The latest move follows a similar one in January this year, when 10,000 workers were put on furlough because of the supply shortage.

“The currently highly volatile supply situation continues,” said a spokesperson for Audi’s production and logistics. “We therefore needed to adapt to further production adjustments at our plants. For the month of June, we have registered short-time work for approximately 10,000 employees at the German sites. This does not mean that all of them will be in affected by short-time work for 100 percent of the time [but we will] adapt our shifts according to the current supply situation.”

The action will affect two lines at Ingolstadt, which makes the A3, A4 and A5, by the end of May. Audi will also cut production at Neckarsulm, which makes the A4, A5 Cabriolet, A6, A7 and A8.

At the same time the carmaker said it was working around the clock to minimise the impact of the global semiconductor shortage on its production.