Semiconductor chip shortages, lingering Covid disruption and spiralling costs continued to weigh on the North East's automotive supply chain industry, new documents show.
A trio of the region's top suppliers to Nissan, among other manufacturers, are yet to regain pre-pandemic revenues as the automotive sector continues to face serious headwinds. Newton Aycliffe's Gestamp Tallent, Washington's Kasai UK and Eaglescliffe-based Nifco have all revealed new financials in recent days.
Chassis maker Gestamp reported a £41.m dip in turnover to £305.1m in the year to the end of December 2021, citing Covid and semiconductor supplies as the major factors for the decline. Directors at the County Durham firm said they expected chip shortages and disruption caused by the war in Ukraine to continue to hamper sales this year, suggesting they would also be below pre-pandemic levels.
