The shortage of automotive chips is a major problem facing the semiconductor industry. However, it seems has ushered in another wave of blows. A fire broke out at Renesas’ Naka Plant in Hitachi Naka City, Ibaraki Prefecture on the 19th, and production of automotive semiconductor products has been partially suspended. It is reported that the fire was located in the core facility of the factory in the "clean room", causing losses such as burning of some equipment. Semiconductor manufacturing takes three months. Once interrupted by interference, it is quite difficult to restart. The original shortage of automotive chips will continue until the second half of 2021, so it can be said to have worsened the situation.
At 2:47 am on the 19th, part of the process in the N3 building (300 mm production line) of Renesas Electronics’ Naka factory caught fire. Although there were no casualties or damage to the building, some public equipment was damaged. Among them, 11 manufacturing equipment were burned. The impact is uncertain.
The production in the N2 building (200mm production line) and the WT building (wafer testing) is proceeding normally. Although about two-thirds of the products produced in the N3 building can be alternately produced in-house or in a foundry, as the demand for semiconductors increases, it is impossible to alternate production immediately. Renesas Electronics stated that it will clean the interior of the clean room and replace equipment with the support of partner companies and manufacturing equipment suppliers, and plans to resume production within one month.
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