In reply to frenchyd :
Actually, there have been several events in the semiconductor supply chain that resulted in the chip shortage.
Covid spooked the Car manufacturers, who overreacted and cut their production plans and chip orders.
Auto chips prices are ordered in at aggressively negotiated discounts, with low profit margins.
Meanwhile, folks at home ordered lot's of Consumer Electronics that required lots of chips, having much higher profit margins, which the Chip Fabs jumped at.
There has been a lot of Chip Fab consolidation into fewer very large plants around the world.
Recent Bad Weather and fires at some of those plants has reduced capacity and created a real shortage.
Ramping up new chip production is not like turning a switch, takes time, investment, and effort even in the best of conditions.
Same goes for opening a new Chip Fab, the technology and equipment and skills are exotic and in high demand, with long lead times of their own.
