Troubles on the high seas: Stink bugs disrupt Tesla deliveries

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Not exactly a shipwreck. Still, the incident is enough to cause Tesla boss Elon Musk (52) serious, image-damaging and costly problems. And it’s not their fault: thousands of Tesla customers in Australia are currently waiting for their new car.

A cargo ship full of Chinese-made Tesla vehicles was not allowed to enter the port of Brisbane, according to a report by the shipping portal “Trade Winds”. Australian authorities returned the Glovis Caravel cargo ship, owned by Korean logistics company Hyundai Glovis, to Shanghai, China, after waiting for weeks due to biohazard.

biohazard

Cause: Erthesina fullo, German for yellow-spotted stink bug. It is considered a persistent and rapidly multiplying pest for ornamental and fruit plants. Particularly on the island continent of Australia, care is taken to prevent unwanted animal species from being introduced into the country by sea.

An expert in cargo transportation describes the operation as a “disaster”. Logistics company Hyundai Glovis lost 72 days of travel time for the cargo ship. This included a 62-day wait off the coast of Australia and fruitless pest control. The crew eventually had to return to Shanghai, decontaminate the cargo ship, and then sail for Australia via Pyeongtaek in South Korea. In addition to thousands of Tesla Y models, nearly 1,000 new Kia cars are also on board. As a result, not only Australian Tesla customers but also Kia customers have to wait and be patient for the new car they want.

Houthi rebels blow up supply chain

The situation in the Red Sea poses an even more serious problem for Tesla. Due to attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels on international commercial shipping, major shipping companies are currently avoiding the shorter but dangerous trade route via the Suez Canal. Alternatively, they opt for the much longer route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

This causes problems at Tesla’s production site in Grünheide near Berlin (D). “The change in transportation routes is creating a gap in supply chains and we are missing important components,” a Tesla spokesperson said. Therefore, the Berlin Gigafactory will suspend vehicle production from January 29 to February 11, except for a few areas.

Source: Blick