Nikola Corporation (NKLA)

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Chipmaker Xilinx says car supply crunch goes beyond semiconductors
Shortage of other inputs also poses uncertainty for rosy 2021 growth outlook
February 4, 2021 12:39 JST

TAIPEI -- U.S. chipmaker Xilinx has warned that the supply crunch affecting the auto industry will not be quickly resolved, saying problems extend beyond semiconductor manufacturing to supplies of other materials and components.

Victor Peng, Xilinx president and CEO, told Nikkei Asia in an interview that he hoped a serious shortage would not be prolonged but pointed to constraints in other parts of the supply chain.

"[It] is not just wafers in the foundries. Chip-packaging substrates are also a challenge. It's [also] getting to the point that other kinds of discrete components are somewhat of a challenge," said Peng. Xilinx is a key supplier to many carmakers, including Subaru and Daimler.

Peng said he hoped the shortage would not last for the whole year and that Xilinx is doing its best to meet customers' needs.


Geopolitics -- and the tech war between the U.S. and China -- could also be a concern to Xilinx. China accounts for nearly 29% of Xilinx's revenue and has replaced the U.S. as its largest market since 2019, according to the company's annual report.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/Chipmaker-Xilinx-says-car-supply-crunch-goes-beyond-semiconductors


Carmakers have been hit hard by a global chip shortage — here’s why
PUBLISHED MON, FEB 8 20213:37 AM ESTUPDATED MON, FEB 8 202112:19 PM EST
KEY POINTS
Demand for these chips has soared during the coronavirus pandemic as people snapped up games consoles, laptops and TVs to help get through lockdowns.

Now, many of these products — including certain Chromebook laptops and next-generation consoles like the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 — are sold out, or subject to lengthy shipping times.

It’s just one of a number of factors that has driven demand for semiconductors, but as supply struggles to keep up, it’s the chip-reliant car industry that has been hit especially hard.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/08/carmakers-have-been-hit-hard-by-a-global-chip-shortage-heres-why-.html