Tag: semiconductor

China’s Chip Ambitions Fade as Chip Giant Faces Bankruptcy

Tsinghua Unigroup, a Chinese state-backed chip maker, said it received court notice that one of its creditors had initiated bankruptcy proceedings for the group, dated July 12. Tsinghua Unigroup is a commercial arm of China’s Tsinghua University and an integral part of Chinese Leader Xi Jinping’s semiconductor self-reliance dream. One of its creditors had requested…


GM Will Cut Truck Production Amid Semiconductor Shortage

WASHINGTON—General Motors Co said Wednesday it will cut some truck production in North America because of the ongoing global semiconductor shortage. The largest U.S. automaker said its Flint Assembly plant that builds the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD trucks will operate on one production shift the week of July 26. GM said its…


UK Prime Minister Orders Security Review on Chinese Acquisition of UK’s Biggest Semiconductor Maker

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered a security review of the purchase of the UK’s largest producer of semiconductors by a Chinese-owned firm after the acquisition was widely criticized by Members of Parliament (MPs). Johnson said on July 7 that he has asked his national security adviser to probe into the purchase of Newport…


UK’s Biggest Semiconductor Plant Acquired by Chinese Owned Company

A Chinese-owned company said on Monday that it had acquired the UK’s largest manufacturer of silicone and semiconductor. The deal has triggered warnings from MPs. Nexperia, a Dutch-based semiconductor manufacturer wholly owned by China’s Wingtech Technology, confirmed on Monday that it had obtained 100 percent ownership of Welsh semiconductor plant Newport Wafer Fab (NWF), and will rename it…


Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Boost Domestic Manufacture of Semiconductors

A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would strengthen U.S. semiconductor supply chains by incentivizing domestic manufacturing of this key technology and “stop China from winning the race to produce these chips.” The bill, called the Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors (FABS) Act (pdf), seeks to push back against the trend that has seen the United…


Chips Shortage Limits Auto Production in Brazil, Automakers Association Says

SAO PAULO—Automaker’s plants in Brazil have reached a “production ceiling” after the first five months of the year, below pre-pandemic levels, due to a shortage of computer chips, the South American nation’s automakers association said on Tuesday. A semiconductor shortage has been affecting the production of chips and may reduce the global number of automobiles…


US Restructures Supply Chains With South Korea and Taiwan to Decouple from CCP

On May 21, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House. On the same day, Biden and Moon issued a joint statement, stating that the United States and South Korea will strengthen cooperation in areas of advanced technology, vaccines, climate issues, economics, and many others. Among these,…


US-China Chip Hegemony War: South Korea Under Pressure to Pick a Side

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden held talks at the White House on the 21st and issued the “U.S.-ROK Leaders’ Joint Statement.” The two sides reached consensus on a number of issues including the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and economic investment. The countries agreed to…


Chip Crunch Drives Ford to Cut Production, Including F-150 and Bronco Sport SUV

Ford will pause or slash production of vehicles that include its F-150 pickup and Bronco Sport SUV at eight North American plants in June as a result of the semiconductor chip shortage that is putting a squeeze on carmakers. The company confirmed the news in a statement to media outlets, in response to reports of…


Chip Crunch Drives Ford to Cut Production, Including of F-150 and Bronco Sport SUV

Ford will pause or reduce production of vehicles including the F-150 pickup and Bronco Sport SUV at eight North American plants in June due to the semiconductor chip shortage that is putting a squeeze on carmakers. Following reports of an internal Ford memo noting the chip-driven production rollbacks or stoppages, the company confirmed the news…