The German group will be part of forces with the Franco-Italian semiconductor producer STMicroelectronics to develop its personal digital chips.
Like the vast majority of producers, if not all, the Volkswagen group is going through a scarcity of semiconductors, in a context the place automobiles are increasingly technological and, subsequently, increasingly geared up with these chips. electronics (SoC for system on a chip) have grow to be indispensable.
Automakers at the moment are depending on many (principally Asian) semiconductor corporations, and the scarcity is not simply within the auto sector. That of smartphones, TVs, sport consoles… All sectors are affected and are going through manufacturing difficulties, even when the strain appears to scale back barely.
Volkswagen takes the bull by the horns
To deal with the scarcity of semiconductors, which may final till 2024 based on the German group, Volkswagen needs to manage its provide chain and has simply teamed up with Franco-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics. The 2 corporations will thus co-develop tailored chips and, in the long run, the German group will now not be depending on different corporations.
Cariad, the software program subsidiary of Volkswagen, stated final Could that it might companion with chipmaker Qualcomm for the event of its future software program associated to autonomous driving. Do not forget that Cariad is at present in turmoil with quite a few delays, which can trigger main upheavals within the launch schedule of sure Volkswagen group producers, specifically Audi, Porsche and Bentley.
Even when no figures have leaked regarding this settlement, STMicroelectronics will grow to be one in every of Volkswagen’s foremost technological companions and undoubtedly one of the crucial vital given the present context.
A chip particular to Volkswagen, like at Tesla
Cariad and STMicro will even design a brand new chip devoted to the Volkswagen group. This can then be produced by the foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm (TSMC). STMicro’s press launch states that ” the usage of a typical {hardware} structure will enable CARIAD consultants to develop a single primary software program for all digital management items (ECU), thus considerably lowering the extent of complexity and improvement occasions“.
A good suggestion, when you realize the exceptional delay taken by Volkswagen and its subsidiary Cariad within the improvement of the software program a part of the model’s future electrical automobiles and which led to the hasty departure of the boss of the German group. Tesla fared higher than its rivals in the course of the semiconductor disaster exactly as a result of the corporate designs its personal chips and may subsequently modify them to hunt out different suppliers in report time.
“With the cooperation of ST and TSMC, we’re actively shaping our complete semiconductor provide chain”stated Murat Aksel, Volkswagen’s buying supervisor. “We’re guaranteeing the manufacturing of the precise chips we want for our automobiles and securing the availability of semiconductors for years to come back. »
Nonetheless, the scarcity of semiconductors nonetheless weighs on the automotive market, the place gross sales have collapsed in latest months. To make up for this lack of volumes, producers favor the manufacturing of dearer and subsequently extra worthwhile fashions to generate enough income and thus compensate for the lack of volumes.
Inspired by monetary help from the state, the American GlobalFoundries goes to construct a chip manufacturing plant close to Grenoble, in partnership with the Franco-Italian producer STMicroelectronics, already established close by.
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