TSMC Could Expand Operations in Arizona with "3nm" and "2nm" Fabs
takyon writes:
TSMC is considering a 3 nm foundry in Arizona
Reuters reports that TSMC-Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the chip foundry making advanced processors for Apple, AMD, and Qualcomm-is beefing up its plans to build factories in Arizona while turning away from an advanced plant in Europe.
Last year, TSMC announced that it would invest $10-$12 billion to build a new 5 nm capable foundry near Phoenix, Arizona. According to Reuters' sources, TSMC officials are considering trebling the company's investment by building a $25 billion second factory capable of building 3 nm chips. More tentative plans are in the works for 2 nm foundries as the Phoenix campus grows over the next 10-15 years as well.
[...] TSMC's focus on the US rather than Europe may have a lot to do with the company's market-in Q1 2021, 67 percent of its sales were in North America, 17 percent were in Asia Pacific, and only 6 percent came from Europe and the Middle East. The majority of TSMC's European clients are auto manufacturers who buy cheaper and less-advanced chips.
See also: TSMC Reportedly Plans to Build Five Additional Fabs in Arizona by 2024
It didn't take long for rumors to claim TSMC's ambitions for its Arizona subsidiary wouldn't stop with that fab. UDN reported in March that the company was planning to build up to six fabs in Arizona across several phases of development. But it was hard to believe that report in part because the first fab hasn't even opened yet.
Previously: TSMC Will Build a $12 Billion "5nm" Fab in Arizona
TSMC and SK Hynix Spending $100 Billion Each on New Fabs and R&D
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