Data map: The production line of an automobile factory.

(Photo and text irrelevant) Photo by Zhang Yun

  Zhongxin Finance, April 16 (Ge Cheng) The spring is cold, and the auto industry is not peaceful.

Under the influence of the epidemic, the "suspension tide" of car companies has recently spread, and a tough battle to ensure supply in the automotive industry chain is also underway.

"A car can't be produced without a single part"

  The suspension of production for a few days, the resumption of production for 10 days, and the suspension of production again have been the situation of Tesla's Shanghai factory since March.

The relevant person in charge of Tesla told Zhongxin Finance that Tesla will arrange work at any time in accordance with the government's epidemic prevention policy.

So far, there has been no news of the resumption of work at the Tesla factory.

  In addition, due to the impact of the epidemic, supply chain partners in Jilin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and other places have successively stopped production and have not yet resumed. NIO announced on April 9 that vehicle production has been suspended.

  Different from the situation of "lack of cores" last year, this wheel car company is facing the suspension of production by many parts suppliers, and there is no possibility of missing a certain part for re-installation.

  "One car can't be produced without one part." Li Bin, CEO of Weilai, emphasized when replying to Weilai's suspension of production.

Regarding the time of resumption of production, Zhongxin Finance sent a letter to Weilai, but as of press time, the other party has not responded.

  In addition to new energy car companies such as Tesla and Weilai, many traditional car companies have also been impacted in this round of epidemic.

  A Volkswagen Group spokesman had said that the FAW-Volkswagen Changchun plant was temporarily closed until April 5, and a SAIC-Volkswagen plant was suspended from April 1 to 5.

There is no specific information on when production will resume, which models and which parts are affected.

  On April 14, the tank brand of Great Wall Motors also issued an announcement saying that due to the impact of the epidemic in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Jilin and other places, 8 suppliers and partners involved in the Tank 300 model have stopped work and stopped operations. Production will be suspended from today.

  However, some factories are deployed in advance to reduce the impact of the epidemic.

  Jiang Ning, a senior manager in charge of parts supply at the Lingang Base of SAIC Motor, told Zhongxin Finance that after realizing that the epidemic might affect production, the Lingang Base and suppliers established an epidemic alarm mechanism and provided supplies according to the scope of the epidemic area. Business platoons have carried out rush shipments for suppliers who have been severely affected by the epidemic.

  "In April, automobile production and sales were in an uncertain state. Jilin Province and Shanghai accounted for more than 20% of automobile production. The suspension of production will have an impact on passenger car production and sales." Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the Passenger Car Association, said, "The automobile industry With the characteristics of a long industrial chain and high coordination requirements, the shutdown of core production and logistics bases will have an impact on a wider range.”

  According to data released by the Passenger Federation, in the first quarter of 2022, the cumulative retail sales of automobiles was 4.915 million, a year-on-year decrease of 4.5%, and the overall trend was lower than expected.

"Storm waves" in the auto industry or in May?

  Upstream of vehicle manufacturers, parts and raw material suppliers are also being hit by the epidemic.

  On April 10, Jiaocheng District, where the power battery industry giant Ningde Times is located, issued a notice to implement traffic control on all external passages. Except for point-to-point contactless loading and unloading, closed-loop management trucks and emergency vehicles, all other vehicles are prohibited from passing.

In response to the rumors that the production was suspended due to traffic control, Ningde Times responded that the company has strictly adopted grid management measures to ensure the orderly production of the Ningde base.

Currently not discontinued.

  On April 11, auto parts giant Bosch issued a statement saying that in order to comply with local epidemic prevention and control measures, a factory in Shanghai that produces domestic hot water systems and an auto parts factory in Jilin have suspended production.

"Auto parts factories in Shanghai and Taicang are still operating normally due to the 'closed loop system'."

  The epidemic has impacted the automobile industry chain. As one of the core raw materials of carbon power batteries, lithium carbonate, the price has gradually decreased.

On April 14, the Shanghai Steel Federation's quotation showed that the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate fell by 2,500 yuan / ton to 492,500 yuan / ton, which has fallen below the 500,000 yuan mark.

Previously, due to the "explosion" of new energy vehicles, the price of lithium carbonate has soared.

  A relevant person in charge of a logistics company told Zhongxin Finance that in recent times, the transportation policies in various places have changed rapidly, the uncertainty of the transportation industry has increased significantly, and the closure of expressway exits in some provinces and cities has occurred from time to time, which has caused serious impacts on road transportation. no small impact.

  On April 15, Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer business and smart car BU, also posted in a circle of friends: "If Shanghai cannot resume work and production, after May, all technology and industrial industries involving Shanghai's supply chain will be completely shut down, especially The auto industry." He also said that since mid-April, some companies have begun to stop supply chains due to closures such as Shanghai.

If this continues, the economic loss of the industry will be huge.

  Recently, Xiaopeng Motors CEO He Xiaopeng also said: "If Shanghai and surrounding supply chain companies can't find a way to dynamically resume work and production, all OEMs in China may stop production in May."

  However, he also said that the good news is that some ministries and competent departments are doing their best to coordinate, and he expects the support and joint efforts of more governments and competent departments.

Unblock the logistics and ensure the supply chain to accelerate the "progress"

  Recently, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council issued the "Notice on Effectively Doing a Good Job in Keeping Freight Logistics Safe". The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Post Bureau, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission and other departments have taken measures to speed up the opening of freight traffic jams and ensure the "big arteries". ” smooth.

  According to the data of the Ministry of Transport, according to the summary statistics of data reported by various provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), affected by the epidemic, as of 24:00 on April 14, a total of 396 toll stations were closed on expressways in various provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), accounting for 30% of the total number of toll stations. A total of 140 service areas were closed, accounting for 2.12% of the total number of service areas, a decrease of 224 compared with April 10, a decrease of 61.54%.

  Recently, the official also launched the "Automotive Industry Chain Supply Chain Smooth Coordination Platform".

The Equipment Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that the platform will establish a problem appeal and feedback mechanism for enterprises in the automotive industry chain supply chain to help supply chain enterprises in the automotive industry chain timely feedback problems and solve practical difficulties.

  At the local level, at the press conference on epidemic prevention and control in Jilin Province held on April 13, Zhang Baozong, executive deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, said that Jilin Province, on the basis of ensuring epidemic prevention and safety, supports enterprises to resume work in a safe, orderly and precise manner. To resume production, strengthen communication and coordination with upstream and downstream enterprises, and maintain the stable operation of the industrial chain and supply chain.

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