The Auto Supply Squeeze: One Weak Link Can Stop the Line

In this episode, we take a clear look at supplier stress: one-fifth of automotive suppliers are already struggling financially, with tariffs and specialty material constraints that could push more over the edge. With vehicles built from hundreds of globally sourced parts, a single failure at the tier-two or tier-three level can halt assembly lines. That ripple effect quickly reaches buyers—lean inventories tighten, used car prices rise, and shopping feels like the pandemic all over again. We explain why re-shoring is slow, why just-in-time leaves no slack, and how contract pressure on suppliers fuels uncertainty you’ll feel at the showroom.