The comment comes after the automaker said a parts shortages would cost it 14,000 vehicles in lost production in December.

Mazda will suspend production at its two domestic factories for two days in April as factors including a rise in COVID-19 cases in China cause supply disruptions.

The automaker this month will suspend output at all but one plant in North America — putting more pressure on dealers with historically low inventories.

Mercedes, which did not disclose the location of Envision's new U.S. cell factory, also flipped the switch on a new battery assembly plant located on 270 acres near its vehicle factory.

For 2022, the IHS Markit light-vehicle production forecast was cut by 9.3 percent, or about 8.4 million vehicles.

CEO Ola Källenius, speaking during the company's opening of its first U.S. EV battery factory, also affirmed the company's 2022 financial outlook remained in place despite the conflict.

Suppliers representing 90 percent of the automaker's purchasing volume will supply CO2-neutral parts.

Toyota Motor North America's announced plans to build a battery plant may require the Japanese automaker to build another assembly plant in the U.S.