The World's Largest 200mm Silicon Carbide Power Semiconductor Plant Opened in Malaysia

Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, with their excellent performance in high temperature, high frequency, high power and high energy efficiency, are gradually replacing traditional silicon materials and becoming a key technology to promote the development of modern electronic devices. Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), as representatives of wide-bandgap semiconductors, have shown great market potential and strategic value due to their wide applications in electric vehicles, fast charging stations, renewable energy systems, AI data centers and other fields.

Recently, German chip giant Infineon Technologies officially opened the first phase of its new factory (Factory No. 3) in Kulim, Malaysia, marking the birth of the world's largest 200mm silicon carbide power semiconductor wafer factory.

At the launch ceremony, Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck said: "When the second phase of the Kulim new wafer fab is completed, it will become the world's largest and most competitive 200mm silicon carbide power semiconductor wafer fab. We are a leader in the power semiconductor market and have long anticipated the technological development in this field. Therefore, we have timely and decisively invested in wide bandgap semiconductors (fields) such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Our internal manufacturing strategy plays an important role in achieving differentiated competition."

It is worth mentioning that in addition to Infineon, other chip manufacturers have also flocked to Malaysia to expand their factories in recent years.

At the beginning of this year, AT&S, a high-end semiconductor packaging substrate supplier, officially opened its first factory in Kulim High-Tech Park, Kedah, Malaysia. The total investment of the factory exceeds 1 billion euros and is expected to start providing high-end semiconductor packaging substrates for chip manufacturer AMD's data center chips by the end of 2024.

Ingolf Schroeder, AT&S board member and executive vice president of the microelectronics business unit, said in an interview with China Business Network that Malaysia, as the center of the international electronics and semiconductor industries, is the world's sixth largest semiconductor exporter. There are currently nearly 600,000 people working in the semiconductor industry in Malaysia, and there is a rich reserve of high-tech talents.

Nvidia founder and CEO Huang Renxun also visited Malaysia at the end of last year and cooperated with Malaysia's Yang Zhongli Group (YTL) to build AI infrastructure, with a total investment of 20 billion Malaysian ringgit (about 4.3 billion US dollars).

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority said that the country accounts for nearly 13% of the global chip packaging, assembly and testing services market.

In May this year, Malaysia announced its national strategy in the semiconductor field. This is a huge three-phase plan to make Malaysia a world semiconductor power in the next decade. In the first phase, Malaysia intends to invest at least 500 billion ringgit (about 106 billion US dollars), mainly in integrated circuit design, construction of advanced assembly plants, and attracting foreign investment to build chip factories or purchase semiconductor equipment. Malaysia also intends to attract high-tech giants such as Apple, Huawei, Lenovo and some capital to promote their high-tech product business in Malaysia.