Vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 and 2 component manufacturers should avoid severing relationships with businesses further down their supply chains and look for ways to support them on the way to recovery. Doing so could give them a competitive advantage as the pandemic starts to subside.
As OEMs in Europe prepare to re-start production, those with access to suppliers that are ready to ship will have the upper hand. With parts starting to flow from China again and Tier 1 and 2 component manufacturers gearing up too, concerns are growing that some smaller suppliers may not be able to mobilise without significant support.
