Small Chips, Big Problems.
October 01 2021, Mercedes-Benz Vancouver
When car companies cut manufacturing during the early months of COVID-19, they also slashed their orders for parts—including semiconductor microchips. Now, the makers of these tiny custom chips can’t keep up with the increased demand, causing a worldwide shortage of cars. The good news? We’ll tell you how to set yourself up for success on your next purchase.
The ripple effect of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create waves across all industries. Semiconductor chips are in short supply, and these little custom-made parts are going through a mass worldwide shortage. Most modern-day vehicles contain dozens of semiconductor microchips that control everything from the navigation apparatus to the entertainment system. In short, they’re essential to your vehicle.
But with estimated wait times of up to three months causing widespread strain across many industries, what’s the solution for consumers? One way to beat this shortage is to pre-order your next vehicle, so you can customize your car exactly the way you like, and not simply pick from the scant selection available on showroom floors. At Mercedes-Benz Vancouver, we make pre-ordering extra easy; here’s how.
But first, let’s rewind for a second to investigate just why these semiconductor chips—which manage the current flow in electrical devices—are so coveted. First of all, they aren’t just used in cars, but also in video games, smartphones, computers and other modern feats of technology.
Small but mighty, they are also complex to manufacture. The chip starts its life as a crystalline silicon wafer, which has been sliced and polished off a large ingot. Next, an engineer must pattern the interconnections and transistors on that perfect little piece of technology.
What does that mean, exactly? Well, as Harvard professor Willy Shih recently told The Verve: “The manufacturer will lay out a pattern, first, of the transistors on the silicon. And what they’ll do is multiple steps of lithography, etching, and deposition. They’ll use a whole complex series of steps to build up layer after layer of transistors... And then they’ll lay down an interconnected network of little copper wires, which they also print on there to connect all those transistors.”
Sounds simple, right? (Just kidding.) For modern-day needs, it can take more than 700 steps to craft a microchip advanced enough for many new technologies.
Chip shortage or not, we’re dedicated to getting you your dream vehicle here at Mercedes-Benz Vancouver. If you’re in the market, you can place a pre-order directly from the factory in advance, allowing customization of everything from the trim colour to the sound system. Not only can you check off everything on your wish list, and you’ll get your car delivered in reasonable time. It’s a win-win!
