On January 22, reports emerged indicating that Japanese automakers, in a bid to fortify the automotive industry chain's resilience against geopolitical tensions and natural calamities, are set to exchange crucial information regarding automotive chips with prominent semiconductor makers. Citing Nikkei News, around 20 chip vendors, including industry giants like Renesas Electronics, Rohm Electronics, and Germany's Infineon, are slated to join the initiative. These participants collectively supply 80% to 90% of the chips required by Japanese car manufacturers. Chipmakers will input data encompassing product specifications, mass production schedules, and manufacturing sites into the system. This will empower automakers to swiftly pinpoint potential risks of supply chain disruptions. The system will harness blockchain technology to safeguard against information leakage to rival entities. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (boasting members like Toyota and Honda) and the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association are spearheading this database project, with aspirations to finalize its setup by April of this year. The Automotive & Battery Traceability Center will oversee its day-to-day operations.