12th March 2023 – (Taipei) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has confirmed it is still contemplating the establishment of a fab in Europe, despite recent reports suggesting the company was shifting its focus to Singapore. Previous reports indicated that Germany had been chosen as the preferred location, citing its large automotive industry’s demand for computer chips. However, concerns were raised regarding the level of financial aid offered by the European Union and the German authorities. Conversely, Singapore has reportedly offered tax benefits and subsidies for the use of water and electricity, making it an attractive location for the production of 12-inch wafers for memory chips.
In response to these reports, TSMC stated that it was still assessing the need to establish a fab for automotive chips in Europe based on customer demand and the level of government support. The company is also considering building a second fab in Japan. While not ruling out other regions or countries, TSMC clarified that it had no concrete plans for additional factories at present.