Nexperia’s China unit pivots to domestic 12-inch wafers in pursuit of ‘100%’ independence
Nexperia’s China unit has announced a complete shift of its product line to a domestic 12-inch silicon wafer foundry. This move is part of the unit’s pursuit of “independent operations” following a nearly year-long dispute with its European headquarters. The China team, which previously sourced wafers from European plants, aims for “100 per cent domestic production.” This transition involves moving all products, including diodes, MOSFETs, and logic integrated circuits, from older 8-inch and 6-inch lines to the new 12-inch wafer supply from an unnamed Chinese partner. China is responsible for about 70 per cent of Nexperia’s global output.
Nexperia China’s pivot to a domestic 12-inch wafer supply is a significant development for China’s semiconductor self-sufficiency drive. This move, framed as achieving “100 per cent domestic production,” directly addresses the vulnerabilities exposed by international supply chain disputes. For China, it represents a tangible step in localizing critical components for a major chip producer, especially given that Nexperia’s China unit accounts for 70 per cent of the firm’s global output. The shift to 12-inch wafers also indicates an upgrade in manufacturing capability for the unnamed Chinese strategic partner. The thing to watch is the actual ramp-up and quality consistency of these new domestic supply lines. While the announcement of small-volume production of bipolar discrete devices in March was a positive sign, scaling up the entire product portfolio to 12-inch wafers for diodes, MOSFETs, and logic ICs presents a substantial technical and operational challenge. The success of this transition will offer a clearer picture of China’s progress in advanced wafer manufacturing beyond just assembly.
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