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the world's big carmakers are waking up to an uncomfortable truth.
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When there is a shortage off silicon chips, as there is right now, they lose out to big tech.
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Major brands, including Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors have all had to cut output as semiconductors run short, about $800 off silicon goes into a modern electric vehicle.
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The industry as a whole spends about $40 billion on chips every year.
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But right now the silicon is being swept up by makers, off smartphones and other consumer electron ICS.
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They're enjoying a boom in demand from consumers stuck at home, and chip makers prefer Apple, Sony and the like.
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As customers, they spend mawr and by MAWR Advanced semiconductors.
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One tech analyst told Reuters that Apple spends more on chips than the entire auto industry.
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German carmakers persuaded the country's economy minister to press Taiwan for action on chip supplies, but with little apparent result.
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Chipmakers complain that car firms don't understand their business.
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One told Reuters and auto firm had suggested it run a night shift to increase output, not realizing that 24 hour production was the norm anyway.
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Now, in Finney, on the biggest supplier off chips to the car industry will commission a new plant this year.
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But Asian semiconductor foundries continue to give priority to big tech analysts at HHS market estimate that leaves production off a million vehicles at risk in the first quarter.