availability of semi-conductors, which is having an impact on its production schedules and ability to meet global demand for some of their vehicles,” Tata Motors said in a stock exchange notice on Thursday.

“As a result, JLR has adjusted production schedules for certain vehicles which means that the Castle Bromwich and Halewood manufacturing plants will be operating a limited period of non-production from Monday, April 26, 2021. Manufacturing continues at the Solihull plant,” it added.

JLR is working closely with affected suppliers to resolve the issues and minimise the impact on customer orders wherever possible, it added.

Industries across the world have been facing a shortage of semi-conductors, which apart from the automobile industry is also expected to hit production of mobile phones and electronic items such as TVs, computers and laptops.

The auto industry has been one of the worst affected. Ford on Thursday extended shutdowns at five US plants. Earlier this week, Daimler slashed working hours in Germany due to lower production, while Renault warned that the situation would deteriorate.