In order to ensure chip supply, Tesla and Hon Hai will panic buying Macronix's 6-inch wafer fab

On May 28, the British Financial Times broke the news yesterday that Tesla is considering buying a fab to solve the chip supply problem. The latest news from the industry shows that Tesla has already cooperated with Taiwan Macronix Electronics. Contact to discuss the acquisition of a 6-inch factory under Macronix.

Automotive chips began to be out of stock since the second half of last year, causing major automakers in the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea and other countries to announce production cuts or even suspend production for some factories and models due to lack of cores. Especially for electric vehicles that require more semiconductor devices, the threat of core shortage will be greater. Therefore, as the leader of electric vehicles, Tesla also attaches great importance to chip supply. Not only has it self-developed key autonomous driving chips, but now it even hopes to have its own fab.

Yesterday, the Financial Times quoted an unnamed source as reporting that Tesla is discussing with Taiwan, South Korea and the US industry in order to ensure chip supply, not only may it adopt prepayments to suppliers to lock in chip supply, but even intend to buy wafers. plant.

Subsequently, Seraph Consulting, a Tesla supply chain consultant, confirmed: "They will first buy capacity and actively consider acquiring fabs."

And now, news from the industry says that Tesla has contacted Macronix to discuss the acquisition of Macronix’s 6-inch factory.

Although, industry insiders pointed out that the current global foundry capacity is seriously insufficient, and the fab "is not enough for its own use, and it is impossible to sell the factory." However, Macronix intends to sell because its 6-inch fab has no critical significance and economic benefits for the company’s product layout. It has become an industry that has already decided to sell fabs. In addition, Macronix has cooperated with Tesla for many years. The two parties discussed the 6-inch plant deal. If Tesla intends to acquire a single plant, it is "a matter of course" to find Macronix to negotiate.

According to the data, Macronix's 6-inch factory is located in the second phase of the Hsinchu Science Park, with a good geographical location. The 6-inch factory was originally expected to be decommissioned by the end of 2020. Affected by the new crown epidemic and the current global foundry market is in short supply, the fab has been postponed to officially stop production in March 2021. As the plant has completed depreciation, if the plant and equipment are updated and upgraded, it is expected to further improve the production yield and operating efficiency.

According to industry analysis, Macronix and Tesla have been cooperating for at least seven or eight years. They mainly supply NOR Flash. The two parties are not unfamiliar with each other. The supply of NOR chips is currently in short supply, which is also a component that Tesla actively prepares. If Tesla buys For Macronix’s 6-inch plant, the two companies will "pro-superior and pro-promoter". The cooperation between the two parties is expected to further expand and promote Macronix’s scale in the automotive field.

It is worth noting that prior to this, industry rumors showed that UMC, World Advanced, and even Tokyo Weili Technology Co., Ltd. are interested in acquiring the 6-inch factory, and then Hon Hai also expressed its willingness to purchase. Now if Tesla also joins the ranks of snap-ups , Will make the final ownership of the factory more confusing.

Regarding the rumors that Tesla plans to acquire Hongwang's 6-inch wafer fab, Macronix responded yesterday (May 27) that it did not comment on market rumors and emphasized that the 6-inch fab will complete the transaction as scheduled this season, but could not disclose the purchase. Home details.

Macronix has been deeply engaged in automotive applications for many years. Prior to this, Chairman Wu Minqiu said that the overall market output value of automotive NOR chips is at least US$1 billion. Macronix’s automotive automotive applications are mainly in Japan, South Korea and Europe. Recently, new European customers have also joined. Safety certification is expected to cut into the field of electric vehicles.

According to Macronix’s internal statistics, the company was the world’s second largest automotive NOR Flash chip manufacturer last year. As its products enter the supply chain of first-tier car manufacturers, the products cover various automotive control systems such as entertainment and tire pressure. The market share of Flash core in the automotive market will leap to the first place in the world.