Who supplies Ford with chips?
Ford relies on a broad, diversified ecosystem of chipmakers rather than a single supplier. Publicly reported partnerships and industry practice point to major players such as Nvidia, Qualcomm, Renesas, Infineon, NXP, Broadcom, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Onsemi, and Microchip among the core contributors to Ford’s infotainment, safety, and power-management silicon.
A diversified approach to automotive semiconductors
Ford's strategy mirrors a broader industry move toward multi-sourcing to mitigate shortages and access specialized expertise across cockpit, ADAS, sensors, and power electronics. The following companies represent the major pillars of Ford's silicon supply chain as it stands in the current market environment.
- NVIDIA — provides automotive-grade compute platforms used for in-car AI, cockpit processing and, in some programs, advanced driver-assistance features. NVIDIA’s Drive technology is a frequently cited part of Ford's strategy for future model computing needs.
- Qualcomm — supplies Snapdragon Automotive Platform-based solutions for digital cockpits, connectivity, telematics and driver information systems.
- Renesas — delivers microcontrollers and power-management chips central to many vehicle ECUs and control modules.
- Infineon — supplies power semiconductors, battery-management related chips, and other automotive-grade silicon for powertrains and electrical systems.
- NXP Semiconductors — provides secure gateway processors, V2X and automotive-grade microcontrollers, and related automotive connectivity components.
- Broadcom — offers connectivity modules and RF/wireless components used in telematics and in-car networks.
- STMicroelectronics — supplies microcontrollers, MEMS sensors, and analog components used across various control systems.
- Texas Instruments — provides analog semiconductors, power-management ICs and sensor interface chips essential to vehicle electronics.
- Onsemi (ON Semiconductor) — contributes power management ICs, sensors and other automotive-grade semiconductors.
- Microchip Technology — supplies automotive-grade microcontrollers and analog devices used in multiple ECUs.
- Memory and storage suppliers — major memory providers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron participate in Ford’s ecosystem through modules and components used in infotainment and control units, typically via Tier 1 suppliers.
Ford’s chip sourcing is characterized by multi-sourcing and long-term supplier relationships designed to weather supply shortfalls, changing technology, and the evolving needs of modern EVs and connected vehicles.
Context and implications
Because automakers rely on dozens of silicon bodies across vehicle families, the exact supplier mix can vary by model year, market, and production line. Ford has historically pursued partnerships that blend global semiconductor capacity with local manufacturing where feasible, aiming for both performance and resilience.
Summary
Ford's chips come from a broad, multi-vendor network rather than one supplier. This ecosystem includes Nvidia for in-car AI and cockpit compute, Qualcomm for infotainment and connectivity, Renesas and STMicroelectronics for ECUs and sensors, Infineon and Onsemi for power management and battery-related silicon, NXP for secure gateways, Broadcom for wireless connectivity, and Microchip for microcontrollers, among others. Memory components also come from major memory manufacturers via the broader supply chain. The company continues to diversify its supplier base to mitigate shortages and align with evolving vehicle technologies.
