en.Wedoany.com Reported - On July 13, Bosch announced that its silicon carbide semiconductor plant in Roseville, California, USA, has started sample production. This facility is Bosch's first semiconductor manufacturing site in the United States. It is currently undergoing product validation and production line ramp-up, with plans to transition to commercial production by 2026, manufacturing silicon carbide chips using 200-millimeter wafers.
This project does not involve building a wafer fab from scratch. Bosch acquired the former TSI Semiconductors' Roseville wafer manufacturing facility in 2023, subsequently retrofitting the existing buildings and production systems. While retaining the original semiconductor manufacturing personnel and infrastructure, Bosch introduced silicon carbide chip production processes. The total investment for the retrofit project is up to approximately $20 billion.
Construction includes adding cleanroom space, installing advanced silicon carbide manufacturing lines, and modernizing chip fabrication and testing processes. The start of sample production indicates that major production equipment has entered the integrated operation phase, with the factory using actual wafers to verify process stability, equipment matching, and product performance, preparing for subsequent commercial order deliveries. The US Department of Commerce stated that this project will be built as Bosch's largest silicon carbide production base globally.
The US Department of Commerce's CHIPS Program Office has signed a direct funding agreement with Bosch for up to $225 million, with the funds supporting the expansion of the Roseville plant, cleanroom construction, and the introduction of advanced production lines. The project has also received $25 million in tax credits from the State of California.
Silicon carbide is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material capable of operating under high voltage, high temperature, and high-frequency switching conditions. It is primarily used in Automotive Industry" target="_blank">new energy vehicle electric drives, charging systems, industrial energy equipment, and high-power power conversion. Bosch stated that the chips can also be used in power supply systems for AI data centers, reducing energy and cooling loads by lowering power conversion losses and equipment heat generation.
The Roseville plant also plans to produce Bosch's third-generation silicon carbide chips in the future. The company stated that the new generation of products offers up to 20% higher performance compared to the previous generation, with further reduced device sizes. Since Bosch began mass production of its first-generation silicon carbide chips in 2021, global cumulative deliveries have exceeded 60 million units.
The current start of sample production does not mean the factory has entered full mass production. Subsequent steps still require product certification, process validation, and capacity ramp-up. Bosch has not yet disclosed the specific monthly wafer capacity of the Roseville facility or the exact start date for commercial production in 2026. The current workforce exceeds 300 employees, and future personnel and capacity will continue to be adjusted based on market demand.
