The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), representing industry giants such as Volkswagen, Stellantis, Peugeot, and BMW, has issued an urgent warning that factories are running out of chip supplies and could face production shutdowns within days. The association is calling on European governments to find an immediate solution to the crisis triggered by China’s ban on exports of chips produced by Nexperia.
Experts warn that this situation could also affect the automotive industry in Serbia, which is closely linked to European manufacturers through ownership structures and the production of auto parts.
Professor Dušan Marković from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade said that if the issue is not resolved soon, the already weak demand for cars could be further worsened by production halts due to a shortage of components.
“We already experienced a similar crisis after the pandemic when there was a global chip shortage. If this problem persists, we can certainly expect a decline in vehicle production across the EU. This would inevitably affect Serbia as well, since many of our companies are suppliers to European automakers,” Marković explained.
He pointed to Leoni as an example, noting that some shifts were suspended after a cyberattack disrupted production at Jaguar Land Rover in the United Kingdom.
“If production drops there, it’s only logical that Serbian suppliers will have less work,” he added.
The potential impact on Serbia’s domestic car industry also depends on the current chip reserves of Stellantis, which owns the car manufacturing plant in Kragujevac.
