Port slip leaves 12,000 new cars in Figueruelas countryside (Zaragoza)

This new bottleneck has its origins In the saturation that exists in European anchorages. Transformation of sea routes with the effect of the pandemic that completely changed the world international logistics mapopen a period of uncertainty now. All this while the semiconductor crisis is still in its final throes and with the automobile market turning towards the electric model, the door is knocking.

As the Figuerulas management points out, the usual thing is to release the mounted cars on the day of the final finish or the next day, so they usually stay on the field”Between 2,000 and 3,000″ brand new cars They point out that work is already underway to address this “global” problem.It was stated that “the vehicle does not depart because there is no exit at the port”.

In any case, ‘overbooking’ is not specific to the Zaragoza factory or any other Spanish factory. The tension in the logistics chain is global: France’s largest Stellantis factory, located in Sochaux, also had to use their imagination to assemble all the vehicles they assembled, as it was impossible to get out by sea or by train. And at the Villaverde factory in Madrid, The group led by Carlos Tavares As of December 23, it will remove one of its night shifts, which would mean the cancellation of 300 direct contracts.

The launch of the automotive production assembled in Zaragoza, Ports of Barcelona, ​​Tarragona, Valencia, Pasajes, Santander, Vigo and Lisbon. exactly tarragon (mostly used by the Volkswagen brand) confirms that the problem is not just in the Stellantis group. It is a crisis principle that worries the entire automotive world.

In addition, according to sources close to the Aragon logistics sector, they believe that the problem will settle down in the coming months and that they can continue their profession of permanence. They say from the industry that “it is said that the plug will not be solved until the second half of 2023”. The lack of drivers in heavy transport and a growing wound in logistics that seem to be unable to be resolved in a short time lies at the basis of the fact that the fields of automobile factories are full. International Road Transport Organization (IRU), truck driver vacancies 40% at the end of the year: Last year there were 425,000 unfilled driver positions across Europe. This tension in the logistics chain is transmitted to ports, shipping companies and finally to vehicle factories. However, Stellantis emphasizes that more than half of our production goes directly from the factory to the train-related ports.

Line 1 will reduce production speed

The Figueruelas factory is facing this new challenge as the semiconductor crisis is still in its final throes and days before new collective bargaining negotiations begin. Management and the works council are immersed in a new live business conversation to face the ups and downs in production volume. A new meeting took place yesterday between both parties, where the company presented offers and counter-offers. The final decision for the postponement, which will take effect from January 1, 2023, will be made on Monday. Until 31 December, this will provide management flexibility

In addition, the management informed the committee of its intention to reduce the production of line 1 (the line combining Opel Crossland and Citroën C3 Aircross) by almost 50%. A measure to affect workers on B-shift. In this way, the line would increase from 51 vehicle assembly to 32 vehicles per hour., something that worries some unions because of possible “saturation, changes in working methods and overstaffing”. In this framework, a permanent agreement should be reached that will accept salary and shift flexibility as the main workforce.