The semiconductor crisis, which is experiencing its most acute phase in this second quarter, puts a strain on Elon Musk’s resourcefulness. Tesla’s founder and CEO is devising new strategies to avoid manufacturing bottlenecks. Forced stops of the lines – which are the victims of almost all brands to varying degrees, among those that have suffered less are Toyota and BMW – which according to the estimates of the consulting firm Alix Partners will lead to a decline of 3 in 2021, 9 million vehicles produced (the forecast was 2.2 million in January) and lost revenues of 110 billion dollars. Fitch Ratings expects a 5% decline in estimated revenues for 2021, again well over $ 100 billion.
That’s why the Californian manufacturer plans to prepay for chips to secure supplies of crucial materials to overcome the global semiconductor shortage, the Financial Times reported, citing informed people. The electric car maker is also considering buying or building a plant to produce the chips directly in-house. An operation that could cost dearly, up to 20 billion dollars, and which for this reason is not considered possible by analysts, also due to the objective technical difficulties it poses.
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The fire in the Gigafactory in Germany
Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday starting from the electrical cables that connect the Tesla factory under construction near Berlin, from memsi object of controversy for the accumulated delays (production was to start in July) due to the opposition from environmental groups. The act was claimed by a far left group. “We cut the power supply to the Tesla Gigafactory construction site in Grünheide, near Berlin, on the night between 25 and 26 May 2021, setting fire to six high-voltage cables laid on the surface”, is written in the claim that appeared on the site far-left web Indymedia. “Tesla is neither green, nor ecological nor social, our focus is against the lies of the green car,” said the group that signs the document and which is called “Vulkangruppe”.
According to investigators, who were already investigating for arson, the claim is credible. Vulkangruppe has claimed responsibility for several arson attacks in the recent past.