Push into chip sector speeding up

Chinese home appliance manufacturers have accelerated their push into the chip sector, as part of a broader drive to ensure the safety and stability of supply chains and reduce their dependence on foreign chip companies, industry experts said.

Home appliance giant Midea Group has entered the chip sector by establishing the subsidiary Shanghai Meiren Semiconductor Co Ltd, which is engaged in the research and development, design and sales of micro control unit chips used for electrical control systems and intelligent power module chips in advanced power switch devices that are designed to increase system reliability and efficiency.

The company started mass production of micro control unit chips in 2021, and its shipments are expected to reach 10 million units this year. It also plans to expand its presence in the fields of industrial control, the internet of things and vehicle-mounted chips.