Hyundai Motor Asan factory suspended due to chip shortage

Cars are parked at Hyundai Motor's Asan factory in South Chungcheong back in April waiting for deliveries. [NEWS1]

Hyundai Motor will suspend its Asan factory in South Chungcheong for two days starting Sept. 9 due to an auto chip shortage.

The suspension may be extended if the supply issue is not resolved within two days.

The latest supply issue is expected to have derived from the breakout of the coronavirus Delta variant in Southeast Asia, where major chip manufacturers including Infineon Technologies, NXP and Renesas have their manufacturing facilities.

Hyundai Motor's Asan factory also halted production for a month from July 13 to Aug. 8 to revamp the facilities for the manufacturing of electric vehicles.

The Asan factory is responsible for manufacturing some 300,000 units of vehicles per year, including Sonata and Grandeur sedans.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]