Will Fire Cause Audi A4, A5 Shortage in U.S.?

CARS.COM — You might have read that production for Audi’s four-door A4 and two-door A5 has been suspended at a plant in Germany until March 31 — the result of a “major fire” at an insulation supplier, Audi confirmed today. But a spokesman told Cars.com he expects the suspension won’t affect U.S. sales, so barring a larger-than-expected disruption, Audi shoppers can keep calm and test-drive on.

Related: 2017 Audi A4 Allroad: Our View

Audi said the fire occurred at Pelzer, an automotive supplier that makes bulkhead insulation for the A4 and A5. The affected assembly plant in Ingolstadt, Germany, is the brand’s largest; Reuters reports it cranks out some 1,400 A4s and A5s per day. The good news? U.S. supply doesn’t all come from Ingolstadt. Audi also builds stateside-bound A4s and A5s in Neckarsulm, Germany, and production there is unaffected.

“We are working intensively with our supplier to find a quick solution and have already initiated alternative supply possibilities,” Audi said in a statement to Cars.com.

Citing Neckarsulm’s unaffected production, spokesman Mark Clothier added that “there is no impact on deliveries to U.S. customers.”

Even if there were a minor disruption, current inventory should sustain availability. As of this morning, Cars.com new-car inventory had about 4,600 A4/S4 sedans and 1,200 A5/S5 coupes and convertibles. That’s a reasonable amount, as luxury sedans of similar popularity go, so the delay shouldn’t spawn a sudden shortage anytime soon. Of course, that could change if the suspension drags on longer than expected, so stay tuned.