Micron forecasts over 300 GB RAM needed for Level 4 autonomous vehicles, driving growth in memory markets. Learn about industry trends and market impacts.
© A. Krivonosov
Micron anticipates a sharp increase in demand for RAM within the automotive sector. According to CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, future vehicles with advanced autonomous driving systems could require over 300 GB of RAM.
This surge in requirements stems from the development of autonomous driving technology. Cars with Level 4 autonomy are essentially becoming "supercomputers on wheels," processing vast amounts of data in real time. This demands high-speed memory and powerful computational systems.
The statement was made against the backdrop of the company's strong financial results. Micron's revenue for the second quarter reached $23.86 billion, significantly higher than last year's figures. The primary growth driver remains the demand for memory for artificial intelligence systems.
In parallel, the company is expanding production and planning to launch new facilities in various countries. However, even with increased capacity, the market may face a new challenge—the widespread adoption of driverless cars.
Currently, most vehicles require around 16 GB of memory, but the transition to higher levels of autonomy will multiply these needs. Other market players are also actively developing in this direction. For instance, Nvidia is collaborating with automakers BYD, Geely, Isuzu, and Nissan to implement the Drive Hyperion platform, designed for Level 4 autonomy.
Experts note that the adoption of such vehicles may take time due to high costs and legislative constraints. In the long term, however, this could lead to a new wave of demand for memory—and even a market shortage if manufacturers fail to ramp up capacity in time.