Tuesday, November 09, 2021
By Manoj Kumawat
Magnesium Shortage: Not A Big Issue for Car Makers At Present
After the global shortage of semiconductor chips, carmakers throughout the world are now struggling with the problem of t shortage in the supply of magnesium. However, according to them, this problem is not as severe as the shortage of chips. With this, they also warn that a decline in the supply of magnesium from China, if not improved in the coming months will affect the production of cars. Although the car manufacturers do not directly buy the magnesium it is highly purchased by the suppliers of the raw materials. The suppliers of raw materials use the combination of magnesium and aluminium to minimize the weight of cars.
The lightweight of vehicles helps in improving the average of electronic vehicles. The shortage of chip supply has already extended the waiting period for the new cars. If the supply of magnesium is not improved in the coming months, the duration of the waiting period can extend more than a year.
According to auto manufacturing companies like BMW and Stellantis, they do not feel that the shortage of magnesium will immediately affect the auto industry. On the other side, Murat Aksel, Purchasing Head, Volkswagen, "We cannot forecast right now if the shortage on magnesium, which will happen definitely according to planning, will be bigger than the semiconductor shortage".
In the words of Teresa Schad, Spokesperson of, German Metal Association, “ It’s the calm before the storm”. It would be interesting to know that Germany’s major auto parts manufacturer ZF, said that it is looking for new sources of supplying the magnesium from other countries.
