Bosch announced a definitive agreement with the Trump Administration for up to $225 million in direct funding from the Department of Commerce's CHIPS Program Office to support the up to $2 billion Bosch is investing to transform its Roseville, California site for the production of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors.
The Roseville facility, which has more than 40 years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing, is changing into a facility that produces and tests SiC semiconductors. Bosch also announced it has begun sample production in Roseville as the company intends to produce its first commercial production chips on 200-millimeter wafers based on SiC Bosch technology in 2026.
"The start of sample production and our agreement with the Department of Commerce is a milestone in providing our local customers with what they have requested – localized U.S.-based manufacturing," said Paul Thomas, president and CEO of Bosch in North America, in a statement. "The production of silicon carbide chips in the United States helps to support supply chain resiliency and capitalizes on the expertise of U.S. manufacturing associates to bring this technology to the U.S. market in a timely manner."
As part of its investment into U.S. manufacturing at the Roseville site, Bosch has developed a new cleanroom space and high-tech manufacturing line for production of silicon carbide chips. Bosch has accelerated its time-to-market through investment into a long-standing U.S.-based manufacturing facility with U.S.-based associates who bring specific semiconductor experience.
In April 2023, Bosch announced its intention to acquire the assets of the existing wafer fab in Roseville. The acquisition was closed in August 2023 and since that time Bosch began to transform the site while also maintaining employment of the existing associates throughout the transformation process. Bosch invested in the further development of Roseville associates through training and collaboration with the Bosch production network.
Silicon carbide chips are becoming foundational in electric and next-generation mobility systems as they handle high voltages, high temperatures and fast switching more efficiently. They also enable automotive manufacturers with a technology that supports consumer choice in the market as it helps to enable greater range and more efficient recharging in battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Recently, Bosch announced its third-generation silicon carbide chips that deliver up to 20 percent higher performance and are smaller than the previous generation. In the near future, Bosch plans to manufacture third-generation silicon carbide chips in Roseville. The new generation helps to enable greater cost efficiency and supports making high-performance electronics more widely available worldwide. Bosch has already delivered more than 60 million SiC chips worldwide since the first generation went into production in 2021.
