The global chip shortage situation has taken on a new development vector – disappointing for the auto industry, however. As we remember, the crisis of microchips, which has been going on for about a year, was exacerbated by the events of February this year, and in the spring there was an acute shortage of microchips in the global market. In June, however, the situation changed drastically.
High inflation, new COVID-19 restrictions in China and developments in Ukraine have significantly reduced consumer demand – especially for smartphones and computers. By this time, manufacturers had managed to accumulate huge reserves of microelectronics in warehouses – the practice of the first waves of the pandemic, when components were bought “in reserve”, affected.
Now manufacturers are using these stocks, and some – for example US Micron – are even declaring a reduction in production, writes BFM.ru citing Reuters. Will it save the auto industry? Experts think not.
The fact is that the above microchips have a high degree of integration. They are used in processors, RAM, flash memory used in computers and smartphones. And microcircuits with a lesser degree of integration – microcontrollers, power components, etc. – that occupy 85% of the market and are mainly used in automobiles are still not on the market.
Reconfiguring factories that make complex electronics to produce “simple” isn’t profitable, as a part produced on a high-tech line will inevitably go from relatively cheap to quite expensive, the source continues.
Experts see a way out in the reuse of already used chips – a similar practice is now being implemented by Sberbank for bank cards. With regard to the car industry, however, there are also pitfalls here: manufacturability, which means that the feasibility of this method is quite low.
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