German Cartel Office Approves Stakes by Bosch, Infineon, and NXP in TSMC's Semiconductor Plant in Dresden

The German cartel office has approved the acquisition of the stake by Bosch, Infineon, and NXP in TSMC's semiconductor plant in the city of Dresden. Each company will acquire a 10% share and be part of the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC).

Securing Access to Semiconductors Vital for German Industry

In a statement released on Tuesday, Andreas Mundt, President of the cartel office, highlighted the significance of secured access to semiconductors, especially for the German industry.

According to Reuters, Mundt emphasized that recent geopolitical disruptions have underscored the importance of semiconductor availability. The European Union and Germany are committed to boosting semiconductor production within Europe and Germany itself.

The new semiconductor plant in Dresden marks an important milestone for TSMC. This will be their first manufacturing facility in Europe and their third outside of their traditional bases in Taiwan and China, as per The Hindu. Its establishment aligns with Germany's goal of promoting domestic chip manufacturing, a crucial factor for maintaining global competitiveness in the automotive industry.

ESMC Advances Future Capacity for Automotive and Industrial Sectors

The European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) is a significant development for the automotive and industrial sectors. It paves the way for the construction of a 300mm fabrication facility, catering to the increasing demand for semiconductors in these rapidly growing industries.

The final investment decision is pending confirmation of the level of public funding, with the project falling under the framework of the European Chips Act.

As earlier announced by TSMC in a press release, the planned fab will employ TSMC’s cutting-edge 28/22 nanometer planar CMOS and 16/12 nanometer FinFET process technology. This move further strengthens Europe's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem by introducing advanced FinFET transistor technology. The fab is projected to create approximately 2,000 high-tech professional jobs and is expected to commence construction in the second half of 2024, with production slated to begin by the end of 2027.

The joint venture formed for this project will be predominantly owned by TSMC, with Bosch, Infineon, and NXP each holding a 10% equity stake. However, the ownership structure is subject to approval from regulatory bodies and other necessary conditions. The total investment in the fab is estimated to exceed 10 billion euros, consisting of equity injections, debt borrowing, and substantial support from the European Union and the German government. TSMC will operate the facility.

Photo: Bosch Newsroom