FILE PHOTO: The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is pictured at its headquarters, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, January 19, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang
TAIPEI: Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) is planning to produce chips with advanced three-nanometre technology at its new factory in the US state of Arizona but the plans are not completely finalised yet, the company’s founder Morris Chang says.
TSMC, a major Apple Inc supplier and the world’s largest contract chipmaker, is constructing a US$12bil (RM54.6bil) plant in Arizona.
Last year, Reuters reported TSMC’s plans to build more chipmaking factories in Arizona, including discussions about whether its next plant should be more advanced which could make chips with three-nanometre technology compared to the slower, less-efficient five-nanometre chips that will be churned out when the facility begins production.
Chang, speaking to reporters in Taipei after returning from the Apec summit in Thailand, said the three-nanometre plant would be located at the same Arizona site as the five-nanometre plant.
“Three-nanometre, TSMC right now has a plan, but it has not been completely finalised,” said Chang, who has retired from TSMC but remains influential in the company and the broader chip industry.
“It has almost been finalised – in the same Arizona site, phase two. Five-nanometre is phase one, three-nanometre is phase two.”
TSMC, Asia’s most valuable listed company, declined to comment. — Reuters
