Automaker Nissan adjusts production schedules in US, Mexico as chip shortage persists

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Nissan Motor Corp is adjusting production schedules at assembly plants in the US and Mexico as the global shortage of semiconductors lingers.

In the US, the company will run a regular production schedule of five days per week and eight hours per day for Lines 1 and 2 at its plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Production had been temporarily suspended at the plant, which produces the Murano, Pathfinder, QX60, Rogue, Maxima and LEAF models.

The Canton assembly plant in Mississippi will continue to run Line 1 at a reduced production schedule of four days per week, eight hours per day in June. The plant produces the Titan and Frontier models.

Line 2, which produces the Altima, will run the first week of June, with the weeks of 7 June, 14 June and 21 June scheduled as non-production weeks.

At plants in Mexico, the automaker plans to pause production at the Aguascalientes Plant 1 for seven days in June, and Plant 2 for one day. At the Morelos plant, production will pause for seven days in June because of the microchip shortage.

Semiconductors are key components in the production of autos as they are used to control the engine, antilock brakes, power steering, fuel-monitoring system and heating and air conditioning.

A global shortage of the chips arose as economies began to reopen from coronavirus lockdowns, which led to a surge in demand.

In response to the chip shortage, other automakers recently have extended production cuts.

The automotive industry is a major consumer of petrochemicals, which contributes more than a third of the raw material costs of an average vehicle.

Polymers used in automobiles include polypropylene (PP), polyurethanes, nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), polycarbonate (PC) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR).

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