Vishay invests £250M to produce EV chips in Newport
- Vishay Intertechnology is investing £250 million to produce silicon carbide semiconductors in Newport, South Wales.
- The investment will create over 500 highly skilled jobs and increase semiconductor production in the UK.
- This initiative reflects the UK's strategy to enhance its position in advanced semiconductor technology and support economic growth.
In a significant investment for the UK's semiconductor industry, Vishay Intertechnology has committed to invest £250 million to establish a silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor production facility at the former Newport Wafer Fab in South Wales. This investment, revealed on March 27, 2025, comes a year after the UK government's approval of the site's sale, which is now known as Vishay Newport. The move is part of the government's Automotive Transformation Fund initiative to enhance the UK's production capabilities in advanced semiconductor technology. The Newport facility is now poised to produce SiC components that are essential for high-power applications such as electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains and wind turbines. The investment consists of both capital expenditures and research and development funding, indicating an ongoing commitment to innovation within the semiconductor sector. With Vishay's spokesperson confirming that the necessary chipmaking equipment is on its way, assembly is expected to commence soon at the revamped manufacturing site. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the UK's finance minister, is visiting the Newport operation on the same day to show support for the investment and its implications for the local and national economy. Vishay stated that this investment is projected to create over 500 highly skilled jobs directly in the region while also generating hundreds of additional jobs indirectly within the greater supply chain. The Newport Wafer Fab has a storied history, previously operating as a manufacturing site for the well-known British chip company Inmos, which produced the Transputer processor. However, its ownership transitioned to the Dutch semiconductor company Nexperia in 2021. Concerns arose regarding Nexperia's links to Wingtech Technology, a partially state-owned Chinese entity, leading to a directive from British authorities requiring Nexperia to sell the facility again. Consequently, Vishay acquired the site in November 2023, signaling a shift towards bolstering domestic semiconductor production in the UK and reducing reliance on foreign entities.