Wolfspeed and ZF to establish joint R&D
center in Germany to further advance global Silicon Carbide system
and device innovation leadership
ZF invests in Wolfspeed to support construction
of the world’s most advanced and largest Silicon Carbide device
fab
Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), the global leader in Silicon
Carbide technology and ZF, a global technology company enabling
next generation mobility, today announced a strategic partnership
that includes the creation of a joint innovation lab to drive
advances in Silicon Carbide systems and devices for mobility,
industrial and energy applications. The partnership also includes a
significant investment by ZF to support the planned construction of
the world’s most advanced and largest 200mm Silicon Carbide device
fab in Ensdorf, Germany. Both the joint innovation lab and the
Wolfspeed device fab are planned as part of the Important Project
of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for Microelectronics and
Communication Technologies framework, and are dependent upon state
aid approval from the European Commission.
“These initiatives are a significant step towards a successful
industrial transformation. They strengthen European supply
resilience and, at the same time, support the European Green Deal
and the strategic goals for Europe’s Digital Decade,” said Dr.
Holger Klein, CEO of ZF.
Wolfspeed and ZF Partner on Silicon
Carbide R&D Center
The strategic partnership includes a joint research facility in
Germany that will focus on real world e-mobility and renewable
energy system level challenges. The goal of the collaboration is to
develop breakthrough innovations for Silicon Carbide systems,
products, and applications, covering the full value chain from chip
to complete systems. Additional collaboration partners will be
invited to participate in the innovation process, establishing an
end-to-end, European Silicon Carbide innovation network.
The R&D center will focus on innovation for Silicon Carbide
systems and devices to meet specific requirements in all mobility
segments including consumer, commercial, agricultural, and
industrial vehicles as well as in the industrial and renewable
energy markets. The collaboration will drive improvements such as
higher efficiency, increased power density and higher performances
for electrification solutions.
ZF to Invest in Wolfspeed for Next
Generation 200mm Silicon Carbide Fab
As separately announced, Wolfspeed plans to construct a fully
automated, highly advanced 200mm wafer fabrication facility in
Saarland, Germany. ZF intends to support this new construction by
making a sizable financial investment in the hundreds of millions
of dollars in exchange for Wolfspeed common stock. As a part of
this investment ZF will have a minority ownership position in the
fab. Wolfspeed will maintain all operational and management control
rights in the new fab. ZF and Wolfspeed previously announced a
strategic partnership in 2019 to create industry-leading, highly
efficient electric drivelines with a Silicon Carbide inverter, and
these new initiatives represent the next generation of innovation
for the partners.
“We have a strong partner by our side in ZF, which brings
industry-leading experience in scaling components for electric
mobility as well as the aptitude to accelerate innovation in
Silicon Carbide systems and power devices. I am confident this
partnership will lift Silicon Carbide semiconductor technology to a
new level of global impact, supporting increased sustainability and
efficiency efforts across a multitude of industries,” said Gregg
Lowe, president and CEO of Wolfspeed.
“Together, Wolfspeed and ZF combine expertise in power
electronics and systems with a know-how in applications that is
unparalleled in the industry. Wolfspeed brings its more than 35
years in Silicon Carbide technology, and at ZF we have a unique
understanding of the overall systems across all sectors - from
passenger cars and commercial vehicles to construction machinery,
wind power and industrial applications. The close cooperation
between fab and R&D center will enable us to develop
breakthrough innovations beyond state of the art for the benefit of
our customers,” says Stephan von Schuckmann, Member of the ZF Board
of Management.
About Wolfspeed, Inc.:
Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide
adoption of Silicon Carbide and GaN technologies. We provide
industry-leading solutions for efficient energy consumption and a
sustainable future. Wolfspeed’s product families include Silicon
Carbide materials, power devices and RF devices targeted for
various applications such as electric vehicles, fast charging, 5G,
renewable energy and storage, and aerospace and defense. We unleash
the power of possibilities through hard work, collaboration and a
passion for innovation. Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.
Twitter: @Wolfspeed LinkedIn: @Wolfspeed
Wolfspeed® is a registered trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc.
About ZF
ZF is a global technology company supplying systems for
passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology,
enabling the next generation of mobility. ZF allows vehicles to
see, think and act. In the four technology domains of Vehicle
Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving, and Electric
Mobility, ZF offers comprehensive product and software solutions
for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport
and mobility service providers. ZF electrifies a wide range of
vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to
reducing emissions, protecting the climate and enhancing safe
mobility.
With some 157,500 employees worldwide, ZF reported sales of
€38.3 billion in fiscal year 2021. The company is represented with
188 production locations in 31 countries.
For further press information and photos, please
visit:www.zf.com
Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements by
Wolfspeed involving risks and uncertainties, both known and
unknown, that may cause Wolfspeed’s actual results to differ
materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ
materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that
Wolfspeed does not receive receiving funding from the European
Union’s Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)
framework; that Wolfspeed may encounter delays or other
difficulties in constructing and/or ramping up production in this
new device factory on time, at the projected costs, with the
anticipated job creation and to the extent of the anticipated
production levels or at all; risks associated with the transition
of high volume production from 150mm to 200mm wafers; the continued
pace of the transition to using Silicon Carbide devices in electric
vehicles and other industrial uses; Wolfspeed’s ability to develop
and design Silicon Carbide devices that will continue to improve
performance in broad markets; the risk that Wolfspeed may be unable
to manufacture its products with sufficiently low cost to offer
them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; the risk
that demand for Silicon Carbide will not grow as Wolfspeed expects;
the rapid development of new technology and competing products that
may impair demand or render Wolfspeed’s products obsolete; and
other factors discussed in Wolfspeed’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the
year ended June 26, 2022, and subsequent filings. For additional
product and company information, please refer to
www.wolfspeed.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230201005035/en/
Wolfspeed PR contact:
Melinda Walker +1 818-261-4585 media@wolfspeed.com
IR contact: Tyler Gronbach +1 919-407-4820
investorrelations@wolfspeed.com
ZF Christoph Horn, Head of
Group Communications, phone: +49 7541 77-2705, e-mail:
christoph.horn@zf.com
Karin Markenstein, Head of Communication, Electrified Powertrain
Technology Division, phone: +49 681 920-2563, e-mail:
karin.markenstein@zf.com
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