Renesas Electronics Corporation has started operations at its Kofu Factory, located in Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Mainly, Renesas aims to boost its production capacity of power semiconductors in anticipation of the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Thus, to celebrate this milestone, Renesas held an opening ceremony on April 11 with local government officials and partner companies in attendance.

Previously, the Kofu Factory operated both 150mm and 200mm wafer fabrication lines under Renesas Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renesas. However, it ceased operations in October 2014. Then, the company decided to re-open the factory in May 2022 as a 300-mm wafer fab. Primarily, it aimed to support the growing demand for power semiconductors, propelled by the goal to realize a decarbonized society. To this end, it infused a 90-billion-yen worth of investments in 2022.

Particularly, Kofu Factory will start mass production of IGBTs, power MOSFETs, and other products in 2025. Its output will double Renesas’ current production capacity for power semiconductors.

“We are proud to announce a remarkable achievement of the Kofu Factory. After its closure in 2014, the Kofu Factory has gone through a transformation. Eventually, it emerged as a dedicated 300-mm wafer fab for power semiconductors, exactly a decade later,” said Hidetoshi Shibata, President and CEO of Renesas.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the local governments of Yamanashi Prefecture, Kai City and Showa Town as well as the plant construction companies, equipment vendors, outsourcing and other partner companies. The power semiconductors produced at the Kofu Factory will help maximize the effective use of electricity. This will be in significant demand as EVs and AI continue to proliferate and advance,” continued Shibata.

-12 April 2024-