AutoTechInsight
Silicon realignments: Geopolitics and policy moves in the automotive semiconductor supply chain
As the automotive industry becomes increasingly dependent on advanced semiconductors for autonomy, electrification, and connectivity, this report examines how evolving geopolitical tensions are reshaping the sector’s global supply chain. It analyzes U.S. semiconductor policy actions and examines how Mainland China is navigating tightening export controls. Additionally, it showcases emerging domestic capabilities in AI data center chips and assesses the ripple effects on global sourcing strategies, access to advanced nodes, and the resilience of original equipment manufacturers.
Semiconductors are now central to the evolution of the global automotive industry, enabling advancements in electrification, driver assistance, and autonomous mobility. As these technologies scale, the sector's dependence on high-performance compute and specialized chip supply chains has become a strategic vulnerability.
This report examines how geopolitical fault lines — particularly U.S. export controls and mainland China’s response — are reshaping the global automotive semiconductor landscape. It analyzes the tightening restrictions on AI data center chips, the exemptions that preserve automotive-grade SoC flows, and how companies like Nvidia navigating these changes.
We also assess mainland China's push for self-sufficiency, including its EUV breakthroughs, expansion in mature node and SiC/GaN capacity, and the implications of overcapacity. Additionally, the report reviews regional strengths and policy-driven onshoring efforts. These insights aim to help stakeholders understand structural shifts in the automotive semiconductor supply chain.
