Skoda pauses production due to semi-conductor shortage

Skoda is the latest manufacturer to be impacted by the global chip shortage, with the Czech brand looking to cut back or pause production.

Affecting a wide range of manufacturers from Toyota to parent company Volkswagen, the semi-conductor situation may force Skoda to reduce production numbers until the end of 2021.

As first reported by Reuters, Skoda has confirmed it will "significantly reduce or even halt" from October 18 through to the end of the year as it catches up with semi-conductor supply.

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While it had previously anticipated 1.3 million vehicles to roll off its Czech production lines throughout 2021, the pause could reduce this number to around 1.15 million – roughly the same as its efforts in COVID-affected 2020.

"Not even Skoda Auto is able to avoid this global crisis," said Tomas Koter, Skoda Europe's spokesperson.

Despite one quarter of the year still remaining, Skoda has already surpassed its previous best sales record in Australia, notching up 7745 units sold to the end of September 2021, eclipsing the 4534 vehicles at the same point last year and its 12-month high of 7001 in 2019.