Automakers are desperate for support from foundry partners to ease chip shortages disrupting their production, and they are willing to pay extra in return for foundries giving top priority to their orders. TSMC has agreed to give automotive chip orders SHR (super hot run) status. But more support from Taiwanese foundries may not be enough to ease their trouble, which has now been compounded by the frigid weather in the US state of Texas that has halted production at wafer fabs there. Taiwan's top-3 foundry houses are expected to see their overall sales hit a record level in 2021, according to Digitimes Research.
TSMC agrees to rush shipments to automotive chip customers: TSMC has agreed to give top priority to orders placed by its automotive chip clients, giving them SHR (super hot run) status, according to sources at Taiwan-based analog IC firms.
Winter storm in US to disrupt chip supplies: The impact of winter storms that struck the US state of Texas could be significant on the world's supply of certain semiconductors, including high-end NOR flash and chips demanding 8-inch wafer fabrication, according to industry sources.
Taiwan top-3 foundries to see combined revenue hit another record high in 2021, says Digitimes Research: Combined revenue of Taiwan's top-3 pure-play foundries are expected to rise 17% on year to top US$60 billion in 2021, Digitimes Research estimates.
