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[TECHNOLOGY] · 2 sources

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Part of situation: AI demand drives chip shortages, debt, and energy use (15 clusters)

DRAM chip price surges impact new vehicle technology

semiconductor shortage DRAM prices automotive technology AI servers vehicle infotainment

Rising prices for Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) are impacting the automotive industry, leading to a shortage of high-tech features in new vehicles. Prices for these essential memory chips have increased by up to 70 percent this year.

As vehicles increasingly rely on large touchscreens, lane-keeping alerts, and advanced driver-assistance systems, their demand for memory is surging. Average per-vehicle memory content is projected to grow from 90GB to over 278GB in next-generation platforms, while level 4 autonomous vehicles may require upwards of 300GB.

The supply shortage is driven by manufacturers reallocating production capacity toward high-margin AI servers, which require significantly more DRAM than traditional servers. Consequently, automotive manufacturers are being crowded out of the market by higher-paying AI-related applications.

Sources

New cars sold with big touchscreens and lane-keeping alerts carry a key memory chip that has risen up to 70 percent in price this year, and shoppers face a growing risk that promised top-trim features will be missing from the lot [gcn.com]
Used 2019 Chevrolet Volt LT for Sale in St. Catharines, Ontario [www.carpages.ca]