RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Wolfspeed will open its newest semiconductor facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony later today.  But the news of the morning comes from a new partnership announced by the Durham-headquartered company.

Lucid Motors, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, will use a silicon carbide power module developed and manufactured by Wolfspeed in the Lucid Air vehicle, the company announced today.

“Lucid Motors is an emerging leader in not only electric vehicles, but the entire automotive industry,” said Gregg Lowe, CEO of Wolfspeed. “As the world advances towards an all-electric future for transportation, Silicon Carbide technology is at the forefront of the industry’s transition to EVs, enabling superior performance, range and charge time.”

The device, referred to by the company as an “automotive qualified 1200V silicon carbide XM3 half-bridge power module,” will be manufactured at the company’s new facility in the Mohawk Valley of New York.

The agreement between the companies will last multiple years, according to a statement released by the company.

Wolfspeed CEO: Demand for semiconductors continues to increase – here’s why

Facility expansion

The new facility opens today, and according to the company, will be the world’s largest 200-millimeter silicon carbide fabrication factory.  It is expected to “dramatically” increase production capacity, according to the company’s statement.

“Our investment in the Mohawk Valley Fab ensures our customers, including Lucid, have access to the advanced products they need to deliver innovative solutions to the market,” said Lowe.

Wolfspeed is in the process of raising $650 million in debt due to increasing demand, WRAL TechWire previously reported.  And Lowe told WRAL TechWire in February that demand for semiconductors was still increasing.

There’s been a number of recent announcements in the semiconductor industry: Intel will construct a $20 billion facility in Ohio and Samsung is set to invest $17 billion in Texas.  Lowe told WRAL TechWire in February that with the passage of the CHIPS Act, the probability of “more announcements” will be higher.

That includes in North Carolina, according to Lowe, who told WRAL TechWire that North Carolina can and will be a competitive state for the semiconductor industry.

“We’re a shining example of that,” said Lowe in February.  “With the expansion of our Durham campus.”

Wolfspeed is investing in its headquarters location, as well, Lowe noted.  Durham is seeing its fair share of construction cranes and orange fencing, Lowe said.  The company is expanding its materials business and is adding capacity in its wafer fabrication processes, and a spokesperson for the company told WRAL TechWire that the company’s planned investment is some $1 billion between the two facilities.

Wolfspeed raising $650M, ups capital raise by $150M in reaction to demand