The Global Semiconductor Chip Shortage Crisis and Its Effects on the Automotive Industry

About 1.38 Million Fewer Units Were Produced in Q1 2021 due to Shutdowns and Production Slowdowns Arising from the Chip Shortage. The Situation Could Worsen, and Production is Likely to Reduce by a Further 2.40 Million Units in Q2 2021

The rising trend of the electrification of vehicles has increased automakers’ dependency on semiconductor chips, making them a critical component in new-gen cars. Toward the end of 2020, the global shortage of semiconductor chips forced many OEMs to temporarily suspend vehicle production or reduce the working shifts in their factories. Leading OEMs such as Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, and Nissan were among the few to adjust their factory operations. Substantial investments are being made in the semiconductor industry on a global scale; this is being done to ramp-up semiconductor chip production to meet the growing demand from the auto industry and to strengthen local production.

This study provides an overview of the global automotive semiconductor chip industry; examines chip manufacturers and the role they play in this industry; and analyzes the ongoing chip shortage crisis. The study elucidates the key issues that auto OEMs face pertaining to chip demand and supply. It also examines the current state of the market and discusses market participants’ plans to adapt to the changes in technology, particularly in terms of chip dependence, system design, and supply chains.

By providing a comprehensive overview of the industry from multiple perspectives, this research service seeks to:

• Capture the current market scenario
• Identify the major manufacturers and consumers of chips
• Understand the chip shortage crisis and how can it be solved
• Comprehend and analyze the current scale and effects of the crisis
• Identify OEM risk mitigation strategies and best practices

From an automotive and transportation standpoint, this study provides a global outlook of the ongoing crisis and analyzes its impact on OEMs, Tier I companies, and semiconductor manufacturers.

This study takes a deep dive into the auto chip ecosystem and the best practices adopted by some OEMs to deal with the crisis; it also recommends risk mitigation strategies to handle future crises.

Key Issues Addressed

• What is the current state of the industry/market?
• Which factors and trends are fueling the auto chip shortage and leading to an industry-wide crisis?
• What is the extent of the impact on the various stakeholders in the value chain?
• Who are the major semiconductor chip suppliers?
• What strategies are the leading OEMs following, that is, the ones least impacted by the ongoing chip shortage?