According to a recent report by market research firm TrendForce, companies in the semiconductor industry around the world have been investing in 8-inch silicon carbide production lines in the past few years, and these investments are now gradually being put into operation. Globally, companies such as STMicroelectronics, onsemi, Infineon, Wolfspeed, ROHM, Bosch, Fuji Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, the world's leading semiconductor (VIS) and EPISIL, Silan Microelectronics, and UNT have all announced plans to build 8-inch SiC chip fabs. According to TrendForce, many of these companies are also making progress in the field of upstream substrates and epitaxial materials.
Here are some specific project situations:
STMicroelectronics (ST): ST announced the construction of a new 8-inch SiC factory in Catania, Italy, which is expected to start production in 2026 and reach full capacity in 2033, with a maximum capacity of 15,000 wafers per week and an estimated total investment of about 5 billion euros. It is reported that the 8-inch SiC manufacturing plant jointly built by STMicroelectronics and China's Sanan Optoelectronics in Chongqing announced in June 2023 will become ST's third SiC production center, and is expected to start production in the fourth quarter of 2025 and be fully completed in 2028.
Onsemi: Onsemi's SiC fab in Bucheon, Korea, completed expansion in 2023 and plans to shift to 8-inch production after completing technical validation in 2025, at which time the capacity will be expanded to 10 times the current size.
Infineon: The first phase of Infineon's 8-inch SiC power semiconductor fab in Kulim, Malaysia, officially began operations on August 8, 2024, with mass production expected by 2025.
Figure: Global fab construction status (Source: semiconductortoday)
Wolfspeed: Wolfspeed has the world's first and largest 8-inch SiC factory, located in Mohawk Valley, New York, United States, which officially opened in April 2022. As of June 2024, the fab has achieved 20% wafer utilization.
ROHM: ROHM's new SiC plant in Chikugo, Japan, began mass production in 2022 and plans to shift from 6-inch to 8-inch wafer production by 2025.
BOSCH: BOSCH's plant in Reutlingen, Germany, has been producing 6-inch SiC wafers since 2021 and is currently also producing 8-inch SiC wafers. The facility in Roseville, California, United States, is expected to begin production of 8-inch SiC wafers by 2026.
Silan Microelectronics: Silan officially launched China's first 8-inch SiC power device chip manufacturing line project in Xiamen, China, with a total investment of 12 billion yuan, built in two phases, with an annual output of 720,000 8-inch SiC power device chips.
Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) & EPISIL: VIS announced plans to invest NT$2.48 billion to acquire a 13% stake in EPISIL, and the two companies will jointly develop and produce 8-inch SiC wafer technology, with mass production expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
Thailand's first SiC plant: Thailand's FT1Corp joint venture has invested THB11.5 billion (approximately US$350 million) to build Thailand's first SiC plant, with production expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027 to meet growing demand in the automotive, data center and energy storage markets.
According to TrendForce's summary, only Wolfspeed's Mohawk Valley facility will be able to supply 8-inch SiC wafers in the short term, and other manufacturers are expected to gradually supply 8-inch SiC wafers starting next year.
