Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (NYSE: TSM) plans to channelize incremental billions of dollars into the Arizona chip factories from its previously disclosed plans, Reuters reports.
TSM remains indifferent regarding the European plant plans.
Last year, TSM had announced an investment of $10 billion and $12 billion in the Phoenix chip factory. The company now plans around five additional fabs in Arizona apart from the current one.
Opinions remain divided over the next plant focus between the advanced 3-nanometer chipmaking technology and the slower, less-efficient 5-nanometer technology used for the first factory. The 3-nanometer plant could cost between $23 billion and $25 billion.
TSM could join the likes of Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (OTC: SSNLF) to seek subsidies from the U.S. government.
President Joe Biden has sought $50 billion in funding for domestic chip manufacturing. However, concerns about the misuse of the subsidies remain for higher R&D plans in favor of Taiwan instead of U.S. interests.
Interestingly, European chip and auto companies seek subsidies for the short supply of older-generation chips used by car manufacturers.
TSM’s European customer base comprises mainly less advanced chips utilized by automakers.
TSM is still open to the possibility of an older-generation auto chip plant in Europe.
TSM has hired Intel veteran Benjamin Miller as human resources head in Arizona. It has hired 250 engineers, out of which 100 have been sent to Tainan, Taiwan, for a training program.
TSM’s first Arizona factory will have an estimated output of 20,000 wafers of 12-inch silicon discs that can each contain thousands of chips per month.
However, TSM’s fabs in Taiwan can produce 100,000 wafers per month.
Price action: TSM shares traded higher by 1.67% at $110.57 in the premarket session on the last check Friday.
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