In all seriousness, after the COVID-19 thing, the JIT manufacturing people didn’t start stockpiling this stuff or at least obtaining alternate sources?

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) issued an urgent warning on Wednesday saying its members, which include BMW, Fiat, Peugeot and Volkswagen, were now working on “reserve stocks but supplies are dwindling”.

“Assembly line stoppages might only be days away. We urge all involved to redouble their efforts to find a diplomatic way out of this critical situation,” said its director general, Sigrid de Vries.

Another ACEA member, Mercedes, is now searching globally for alternative sources of the crucial semiconductors, according to its chief executive, Ola Källenius.

We had to face this exact problem, automakers blowing up due to lack of reliable chip supply, like five years ago and automakers went running for state support and didn’t get it hammered out then?

kagis

Looks like it’s not just European auto manufacturers, either:

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/10/u-s-auto-plants-could-shut-down-in-a-few-weeks-due-to-chip-shortage/

U.S. auto plants could face major production slowdowns within weeks as a deepening conflict between China and Western nations over semiconductors threatens to disrupt global supply chains. The issue first came to light earlier this month, as GM Authority reported previously.

As reported by Bloomberg, the situation stems from Beijing’s decision to block chipmaker Nexperia from exporting components from its China-based facilities following the Dutch government’s move to seize control of the Chinese-owned company. According to the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, or MEMA, the largest vehicle supplier group in the United States, manufacturers could begin feeling “significant impacts” in as little as two to four weeks if the issue persists.

EDIT:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–2023_global_chip_shortage

Between 2020 and 2023, there was a worldwide chip shortage affecting more than 169 industries,[1] which led to major price increases, long queues, and reselling among consumers and manufacturers for automobiles, graphics cards, video game consoles, computers, household appliances, and other consumer electronics that require integrated circuits (commonly called “chips”).[2][3][4]

I mean, come on.