Subaru Getting Super Screwed By Semiconductor Shortage

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

The global semiconductor shortage has been particularly hard on Western automakers, though it’s not been peaches and cream for Asian brands. Following news that Nissan had run into issues resulting in additional downtime this summer, we’ve learned that Subaru is currently operating with a scant, nine-day supply of product and will be required to conduct more plant closures due to a lack of chips.

Having already stalled its Yajima plant on multiple occasions, as well enacting work stoppages at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (its U.S. facility), this is hardly where the brand wanted to find itself going into the warmer months. On Friday, Subaru announced it would be idling two plants in Japan’s Gunma prefecture this July.

That means Yajima is going down for a third time on July 16th, along with the repurposed Ōta facility that used to build kei cars for the Asian market. Ōta is now responsible for BRZ/Toyota 86, while Yajima handles basically every other passenger vehicle the company makes. Subaru has not confirmed how long the idle period would last, though identified the problem as a supply issue pertaining to semiconductor chips.

The good news is that this doesn’t appear to have impacted other factories, with its engine/transmission facility and commercial vehicle plant both remaining active (for now). Still, it was looking at an incredibly thin nine-day supply of vehicles at the end of May and appears to be going into the summer production schedule in less than stellar shape. It might soon become incredibly difficult to find a new Subaru, let alone one configured to your tastes.

The company said it would need to revise production estimates due to the supply issue, according to Reuters. Part of that will undoubtedly be deciding which markets receive preferential treatment. The Gunma plants export globally and it’s unlikely that every nation is going to see their usual allotment of cars. Some regions might see massive shortfalls to be made up later, though it’s likely impossible that any singular market will avoid the associated pricing increases.

That problem is hardly unique to Subaru or the automotive industry in general, however.

[Image: Subaru]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Conundrum Conundrum on Jun 21, 2021

    Everyone seems to keep forgetfing that a fire shut down the Renesas chip making facility in Japan back in March. They had a third of the world market for automotive chips, so their lack of production was bound to hit Japanese automakers. When you search for how well Renesas has recovered and rebuilt since then, you get reports all the way from 88% to who knows. Supposedly they should be back fully back in business by early July. But there's no chance they can fill the black hole of shortages or come close. Me, I'm more inclined to think the drought in the Western US will soon have more ramifications than chip shortages. As in there will be fresh food shortages and Las Vegas will boil. There's been a history of megadroughts in the region, But there's way more people living there and elsewhere since the last time. Plus aquifers have been drained with abandon. Let's see the free market or any other kind fix that.

    • See 1 previous
    • RHD RHD on Jun 22, 2021

      If the free market could build a water pipeline from the Mississippi River to California, that problem would have a sweet solution. California has plenty of solar electricity - both potential and realized - so the companies that build oil pipelines could do something both profitable and beneficial.

  • Bill Wade Bill Wade on Jun 21, 2021

    I took my 2018 VW Sportwagen in for a oil change. The sales manager asked me if I wanted to sell it. He offered me $1,000 more than they sold it to me new. I called my brother for a ride home.

    • ToolGuy ToolGuy on Jun 22, 2021

      @Corey Lewis are you listening? :-) [When life offers you a Mulligan, you should almost always take it.]

  • B-BodyBuick84 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport of course, a 7 seater, 2.4 turbo-diesel I4 BOF SUV with Super-Select 4WD, centre and rear locking diffs standard of course.
  • Corey Lewis Think how dated this 80s design was by 1995!
  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
  • Merc190 A CB7 Accord with the 5 cylinder
  • MRF 95 T-Bird Daihatsu Copen- A fun Kei sized roadster. Equipped with a 660cc three, a five speed manual and a retractable roof it’s all you need. Subaru Levorg wagon-because not everyone needs a lifted Outback.
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