Intel has devised a plan to help automakers cope with the global semiconductor shortage that has forced companies like GM to reverse production changes. On Monday, CEO Pat Gelsinger said Reuters Intel is in talks with companies that design silicon for automakers to make their chips in its own foundries. If all goes according to plan, he told the cable company the goal is to start producing those designs within six to nine months.
“We’re hoping some of these things can be alleviated, without requiring a three or four year factory build, but maybe six months of new certified products on some of our existing processes,” Gelsinger said. Reuters. “We have already started these engagements with some of the major component suppliers.” The executive did not name any of the companies Intel has had conversations with, but noted that manufacturing could take place at its factories in Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Israel or Ireland.
The plan is separate from $ 20 billion investment Intel announced last month that it was starting to manufacture silicon for other chip designers. Gelsinger also met with the Biden administration as part of a meeting hosted by the White House to discuss the semiconductor shortage. The president was cooking options on how to deal with the situation since February. He told Gelsinger and other leaders that he would push Congress to put $ 50 billion towards the research and manufacture of semiconductors.