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Micron Technology, the world’s third-biggest DRAM manufacturer, plans to spend $150 billion over the next decade to expand its research and development and production capabilities. The firm is looking to build a new fab in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, or the United States.

Oppo, the world’s fourth-largest smartphone manufacturer, is reportedly designing 3nm processors for its premium handsets. The firm tapped TSMC to handle fabrication and intends to launch its new SoCs in 2023 or 2024.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), the world’s fifth-largest foundry service provider, will nearly double its overall production capacity by 2025. Notably, the company will significantly grow its revenue without advancing its technology.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced plans to build an $8.8 billion chip fab in Japan with financial support from its government. While the new factory will bolster the foundry’s production capacity, it will also likely increase component prices.

DigiTimes reported that the average lead time for integrated circuits had reached a record 22 weeks. In addition, industry leaders and market watchers expect the global chip shortage could persist past 2022.

China is dealing with an energy crunch due to constrained coal supplies and carbon emission-related power cuts. As a result, semiconductor companies with facilities in the region have dealt with operational disruptions.

Last month, a foil balloon temporarily knocked out power across Dresden, Germany. As a result, facilities maintained by Infineon Technologies, Bosch, and GlobalFoundries in the area were affected.

Industry analysts expect the electric vehicle market to expand to $725 billion by 2026, up from $171 billion last year. Chipmakers are working to fuel the segment’s explosive growth by developing new silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) components.

A recent surge in coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia has exacerbated the global chip shortage, especially within the auto industry. As a result, the reconfiguration of the global electronic components supply chain has been affected.

Google is reportedly developing Arm-based custom processors to power the next generation of its Chromebooks and tablet computers, which are set for release in 2023. However, the Big Tech giant’s strategy might be affected by changing the electronic components industry.