Auto industry braces for ‘weeks of disruption’ after bridge collapse

By JAMES BIKALES | Politico

The auto industry is bracing for supply chain disruptions as a result of the bridge collapse in Baltimore on Tuesday that shut down the busiest port for automobile shipments in the United States.

The Port of Baltimore indefinitely suspended shipping traffic after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Experts and industry officials said the impacts on the auto sector could be significant, leading to shipping delays and constrained availability — though not on the scale of those seen during the pandemic.

Ford and General Motors both said Tuesday they would need to divert shipments to other ports during the closure. John Bozzella, president and CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents most major automakers, said in a statement that “there will certainly be a disruption” to the industry, though it is too early to determine the precise impacts.

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