Microchip shortages continue for Japan's car firms

Japan's Renesas Electronics is not a household name, but in March when its production was hit by Japan's earthquake and tsunami, it almost stalled the global car industry.

It makes custom-made microchips, and has a global market share of more than 40%. In Japan, it has some 70% of market share.

These days, a typical car may have up to 100 microchips, controlling everything from brakes to engines. And if one chip is missing, car production has to stop.

Koji Endo of Advanced Research Japan says ordinarily, car firms would have enough microchips in stock to cope with limited production shortages.