Renesas Electronics Kofu Plant officially restarts to increase power semiconductor production capacity

Renesas Electronics has resumed operations at its Kofu Plant in Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, to expand production capacity for power semiconductors in response to growing demand for electric vehicles. This move is intended to meet the growing demand for power semiconductors to achieve the goal of a decarbonized society.

The Kofu plant ceased operations in 2014, but now Renesas Electronics has invested 90 billion yen to upgrade and transform it into a dedicated 300mm power semiconductor production line. The production line is expected to start mass production of power semiconductors, mainly IGBTs, in 2025, doubling Renesas Electronics' power semiconductor production capacity.

At the opening ceremony a few days ago, Hidetoshi Shibata, the representative director, president and CEO of Renesas Electronics, said that the reopening of the Kofu factory and its transformation into a 300mm wafer production line was inseparable from the concerted efforts of local governments such as Yamanashi Prefecture, Kai City, and Showa Town, as well as the joint efforts of partners such as factory construction companies, equipment suppliers, and outsourcing companies. He also emphasized that through the power semiconductors produced at the Kofu factory, Renesas Electronics will contribute to the popularization and expansion of electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.

The Kofu plant is now affiliated with Renesas Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renesas, and officially opened on April 1, 2024. The clean room area of ​​the plant can reach up to 18,000 square meters, and it mainly produces power semiconductor products such as IGBT and power MOSFET. This move will undoubtedly further enhance Renesas Electronics' competitiveness in the global semiconductor market and help the continued development of the electric vehicle industry.