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Component Supply Shortages - Brymen Statement
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EEVblog:
A statement from the Brymen President

VK3DRB:
Its true. Component shortages is probably the most serious issue in the industry at this time. And notice prices have increased - some by a lot. I dumped STM as a preferred micro and went to MSP430 because of the supply fiasco. The novel patent pending product it is used in should be a world wide hit with large volumes of sales. TI wins ST Micro loses. We won't be going back to ST. Many specialised chips are simply not available now. You can design of a chip that seems plentiful on Digikey, Mouser, Element 14, Findchips, Arrow etc and within a week the entire stock is gone, with a ridiculous lead time.

Reasons for this fiasco:
- Electric cars.
- Massive cash handouts by governments.
- COVID-19
 
The supply chain was ill-prepared for any of these.
SilverSolder:

I don't get the automotive shortages.  Who's buying cars during lockdown??
station240:

--- Quote from: SilverSolder on April 23, 2021, 04:10:30 pm ---
I don't get the automotive shortages.  Who's buying cars during lockdown??

--- End quote ---

Vehicles still wear out, get written off in accidents, eaten by rust, etc.
Less so if you're only going out for vital things like buying food, or vital work related stuff.

Problem is the car industry just considered sales during lockdown to be cancelled for good, rather than delayed.
So they cancelled the semiconductor orders, rather than take delivery and bung them in the warehouse.
Meanwhile that semiconductor fab time has gone into making parts for PC, PS5, TV/monitor, or other high demand by consumers/working from home.
Say there is a month long lockdown, the next month gets double the sales, oops we can't even get the normal monthly supply now, much less 200% of it.

As for why people are still buying new cars, without the need to drive to work and pay for fuel, they have more money. So some choose to buy a new car.
SilverSolder:

In the US, car sales normally hover around 17 million per year.

In 2020, only 14.6 million were sold.

In 2021, analysts believe 16 million will be sold.


So, sales are definitely down, even this year... 
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