Overview
- ESMC's Dresden site, which held a Richtfest on Monday, has completed major structural work and project leaders called the ceremony a key milestone toward opening the factory.
- The plant is a joint venture with TSMC holding 70 percent and Bosch, Infineon and NXP each holding 10 percent, backed by a €10 billion investment that includes €5 billion in federal support.
- Public accounts differ on when production will begin with ESMC stating a target of the second half of 2027 and other reports projecting the first wafers in 2028, so the start date remains unconfirmed.
- Construction currently involves more than 2,000 workers from many countries, training for future staff is already under way at TSMC’s Taiwan sites, and the factory is planned to employ about 2,000 permanent workers.
- Officials say the plant will make up to 12-nanometer automotive chips, strengthen the Silicon Saxony cluster and could prompt further local expansion including proposals for additional factory land and a possible second plant.