Renault’s Megane E-TECH Electric. Photo via @renaultgroup Twitter |
San Diego-based Qualcomm, the world’s biggest supplier of
key semiconductors in mobile phones, has been expanding into vehicles with
chips that can power dashboards and infotainment systems at the same time. The
company earlier this year announced a deal with General Motors Co to use
Qualcomm chips.
Qualcomm said Monday that Renault’s Mégane E-TECH Electric
will use its chips to power the vehicle’s infotainment system using software
from Alphabet Inc’s Google, Qualcomm’s longtime partner in the Android phone
market.
The Mégane E-TECH Electric, unveiled at this month’s IAA
Mobility 2021 in Munich, is expected to go on sale next year. Cristiano Amon,
Qualcomm’s CEO, is slated to speak at the automotive trade show on Wednesday.
As carmakers gathered in Munich on Monday to launch almost
exclusively zero- or low-emission vehicles, an ongoing semiconductor shortage
cast a long shadow over the first major car show since before the pandemic
began.
Forced to shut down plants last year, carmakers now face
increasing competition from the consumer electronics industry for chip
deliveries. That problem has been compounded by a series of supply chain
disruptions during the pandemic.
Cars have become increasingly dependent on chips - for
everything from computer management of engines for better fuel economy to
driver-assistance features such as emergency braking.
Speaking during the launch of a couple of electric vehicles
(EVs) on Sunday evening, Ola Källenius, CEO at premium German carmaker Daimler
AG, said that while the company is hopeful its own supply will improve in the
fourth quarter, soaring demand for chips means the industry could struggle to
source enough of them into 2023 - though the shortage should be less severe by
then.
"Several chip suppliers have been referring to
structural problems with demand," Källenius said. "This could
influence 2022 and (the situation) may be more relaxed in 2023."
Joerg Burzer, head of supply chain at Daimler's carmaking unit Mercedes-Benz, said he was hoping the situation would stabilise in the fourth quarter. "Relaxation will come later." © Reuters
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