Automakers to Blame for Semiconductor Shortage

Automakers to Blame for Semiconductor Shortage
by Bill Jewell on 04-23-2021 at 8:00 am

Top Automotive Semiconductor Suppliers

Automakers worldwide have scaled back production due to a shortage of semiconductors. Companies which have announced temporary halts on production include Volkswagen, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Daimler (Mercedes) and Stellantis (merger of Fiat-Chrysler and Peugot).

IHS Markit estimates… Read More


Apple’s Cook Paints Himself into an Autonomous Corner

Apple’s Cook Paints Himself into an Autonomous Corner
by Roger C. Lanctot on 04-11-2021 at 10:00 am

Apples Cook Paints Himself into an Autonomous Corner

These days tech journalists and analysts appear confident of one thing. Apple is working on an autonomous car.

There’s a “Garbo Talks” quality to the tea leaf reading around Apple’s autonomous vehicle development efforts. The latest chapter was written with the publication of Kara Swisher’s latest “Sway” podcast episode

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Honda Asserts Automated Driving Leadership

Honda Asserts Automated Driving Leadership
by Roger C. Lanctot on 03-14-2021 at 10:00 am

Honda Asserts Automated Driving Leadership

When Honda Motor Co. tied up with General Motors almost a year ago to collaborate on vehicle propulsion technology, connected car tech, and assisted driving, observers might have been forgiven for thinking Honda was surrendering its independence to catch up in the EV race. Honda reasserted its independence last week with the

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 5G Cars

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 5G Cars
by Roger C. Lanctot on 03-14-2021 at 8:00 am

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 5G Cars

Prior to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic car makers were inching toward putting their 5G connectivity plans into action.  There was a growing recognition, at the time, that no one wanted to miss the 5G car boat – and no car maker would want to be stuck selling 4G cars in a 5G world.

The onset of the pandemic was a shock to the system. 

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Chip Channel Check- Semi Shortage Spreading- Beyond autos-Will impact earnings

Chip Channel Check- Semi Shortage Spreading- Beyond autos-Will impact earnings
by Robert Maire on 03-07-2021 at 10:00 am

Robert Maire 2

– Semiconductor shortage is like toilet paper shortage in early Covid
– Panic buying, hoarding, double ordering will cause spike
– Could cause a year+ of dislocation in chip makers before ending
– Investors, Govt & Mgmt will get a wake up call from earnings hit

Auto industry is just a prominent tip Read More


Accelerating AI-Defined Cars

Accelerating AI-Defined Cars
by Manouchehr Rafie on 02-28-2021 at 10:00 am

Accelerating AI Defined Cars Figs

Convergence of Edge Computing, Machine Vision and 5G-Connected Vehicles

Today’s societies are becoming ever more multimedia-centric, data-dependent, and automated. Autonomous systems are hitting our roads, oceans, and air space. Automation, analysis, and intelligence is moving beyond humans to “machine-specific” … Read More


“For Want of a Chip, the Auto Industry was Lost”

“For Want of a Chip, the Auto Industry was Lost”
by Robert Maire on 02-11-2021 at 10:00 am

Auto Assembly Line

Semiconductor production can’t be turned on and off like a switch

Semiconductor fabs have to run 24/7 to make money. They have to be running full all the time to fully utilize the high running costs and in the case of new fabs, high capital costs.

Unlike a brake pad factory hat can hire and fire people at will and source readily … Read More


Playing Pandemic Roulette in Cars

Playing Pandemic Roulette in Cars
by Roger C. Lanctot on 01-24-2021 at 10:00 am

Playing Pandemic Roulette in Cars

A study published in ScienceAdvances has shown computer simulations of the movement of virus-laden airborne droplets in cars. The objective of the study appears to be to assess the degree of driver-to-passenger and passenger-to-driver exposure given different open-or-closed window configurations in the context of modeled… Read More


Tesla’s Musk Mocks Marketing

Tesla’s Musk Mocks Marketing
by Roger C. Lanctot on 12-27-2020 at 10:00 am

Teslas Musk Mocks Marketing

The Automotive News had a standout year in 2020 – thriving at a time when many publishers suffered. With factories and dealerships shuttered in the spring due to the pandemic, the outlook was bleak but the Automotive News dug in amplifying its reporting with multiple podcasts and video content documenting the ups and downs

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Amazon Tesla Uber and DoorDash

Amazon Tesla Uber and DoorDash
by Roger C. Lanctot on 12-27-2020 at 6:00 am

Amazon Tesla and Uber DoorDash

As the death toll in the U.S. from COVID-19 approaches 300,000 I am impressed by the resilience of pandemic doubters and deniers. I’m talking about the point-three-percent-ers* who have shifted from calling COVID-19 a hoax to encouraging as many people as possible to get the virus to “get it over with.”

Maybe “impressed” isn’t… Read More