![[대한민국 희망 프로젝트] Vehicle semiconductor disruption](https://img.etnews.com/photonews/2103/1390120_20210305152717_185_0002.jpg "[대한민국 희망 프로젝트] Vehicle semiconductor disruption")
” style=”cursor:pointer;” itemprop=”image”/># The disruption in the supply and demand of automotive semiconductors is becoming a big issue in the automotive market. Vehicle semiconductors are devices that control various systems so that the vehicle can drive itself or move with electricity. Semiconductors must be installed for passengers to move comfortably and safely inside the vehicle. It is expected that automotive semiconductors will need more over time. Let’s find out what these semiconductors are, why the recent lack of semiconductors for vehicles and what efforts Korea is making to solve this problem.
Q. What is a vehicle semiconductor?
Today, people often say that’cars are electronics’. Existing cars ran with oil, but these days they are running fast on the road by charging batteries like electronic devices.
High-level information and communication technologies that can be applied to electronic devices are sometimes applied. This technology is essential for the realization of’autonomous driving’ technology in which the car moves by itself.
Therefore, completely new parts and software are required in the vehicle as well. Can you feel your car changing like a giant smartphone?
” style=”cursor:pointer;” itemprop=”image”/>Automotive semiconductors are literally chips that go into vehicles.
These chips play a significant role in enabling the future automotive technology. From the application processor (AP) that controls the movement of the car like the brain of our body, the various sensors that collect information on the road, the graphic processing unit (GPU) that converts it into various driving data, the power semiconductor that properly adjusts the amount of power in the vehicle, and the vehicle Various chips are hidden inside the car, including communication chips that can communicate with each other.
In addition, as artificial intelligence (AI) technology and infotainment technology that simultaneously delivers information and enjoyment are becoming more important, more semiconductors are expected to be needed.
According to an actual market research company, the amount of semiconductors required for electric vehicles is expected to increase by nearly double 92% compared to conventional internal combustion vehicles.
” style=”cursor:pointer;” itemprop=”image”/>Accordingly, the size of the automotive semiconductor market is also expected to increase significantly. IHS Markit predicts that the automotive semiconductor market will grow to 66.7 billion dollars by 2026. Another market researcher, KPMG, also predicts that the automotive semiconductor market will grow 6-7% annually, reaching 150 billion to 200 billion dollars in 2040, and this market is quite promising.
Q: Why have semiconductors for vehicles recently become scarce?
A: There are various causes. The biggest reason is the change in the semiconductor market after the coronavirus outbreak. As the number of computers required to create a non-face-to-face environment around the world has increased, as you have taken classes online after the Corona 19 incident, shipments of semiconductors for electronic devices have increased significantly.
Naturally, semiconductor companies that design chips have begun to control production around chips for electronic devices. Relatively, vehicle semiconductor shipments had to decline.
In addition, automakers did not anticipate that the sales of cars frozen by the coronavirus outbreak would rise sharply at the end of the year.
In the meantime, orders from foundry factories that produced chips instead of semiconductor design companies were full, and most factories were producing chips for IT devices, so the remaining automotive semiconductors quickly ran out.
The best solution is to increase the number of factories that can meet demand. But even this is not easy.
Automotive semiconductors are mainly produced at the ‘8-inch foundry’ plant. This plant is a relatively older process than the state-of-the-art 12-inch foundry plant.
Therefore, it is not easy to find new semiconductor equipment to fill the factory. In addition, there is a tendency for foundry plants to prefer the expansion of state-of-the-art 12-inch foundry plants that can make a lot of profit.
While demand is high, the number of services is unlikely to increase, and this situation is expected to continue through the end of this year. It could be longer.
Already, major automakers in the United States and Europe have faced a situation where automotive production cannot proceed as planned due to a lack of automotive semiconductors.
Q: Are domestic automakers also affected?
A: Fortunately, Korea’s leading automobile company, Hyundai Motor Company, is well enduring the automotive semiconductor crisis by securing early inventory.
However, since this problem is appearing around the world, Hyundai Motor Company is also a reality that cannot be free. In addition, Hyundai Motor Company is receiving chips from leading automotive semiconductor companies such as NXP in the Netherlands, Infineon in Germany, and Renesas Semiconductor in Japan, like any other automobile company. Due to the high degree of dependence abroad, they are more exposed to risks.
An industry insider said, “I know that Hyundai Motors is also recognizing the problem and is reviewing production adjustments.”
Q: What kind of efforts are being made in Korea to overcome this problem?
A: The government recently launched the’Future Car-Semiconductor Solidarity and Cooperation Council’ to solve this problem. It was created with the intent of creating an ecosystem that can produce automotive semiconductors in Korea while reducing the dependence of automobile companies on vehicle semiconductors overseas. We are determined to turn crisis into opportunity.
In this council, it is expected that many companies in the automotive semiconductor ecosystem will be able to conduct various collaborative research from semiconductor design to test and mass production.
In addition, it is expected that indigenous automotive semiconductor companies such as Silicon Works, Telechips, Nextchip, Pixel Plus, and VSI will be able to grow further from this situation.
” style=”cursor:pointer;” itemprop=”image”/>◇Future Car-Mobility Revolution: The Future of Business Innovation and Movement brought about by the Automotive Revolution, written by Ji-Hoon Ji and Byung-Jun Kim, published by Medici Media
It is a book written about the’Mobility Revolution’, which is currently receiving the most attention in the global industrial market. The two authors interviewed Silicon Valley and other experts around the world, held symposiums, conducted extensive research, and compiled future mobility data and response manuals. In addition, by analyzing the flow of global companies taking place over the past 20 years and the widespread spread of the mobility revolution, the Korean government, corporations, and individuals’ response strategies are introduced.
” style=”cursor:pointer;” itemprop=”image”/>◇To understand the semiconductor business properly: How semiconductors are made and sold, written by Kang Guchang, published by Jiseongsa
From the latest smartphones to simple home appliances, semiconductors are widely used in everyday life. However, it is true that most people have little or no knowledge of exactly what semiconductors are made of, how they are made, and how the semiconductor industry is structured.
This book is intended for readers who are curious about how semiconductor technology connects to business. Introduces specific details of the semiconductor industry, such as the type of semiconductor business, types of semiconductor companies, and business areas according to the semiconductor business type.
Organizer: Electronic Newspaper Sponsor: Ministry of Education, Korea Education and Research Information Service
Reporter Kang Hae-ryeong [email protected]