TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電), the world's leading chipmaker, has completed construction of its second Arizona fabrication facility, Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) revealed Thursday (July 17) during an industry conference. The massive facility will soon commence production of semiconductors using advanced 3-nanometer technology, representing a significant milestone in the Taiwanese tech giant's ambitious expansion across American soil and reinforcing its critical role in global technology supply chains.
Wei further disclosed that construction has already begun on TSMC's third American manufacturing facility, which will employ even more sophisticated 2-nanometer and A16 technologies. The company has strategically decided to expedite production schedules specifically to meet surging demands from the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. These developments represent just a portion of TSMC's sweeping U.S. investment strategy totaling US$165 billion, which encompasses plans for six cutting-edge fabrication plants, two specialized advanced technology facilities, and a substantial research and development campus across American locations.
TSMC's initial Arizona manufacturing facility has already reached an important operational milestone, having begun mass production in late 2024 using the N4 (4-nanometer) process technology. Wei emphasized that production yields at this plant have achieved parity with TSMC's Taiwan-based operations, dispelling concerns about potential quality differences. The company's global expansion extends beyond American shores, with its specialized technology facility in Kumamoto, Japan successfully initiating mass production in December 2024, while development of a second Japanese plant will commence before year's end.
The chipmaker's European ambitions center on Dresden, Germany, where TSMC is developing a specialized technology facility backed by substantial support from both the European Commission and German government authorities. Wei indicated that the operational schedule for this European venture would be calibrated according to specific customer requirements. Despite its global expansion, TSMC maintains robust development plans for its home base in Taiwan. Construction is already underway for cutting-edge 2-nanometer production facilities in both Hsinchu Science Park and Kaohsiung as part of a broader initiative to establish 11 new wafer fabrication plants and four advanced packaging facilities across the island.