KYIV. UkraineGate .23 . December .2022 | War News .
The world’s largest chip manufacturer TSMC will send top managers to Dresden early next year to discuss a potential plant project in Germany, according to the Financial Times .
Citation
“TSMC is in talks with key suppliers to establish its potentially first European plant in the German city of Dresden, which will allow the world’s largest chipmaker to benefit from rising demand from the region’s automotive industry,” the statement said.
Details
The Taiwanese company is sending a group of senior executives to Germany early next year to discuss the level of government support for the plant’s future, as well as the capabilities of the local supply chain to meet its needs, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This trip will be the second in six months for TSMC executives, and a final decision on whether to invest billions of dollars in a plant that could begin construction as early as 2024 is expected to be shortly thereafter.
According to people familiar with the matter, TSMC’s talks with several suppliers of materials and equipment are focused on whether they can also make the investments needed to support the plant.
If TSMC decides to build a plant in Dresden, it will focus on 22-nanometer and 28-nanometer chip technologies similar to those it plans to produce at the plant it does with Sony in Japan.
Supplement
Last year, customers asked TSMC to consider building a plant in Europe, but reportedly after the invasion of Ukraine, initial analysis of the issue was discontinued. But growing demand from European automakers for locally produced chips has prompted TSMC to reconsider the idea.
The decision to build the plant will be a serious boost for the EU, which is seeking to reduce its dependence on semiconductor imports – vital components for everything from smartphones to cars – from Asia. Earlier this year, Brussels approved €43 billion in subsidies to encourage chipmakers to come to Europe.