?The onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 significantly disrupted Volkswagen's (VW) supply chain, particularly affecting the production of wiring harnesses—a crucial component in vehicle manufacturing—that were previously sourced from Ukrainian suppliers. In response, VW swiftly relocated the production of these wiring harnesses to alternative locations, notably North Africa and Eastern Europe. ?am-online.com+3fleetnews.co.uk+3Auto World News+3
This strategic move was part of VW's broader efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict. The company faced immediate challenges, including production halts at its German plants due to the interrupted supply of components from Ukraine. By diversifying its supplier base and shifting production to other regions, VW aimed to stabilize its manufacturing processes and maintain vehicle production schedules.?Auto World News+2am-online.com+2Car Dealer Magazine+2
?
The German car maker had already halted production at two electric vehicle (EV) plants in Germany after Russia’s invasion in a move impacting of VW, Audi and Cupra production, as Skoda reduced production of its Enyaq EV at its Czech plant.
But in an update on the progress of the group’s New Auto Strategy, Deiss revealed that a lack of wiring harnesses from Ukraine had overtaken a shortage of semiconductors as the OEM’s major supply concern.