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Chipmakers warn AI demand is creating bottlenecks in automotive supply chain

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Surging investments in advanced computing are pushing foundries to abandon mature manufacturing technologies in favor of higher-margin artificial intelligence hardware. Consequently, the automotive sector is facing mounting supply constraints for essential commodity semiconductors that serve high-volume needs. Tilger noted that while capacity is absorbed by data centers, legacy investments in basic components have lagged for years. In response, STMicroelectronics is utilizing its internal manufacturing footprint and targeted capital expenditures to shield its operations from outsourced bottlenecks.

Key points

  • The automotive industry is suffering heavy disruptions due to capacity reallocation towar…: The automotive industry is suffering heavy disruptions due to capacity reallocation toward artificial intelligence data centers.
  • Long-term underinvestment in legacy semiconductor manufacturing has exacerbated shortages…: Long-term underinvestment in legacy semiconductor manufacturing has exacerbated shortages of basic electronic components.
  • Maintaining an internal manufacturing footprint allows certain chipmakers to better shiel…: Maintaining an internal manufacturing footprint allows certain chipmakers to better shield their operations from third-party foundry constraints.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Tilger said some competitors had shifted capacity away from the commodity semiconductors supplied by Nexperia, creating bottlenecks in parts of the automotive supply chain.

"The automotive industry is suffering at the moment quite heavily," he said in an interview.

STMicroelectronics CEO Jean-Marc Chery warned on Monday that foundries and chip-packaging companies were increasingly shifting resources away from products used in automotive and industrial applications.

"We see many bottlenecks," Chery said at a CEO panel ahead of the conference on Monday.

The comments add to evidence that the AI investment boom is creating bottlenecks elsewhere in the semiconductor supply chain, as manufacturers prioritise higher-margin products linked to data centres and artificial intelligence.

Some foundries and assembly and packaging firms that previously served a broad range of customers "are disengaging ... from mainstream technology", he said.

Tilger said demand from AI data centres and robotics was absorbing capacity, while investment in the mature technologies used for diodes, transistors and other basic components had lagged for years.

Nexperia specialises in high-volume, low-cost semiconductors used primarily in vehicles and industrial equipment. Unlike larger rivals…

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