Roundup – UK Chip industry in move threat and EU approves petrol car ban by 2035

UK chip industry issues offshoring warning to government

Britain’s semiconductor industry has threatened to walk away from the country if it does not receive more government backing soon, according to reports.

Insides from the chipmaking sector told CNBC that semiconductor bosses in the country are growing frustrated with a lack of strategy to back their efforts from the UK government, with several warning they will be forced to consider moving their business elsewhere.

Pragmatic Semiconductor, a Cambridge-based startup that produces nonsilicon chips, warned it may be forced to relocate overseas if the government doesn’t issue a plan for the industry soon.

Newport’s IQE has also warned it may be forced to relocate to the US or EU if the government does not act in the next six months.

It comes as chipmakers across the world have faced challenges accessing materials due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which these supply line problems being amplified by the war in Ukraine.

New Twitter CEO to replace Musk by end of 2023

Elon Musk has said he aims to appoint a new CEO at Twitter “towards the end of this year” just months after a poll of Twitter users told the owner he should step down.

In December, Musk – who bought the social media in a $44bn deal last year – asked followers if he should step down from his role of CEO, promising to abide by the results of the poll. More than 10 million people (57%) voted for Musk to go.

Speaking via video link at the World Government Summit in Dubai, the Tesla chief said he would look to stabilise the company before stepping back.

“I need to stabilise the organisation and just make sure it’s in a financially healthy place in that the product roadmap is clearly laid out,” Musk said according to Bloomberg. “I’m guessing probably towards the end of the year would be good timing to find someone else to run the company.”

However, reports claim Musk is still directly interfering with operations at Twitter. According to a report by Platformer, Musk was unhappy after his tweet about the US Super Bowl received less attention than a similar one by President Joe Biden. This led the Twitter boss to demand staff exclude his account from filters meant to improve the experience of readers.

Tesla to open US charging network to other EV manufacturers 

Speaking of Musk, one of his other major companies, Tesla, will be forced to share part of its electric vehicle charging network with cars from other manufacturers under new rules announced by the Biden White House.

Biden officials were looking to guarantee at least 500,000 electric-vehicle chargers across the U.S. in coming years. They received a boost after Tesla said it will make at least 7,500 of its chargers open to any EV by the end of 2024.

Tesla had been reluctant to open up its network but was threatened with exclusion from future federal incentives after the White House used 2021’s infrastructure law to push for more EV charging

European Parliament approves petrol and diesel car sales ban for 2035

Sticking with EVs, the EU has rubber-stamped a law that will see the ban of sales of new v carbon-emitting petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

The European Parliament formally approved the ban despite opposition from conservative MEPs, the parliament’s biggest group, meaning it will be signed into law at an upcoming ministerial meeting.

The rules also outlined a 55% cut in CO2 emissions for new cars sold from 2030 compared to 2021 levels, raising the existing target of a 37.5% decrease.

The law passed the Strasbourg assembly by 340 votes to 279, with 21 abstentions.

“Today’s vote is a historic vote for the ecological transition,” said Karima Delli, president of the transport committee. “We will no longer, or almost no longer, have petrol or diesel cars on our roads in 2050. It is a victory for our planet and our populations.