By Eamonn Sinnott
Intel’s automotive commitment extends beyond autonomous driving and Mobileye. During a recent keynote at IAA Mobility, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger announced plans to establish committed capacity for foundry customers at our factories in Ireland, where we have a history of producing chips for automotive applications spanning in-vehicle infotainment to advanced driver assistance systems.
The automotive industry is responsible for 37% of the demand for semiconductors in Europe, compared to a global demand share of 10%, according to the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. But since 1989, when Intel began operations in Ireland, Europe’s global share of semiconductor manufacturing has dropped from 44% to just 9%, even as semiconductor demand continues to grow. To meet growing demand for more advanced compute capability in cars, the industry must transition automotive chip production from legacy process technologies – how most automotive chips are currently manufactured – to more advanced process technologies.
To help drive this transition to more advanced nodes, Intel is partnering with leading automotive players and committing significant resources in Europe. In addition to Intel’s €5.5 billion expansion in Ireland, we plan to build at least two new leading-edge computer chip factories in Europe with future investments that could reach €80 billion over the next decade, which will create thousands of additional construction and technical jobs. But the benefits won’t stop there.
Intel Foundry Services is putting differentiated capabilities on the table that go beyond what a traditional semiconductor foundry can offer. Automotive chip designers will be able to take advantage of Intel’s experience in manufacturing high-performance chips for automotive systems. Our unique IP can help customers conceptualize and build innovative products for automotive applications, and our advanced packaging and process technology includes the ability to manufacture automotive-grade chips in our Ireland fab.
We have worked closely with automotive customers to make sure we have the capabilities in place to meet the stringent quality requirements of the automotive industry. Our Ireland manufacturing facilities are in conformance with IATF 16949, an internationally recognized quality management standard that was developed by automotive OEMs to address specific concerns throughout their supply chain. This means that the site has demonstrated that all relevant IATF 16949 requirements related to process control or collateral quality systems are fulfilled.
Building additional advanced semiconductor factories in the EU and expanding the region’s capacity will make European supply chains more resilient and contribute to the EU’s goal of more than doubling its share of global chip manufacturing, from 9% to 20% by 2030. It will also support the needs of semiconductor designers, empower the broader economy in Europe and establish Europe as a future global technology powerhouse.
Intel remains committed to continued investment in Europe and is excited to be working with customers to meet their technology needs now and in the future. We look forward to helping accelerate Europe’s broader chip design ecosystem, expand capacity and strengthen European supply chains.
Eamonn Sinnott is Intel Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations and General Manager, Intel Ireland.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this article that refer to future plans and expectations, including with respect to future investments, site expansions, and other manufacturing plans, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s expectations as of the date of this article and involve many risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in Intel’s SEC filings, which are available at www.intc.com.
Additional information about Intel is available at:
Web – intel.ie | Twitter – @Intel_IRL | Facebook – Intel Ireland
Media contact: Sarah Sexton | sarah.sexton@intel.com | + 353 1 606 8537