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GM’s China Joint Venture Developing Its Own Auto Chips

Liuzhou-based SGMW, GM’s venture with partners SAIC Motor and Guangxi Automobile, says it’s been developing its own auto computing chips for the past three years


A General Motors sign is seen at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in Nov 2020. Photo: Aly Song, Reuters.

 

One of General Motors’ China’s joint ventures said on Wednesday it is developing auto chips and aims to increase use of locally sourced chips in the next five years.

Liuzhou-based SGMW, GM’s venture with partners SAIC Motor Corp and Guangxi Automobile Group, said at an industry conference that it has been developing its own auto computing chips since 2018.

SGMW did not say whether it is merely designing chips or is also participating in chip-manufacturing but said it would boost cooperation with Chinese manufacturers to improve quality and economy of its chips.

A prolonged global shortage of semiconductor chips has affected major automakers including Ford Motor Co, Honda Motor Co, and Volkswagen AG, forcing many to idle or curtail production.

SGMW is also developing battery-swapping stations for its micro electric vehicles, it said at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress.

 

• Reuters and Jim Pollard

 

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Jim Pollard

Jim Pollard is an Australian journalist based in Thailand since 1999. He worked for News Ltd papers in Sydney, Perth, London and Melbourne before travelling through SE Asia in the late 90s. He was a senior editor at The Nation for 17+ years.