TSMC CEO: Construction of the US 5-nanometer chip factory has begun

TSMC is investing $12 billion to build a chip factory in Arizona, USA, and company executives said on Tuesday that construction of the factory has begun.

TSMC CEO Dr. CC Wei said at the company's online annual meeting that the factory will use 5-nanometer technology to mass-produce chips starting in 2024.

The US government provides $54 billion in subsidies for chip companies to build factories in the US, and TSMC, Intel, and Samsung are all contenders. Foreign media previously reported that TSMC plans to build up to six factories in Arizona in the next 10-15 years.

CC. Wei said that the company has developed a 5-nanometer chip manufacturing technology, which has been licensed for use in automobiles to support tasks such as AI, but products of this technology are unlikely to alleviate the current shortage of automotive chips because what is lacking now are chips with relatively backward technology.

In addition, CC. Wei also pointed out that the next-generation 3-nanometer technology is progressing as planned, with the goal of starting mass production at Taiwan's Fab 18 plant in the second half of next year. TSMC's investment this year will reach US$30 billion, and a total of US$100 billion in the next three years.