September 10, 2024 – In a significant milestone for its US operations, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced the successful trial production of its first batch of N4 4nm process wafers at its inaugural factory in Arizona. The test results have revealed a remarkably low defect rate, which is comparable to the yield rates achieved at TSMC’s native production lines in Taiwan.
This achievement marks a crucial step forward for TSMC’s ambitious but troubled and slow-moving US venture, paving the way for mass production to commence in the first half of next year. The company has invested a staggering 65billioninitsAmericanoperations,including6.6 billion in subsidies from the US government under the CHIPS Act and an additional $5 billion in loans.
TSMC has grand plans for its facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, where it has mapped out three factories. The second factory, slated for operation in 2028, will focus on advanced 3nm and 2nm processes. Meanwhile, the third factory, whose operation date remains undisclosed, will produce 2nm and even more cutting-edge technologies.
