Toshiba to invest $1 billion to double power chip production

Tokyo, Feb. 4 (BNA): Toshiba Corporation (6502.T) said Friday it will invest about 125 billion yen ($1.09 billion) in more than double power management semiconductor production, aiming to catch up with power chip giants such as Infineon Technologies AG ( IFXGn.DE).

Reuters reports that the Japanese industrial conglomerate will build a state-of-the-art 300mm plant in central Japan for energy management chips, which efficiently control electric power in automobiles, electronic devices and industry equipment.

A Toshiba spokesperson said Toshiba will invest about 100 billion yen in the new plant, on top of a 25 billion yen investment in a 300mm manufacturing line it is building in an existing wafer plant.

The new plant is scheduled to be operational by March 2025. When the first phase is completed, Toshiba’s power strip production capacity will be 2.5 times its current level. Depending on demand, the new plant could expand with additional investment, the spokesperson said.

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