This is obviously a detail in relation to the human drama experienced by Ukrainian men and women, but the automobile industry is also beginning to feel the effects of the war. Most manufacturers in these regions have ended – temporarily? – to their activities in Russia. Some like Volvo, Jaguar-Land Rover, Ford or General Motors (Chevrolet, Cadillac) announced it publicly. But all other European and American brands are forced to do so as well due to the economic sanctions decided by the European Union and the United States. On the side of Japanese manufacturers, Toyota has shut down its plant in Saint Petersburg. And Honda, Mazda and Nissan have also put their operations on hold.
The effects are also felt across borders. BMW, Volkswagen, Skoda, Porsche, Mercedes, and probably others who are sure to add to this list have been forced to suspend production at their Czech and German factories. These brands are in fact supplied with electrical wiring from suppliers in western Ukraine, whose installations are obviously at a standstill.
The conflict also has a negative impact on the market value of Groupe Renault. Russia is indeed the second market of the French manufacturer, also owner of the national manufacturer Lada.
This is in any case a new blow for the automotive industry, already heavily impacted by shortages of semiconductors. This significantly extends production and delivery times, which are already extremely long.