The latest numbers on the microchip shortage: Europe down by 13,000 vehicles

Auto plants in Europe will cut their production schedules by 13,000 vehicles this week because of microchip shortages, but the industry is showing clear signs that it is slowly climbing out of the global supply line crisis that began in early 2020.

Factories in North America, China and South America made no chip-related schedule changes this week, according to estimates from AutoForecast Solutions, which has tracked the problem worldwide for three years. Factories in the Middle East and Africa are cutting almost 4,600 vehicles.

But according to the forecast, by the end of this year, North American factories will have to drop 400,000 more vehicles due to the lack of microchips.