A shortage of semiconductors, vital microchips used in vehicles and various household technologies, is impacting vehicle production, with the scarcity set to continue into at least the second half of this year.
Cancelled chip orders on expectations of limited demand have resulted in a shortage of supply after the faster-than-expected bounce back of the auto industry in the months following the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
On top of this, a fire which damaged 23 semiconductor machines at a Renesas factory in Hitachinaka, Japan, has caused further supply setbacks since March 2021, with the company holding a 30 . . .