When there is a shortage off silicon chips, as there is right now, they lose out to big tech.

Major brands, including Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors have all had to cut output as semiconductors run short, about $800 off silicon goes into a modern electric vehicle.

The industry as a whole spends about $40 billion on chips every year.

But right now the silicon is being swept up by makers, off smartphones and other consumer electron ICS.

They're enjoying a boom in demand from consumers stuck at home, and chip makers prefer Apple, Sony and the like.

As customers, they spend mawr and by MAWR Advanced semiconductors.

One tech analyst told Reuters that Apple spends more on chips than the entire auto industry.

German carmakers persuaded the country's economy minister to press Taiwan for action on chip supplies, but with little apparent result.

Chipmakers complain that car firms don't understand their business.

One told Reuters and auto firm had suggested it run a night shift to increase output, not realizing that 24 hour production was the norm anyway.

Now, in Finney, on the biggest supplier off chips to the car industry will commission a new plant this year.

But Asian semiconductor foundries continue to give priority to big tech analysts at HHS market estimate that leaves production off a million vehicles at risk in the first quarter.