TSMC to discontinue gallium nitride operations
**Navitas Semiconductor Announces Partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation**
Navitas Semiconductor Inc has announced a strategic partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) to become the supplier of high-voltage gallium nitride (GaN) chips. This partnership, announced in July 2025, will see Navitas' GaN portfolio, including devices with ratings from 100 volts to 650 volts, being produced at PSMC's 200mm plant in Miaoli County's Jhunan Science Park.
The move supports growing demand from hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers and electric vehicles, as the transition from TSMC to Powerchip aims to increase production efficiency and meet burgeoning market demands for GaN technology.
Powerchip's existing 200mm fab supports high-volume manufacturing processes for GaN, ranging from micro-LEDs to RF GaN devices. The partnership leverages PSMC's capabilities, including an improved 180nm CMOS process, which enhances performance, power efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
Navitas is working closely with its customers to ensure a smooth transition during the change in suppliers, with initial device qualification expected in the fourth quarter of this year. Production of the lower voltage devices is set to commence in the first half of 2026, while the higher voltage devices will transition over the next 12 to 24 months.
This transition is part of Navitas' strategy to strengthen supply chains and drive innovation, as TSMC phases out its GaN business over the next two years. TSMC had earlier developed second-generation 650 volt and 100 volt GaN chips, with production expected to commence this year. However, the reasons for TSMC's phase-out of its GaN business were not provided in the statement.
The shift from TSMC to PSMC aligns with Navitas' strategy to increase production efficiency and meet the growing demand for GaN-based chips. GaN-based chips are an alternative to silicon-based chips in applications demanding high power efficiency, faster switch speeds, and smaller form factors. They are used in the automotive industry, data centers, and optoelectronics.
[1] Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) website: [2] TrendForce website: [3] Navitas Semiconductor Inc website: [4] Navitas Semiconductor Inc press release: [5] Bloomberg photo (no specific details provided)
The strategic partnership between Navitas Semiconductor and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) will oversee the production of high-voltage gallium nitride (GaN) chips, with the aim of catering to the expanding market demands in industries such as finance, technology, and renewable energy. The increased production efficiency from the transition to Powerchip will support hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers, electric vehicles, and other high-tech applications, such as micro-LEDs and RF GaN devices.
