Tech

Chip shortage results in major changes to BMW touchscreens

Published

4 years ago

November 8, 2021

As the global chip shortage continues to impact the automotive industry across the world – car makers are now making drastic changes in order to cope

Reports have revealed that car maker BMW is dropping touchscreens from many of its cars due to the continued chip shortage.

Over the past two years, auto manufacturers have had to pause production or cut vehicle features in order to manage the burden of the chip shortage.

BMW confirmed to Autoblog that it’s temporarily removing touchscreen functions from several models.

BMW to ship certain cars without touchscreen feature

For now, BMW 3 Series, X5, X6, X7 and Z4 models will ship without touchscreen controls. BMW 4 Series Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe (but not the i4 EV) will also lose touchscreen features for the time being.

Owners of the “touch-less” models will need to use the centre console’s iDrive controller to navigate the infotainment system. If you receive a model without touch control when it should have had it, you’ll receive a $500 credit due to “Deletion of Touchscreen.”

It’s unclear how long these BMW models will be impacted by the chip shortage or if other cars will be added to the no-touchscreen list in the future.

News

Big Tech earnings spark investor unease over AI spending

Investors monitor Big Tech’s AI investments, with Meta thriving while Microsoft and Tesla face uncertainty over growth and returns.

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Investors monitor Big Tech’s AI investments, with Meta thriving while Microsoft and Tesla face uncertainty over growth and returns.

Investors are reacting sharply to Big Tech earnings this week, sending a clear signal that massive spending must translate into real growth. Markets are becoming less forgiving as companies pour billions into artificial intelligence, data centres and future tech while returns remain uncertain.

Meta has delivered a standout performance, posting a 24 percent jump in revenue for the December quarter, fuelled by AI-powered advertising. The company is doubling down on its strategy, with aggressive investment in AI and infrastructure expected to drive a further 33 percent growth this quarter.

Microsoft and Tesla tell a more cautious story. Microsoft reported only modest growth in its Azure cloud business, raising questions about its exposure to OpenAI, while Tesla plans to double spending on AI and autonomous driving. Analysts warn of a widening gap between bold AI ambitions and what investors expect in returns.

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Tech

Memory shortages and rising prices could persist through 2027

Memory chip supply tight, prices high; Lenovo warns rising costs impact budget devices amid strong PC demand from Windows 11.

Published

6 days ago

January 27, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Memory chip supply tight, prices high; Lenovo warns rising costs impact budget devices amid strong PC demand from Windows 11.

Memory chips critical to consumer electronics and AI data centres remain in tight supply, keeping prices elevated despite production expansion by major players including Samsung and Micron.

Lenovo warns higher memory costs will hit budget devices first, even as PC demand stays strong from Windows 11 upgrades.

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