TSMC negotiating to enter Europe’s safety critical auto market
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., the largest foundry in the world, is negotiating with the European companies to clinch a deal for safety critical systems it is known for world over. It is planning to make the move through Infineon Technologies AG, the number two in automotive silicon market.
IDMs, had been outsourcing its digital CMOS requirements but refrained from outsourcing specialized processes.
The automotive market remains grouped in three areas. The brown goods in the cabin, as consumer electronics grade products and automotive electronics of non-critical systems, such as window movement, have been traditionally outsourced. But the engine-management and automatic braking systems which fall in the the key safety-critical systems required higher standards of ‘zero-defect’ manufacturing.
Speaking at the conference organized by the Institute of Engineering and Technology and the Global Semiconductor Alliance, Maria Marced, president of TSMC Europe BV, disclosed that TSMC was focused on “platform” offerings or different applications - including automotive. She emphasized that silicon would be the real deliverable from TSMC. She also acknowledged that processor IP, I/O blocks, and firmware could also be the part of enabling offering. Describing Europe as the centre of excellence for automotive and communication, she expressed TSMC’s resolve to capitalize on the opportunity which is on its way.
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