Can the US Actually Do Anything About the Semiconductor Shortage?

As it did with PPE and pharmaceutical raw materials, the US once again finds itself suffering from just-in-time inventory and manufacturing policies which make it dependent on - where else? - Asia. 

The Administration's infrastructure plan will allocate $50 billion for semiconductor output increases, but that means there will be no immediate solution to the problem, borne of short-term profit-driven tactics that have created strategic crises. JL 

Paul Eisenstein reports in NBC:

A crisis has impacted consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals and auto manufacturing, which has had to slow production across the U.S. The crisis could drive up the cost of the chips now used in every auto, further escalating vehicle prices that have reached record levels, an average $40,000. Dealer inventories (are) down 1 million vehicles, compared to what is normal. Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure proposal would set aside $50 billion for the semiconductor industry, expanding U.S. manufacturing of chips that largely come from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. But chip plants are costly and challenging to set up. So, shortages are likely to continue for months, into 2022.

The U.S. needs to address an ongoing shortage of semiconductors by investing in its chip “infrastructure,” President Joe Biden said during a virtual summit meeting with auto executives and other business leaders Monday afternoon.

"These chips, these wafers … batteries, broadband — it’s all infrastructure. We need to build the infrastructure of today and not repair the one of yesterday,” Biden said. "The plan I propose will protect our supply chain and revitalize American manufacturing."

The event was called to address an immediate crisis that has impacted key industries, including consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals and auto manufacturing. Few sectors have been impacted as badly as the auto industry, which has had to slow or halt production at plants across the U.S. In turn, that has worsened a shortage of new cars and trucks stemming from shutdowns ordered last year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Around 20 chief executives met with White House officials, including General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, along with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and representatives from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Samsung, HP and other tech firms.

Biden wanted to "to hear directly from companies about the impacts and what would help the most," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday at a press briefing. The summit was not intended to elicit any announcement or decision, Psaki said, noting that the intention is for the president to be "part of the discussion on how to surmount the problem."

General Motors and Ford alone have warned that they could take a collective $4.5 billion hit to their earnings this year because of the parts shortage.

“General Motors is grateful for the Biden Administration’s support of this critical issue impacting the global auto industry,” the automaker said in a statement after the conference concluded, adding that it “look(s) forward to continuing to work with the Administration and members of Congress to address the global shortage.”

Consumers are also feeling the heat. Vehicle prices that were already on the rise have surged even more sharply as automakers and dealers cut back on incentives. Finding the car or truck of choice can be a challenge with dealer inventories down by about 1 million vehicles, compared to what is normal this time of year, said J.D. Power market research firm.

Analysts warn that the crisis could drive up the cost of the chips now used in every automobile, further escalating vehicle prices that have reached record levels approaching an average $40,000, according to IHS Markit.

Biden is pushing for Congress to invest billions of dollars in the semiconductor industry. In February, he set into motion a 100-day review of supply chain issues covering semiconductors, as well as advanced batteries, pharmaceuticals and other critical goods.

Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure proposal would set aside $50 billion for the semiconductor industry, with an emphasis on expanding U.S. manufacturing of chips that, today, largely come from places like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

Tax credits would “help (semiconductor) companies offset the cost of creating new lines within existing facilities or reallocating current production to meet evolving needs,” said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing both Detroit’s Big Three and most of the foreign-owned automakers operating in the U.S.

Since the beginning of the year, more and more manufacturers have been impacted by the crisis. Virtually every automaker worldwide has had to trim production and, in many cases, temporarily idle some of their plants.

GM on Monday began a two-week shutdown at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant. The closure of another facility in Lansing, Michigan, will be extended through April 26.

Ford plants in Chicago, Flat Rock, Michigan and Kansas City are also closed this week, impacting production of some of the automaker’s most profitable products, including the F-150 pickup.

Global auto revenues are likely to fall more than $60 billion this year, according to AlixPartners research company. During the first quarter alone, manufacturers around the world will lose about 1.4 million vehicles in production, the research firm forecast. Manufacturers hope to make up some of that by increasing output later in the year, and AlixPartners believes the industry will cut losses to around 811,000 vehicles for all of 2020. Ford, for example, advised union employees it will cancel its normal summer shutdown this year.

With the president planning to devote billions from the American Jobs Plan to chip production, industry officials have already made some suggestions as to what they would like.

AAI’s Bozella said last week that some of the money should “be used to build new capacity that will support the auto industry and mitigate the risks to the automotive supply chain evidenced by the current chip shortage.”

But how soon the crisis can be addressed is far from certain. Chip plants are costly and challenging to set up. They have to meet clean room standards in line with the pharmaceutical industry. So, experts warn, the shortages are likely to continue for months, and possibly into 2022.