旗舰车芯片延期，英伟达的“王炸”让谁更焦虑？

Core Insights - Nvidia's flagship Thor autonomous driving chip, initially planned for mass production in 2024, has faced multiple delays, potentially pushing the timeline to 2026, with only a low-performance version expected to be available [1][5][9] Group 1: Product Delays and Impacts - The Thor chip, boasting a peak performance of 2000 TOPS, was anticipated to dominate the market but has encountered significant production delays, affecting Nvidia's market strategy and partnerships with automotive companies [3][5][9] - The delays have led automotive manufacturers, such as Xiaopeng Motors, to accelerate their own chip development efforts, reducing reliance on Nvidia [9][11] Group 2: Technical Challenges - The production issues are attributed to design challenges with the Blackwell GPU architecture, which is tailored for large language models and generative AI, as well as potential manufacturing defects identified by TSMC [7][11] - The complexity of the chip architecture and external supply chain challenges, including U.S. export controls on semiconductor manufacturing, have further complicated the production timeline [7][11][16] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Qualcomm and Mobileye are launching integrated automotive computing solutions, increasing pressure on Nvidia to ensure Thor's performance and functionality remain superior [11][13] - The trend of automotive companies developing their own chips is growing, which could diminish Nvidia's market dominance as firms seek to reduce dependency on external suppliers [13][16] Group 4: Strategic Concerns for Nvidia - Nvidia's automotive business, while previously a strong growth engine, still represents a small portion of the company's overall revenue, raising concerns about its long-term viability if delays continue [16] - The ongoing delays and competition may jeopardize Nvidia's relationships with key automotive partners, as seen with Mercedes-Benz, which has expressed frustration over unmet product expectations [16]