Currently, manufacturers across the globe have been struggling to source microchip semiconductors for their cars due to the shipping constrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in massive backlogs at many production facilities. It has now been revealed that Intel will be stepping in to help alleviate the short supply but, it won’t be able to do so immediately.
Speaking to Reuters, Intel Corp chief executive officer Pat Gelsinger said the PC innovations firm has been talking to companies that design chips for automakers about manufacturing the required chips via Intel’s factory network. The goal is to produce chips within six to nine months.
Intel is one of the last companies in the industry that designs and manufactures its own chips. Last month, it announced that it would open its factories up to outside customers and build factories in the United States and Europe in a bid to counter the dominance of Asian chip manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics.
Gelsinger confirmed that Intel will open its existing factory network to automotive microchip companies to provide more immediate help with a shortage that has disrupted assembly lines at Ford and General Motors.
“We’re hoping that some of these things can be alleviated, not requiring a three- or four-year factory build, but maybe six months of new products being certified on some of our existing processes,” Gelsinger said. “We’ve begun those engagements already with some of the key components suppliers.”
