In relation to semiconductors other than automotive, Renesas is said to be attempting to expand into fields such as power and IoT by acquiring Dialog Semiconductor.

Currently, automotive semiconductor companies are continuing their fab-lite strategy for MCUs and fine processes that are experiencing serious supply and demand imbalances. Renesas has announced plans to strengthen its fab-lite strategy for fine process products below 40 nm to maximize profitability, and it has been analyzed that other automotive semiconductor companies are also continuing their existing fab-lite strategy.

Meanwhile, automakers are responding by changing their semiconductor supply chain management practices and consolidating and integrating semiconductors.

Ford is planning a strategic partnership with GlobalFoundries to vertically integrate its technology, while GM plans to collaborate with automotive semiconductor companies such as NXP, Qualcomm, and TSMC to meet growing demand for semiconductors.

Additionally, it was analyzed that many automakers, including Hyundai Motor Company, Toyota, Tesla, and Volkswagen, are pursuing internalization of semiconductors, and are pursuing a change from the Just-in-Time (JIT) method, which reduces costs by minimizing inventory within the automaker, to a supply chain management method that reduces dependence on Tier 1 and directly manages key components.

As efforts continue to redesign electrical and electronic functional structures (architectures) to reduce the number of semiconductors and use general-purpose semiconductors, the trend is toward integration and concentration centered on a small number of high-performance semiconductors.

Tesla, Volkswagen, and Nissan are securing supply flexibility by replacing custom chips with general-purpose chips through SW redesign, GM plans to reduce diversity by 95% by consolidating its current semiconductors into three product groups, and Stellantis is forming a new semiconductor product group with Foxconn. We plan to develop four types and replace 80% of chip demand.

Senior Researcher Jang Hong-chang stated, “Unlike other automotive components, semiconductors are subject to a pre-order priority system, so a shift in ordering methods is necessary. Furthermore, it is necessary to secure SW capabilities to respond to the accelerated transition to power semiconductor materials and to prepare for architectural changes.”