Although the supply of consumer MCUs has eased recently, due to the booming new energy vehicle market, automotive MCUs are still in short supply. Recently, an MCU factory of Renesas Electronics, a major manufacturer of automotive MCUs, was forced to suspend production due to a voltage drop due to lightning strikes, and the supply of automotive MCUs may be even tighter.

According to the announcement on Renesas Electronics' official website, due to local thunderstorms caused by Typhoon No. 4 in Kumamoto City, Japan, a lightning strike occurred on the transmission line leading to Renesas Electronics' Kawashima Plant in Kumamoto City, and the instantaneous voltage dropped. temporary stop.

Although Renesas turned on an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) immediately after the voltage drop, the voltage drop was significantly longer than the actual record and company expectations over the past decade, resulting in the shutdown of approximately 90% of the factory's production facilities. Fortunately, however, the functionality of a factory clean room remains effective after pressure drop transients and lows.

Renesas Electronics said that at present, it has restarted production facilities, and from July 6, some production will resume. In addition, production capacity (production start base) is expected to return to low levels on July 11.

In addition, when the momentary low pressure occurs, the products being produced at the Kawashima Plant are expected to be partially scrapped and will be discarded. In total, the equivalent of up to two weeks of production will be lost as a result of the plant pressure drop event.