Automotive chips began to run out of stock, and 8M CIS became the "hardest hit area"

Supply chain experts point out that 8M CIS must meet stringent automotive-grade standards such as high temperature, vibration, and long lifespan. Currently, OmniVision's 8M CIS chip supply gap is most prominent. As the only high-end solution in China certified to AEC-Q100 Level 2 automotive-grade standards, its production capacity can no longer meet the surging order demand.

Globally, although international giants like Sony and ON Semiconductor possess equivalent technical certifications, they prioritize orders from European and American automakers, with expansion cycles typically lasting 12-18 months, making it difficult to fill market gaps in the short term.

Fortunately, some domestic companies are breaking through in the 8M CIS segment. For example, OmniVision is accelerating its 8M CIS capacity expansion; SmartWell has mass-produced 1M-8M ADAS devices, focusing on the OEM market; Geke Micro focuses on the aftermarket.

Figure 1: In February 2025, the stock of Will Shares, the parent company of OmniVision, showed an overall upward trend

Against this backdrop, since February 2025, the stock of Will Semiconductor, the parent company of OmniVision, has also been on an upward trend. Industry insiders believe that the recovery in industry demand combined with the accelerated impact of domestic substitution is one of the factors driving the company's stock upward. It is reported that the company's advanced intelligent driving system, "Eye of the God," in cooperation with BYD, is accelerating its penetration, driving a surge in demand for in-vehicle CIS chips. According to a Citi report, about 30%-40% of Will Semiconductor's profits come from this ADAS sector.

Structural shortages or long-term existence

It is expected that in 2025, 8M CIS prices may rise by 10%-15%, with low-end products (1M-5M) gradually easing as domestic production capacity is released.

It is worth noting that companies like Smartwei plan to achieve mass production of 8M CIS by 2026, but advanced autonomous driving will drive demand for higher resolutions like 16M, and the technology race may trigger a new round of supply fluctuations.

The shortage of automotive CIS chips reflects the deep-seated contradiction between intelligent transformation and supply chain resilience. Amid the acceleration of domestic substitution and the global capacity competition, automakers need to balance the pace of technological upgrades with supply chain risks to avoid "hardware involution" and intensify industry uncertainty.