The head of automaker Nissan has warned that the Omicron variant (COVID-19) might increase pressure on an ongoing scarcity of microchips used in vehicle manufacturing.
According to Makoto Uchida, it is too early to predict when regular deliveries, and consequently, completed automobiles, would resume.
“I can’t give you a date. This new variant could add pressure to that, so how well we react is going to be crucial,” he told the BBC.
Computer chips are used in products like cellphones, washing machines, and automobiles.
When the pandemic first surfaced in 2020, certain industries had to close, which caused a backlog in the manufacture of microchips, commonly known as semiconductors.
The effect was made worse by the increase in demand, since individuals who work from home require laptops, tablets, and cameras in order to do their tasks.
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“We have a semiconductor shortage as an industry and how we recover from that is critical,” Mr Uchida told the BBC.
Due to the widespread concern over the omicron strain, which was initially discovered in South Africa, Japan has barred international flights.
Mr. Uchida’s remarks came as Nissan outlined its vehicle electrification plan, which includes the anticipated introduction of 23 electrified models by 2030 and the objective that by 2026, 75% of the company’s European sales will be electric cars.
Nissan had declared a £1 billion commitment to transform its UK facility in Sunderland into a center for the manufacturing of electric vehicles.
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