Taiwan MOSFET, Diode Makers Step Up Deployment in EV Market

Taiwan-based power MOSFET and diode makers, such as Advanced Power Electronics (A-Power), Eris Technology, Pan Jit International, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSC), and XSemi, a joint venture between Foxconn and Yageo, have stepped up their deployment in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Sources noted that 2022 has not been a good year for power component manufacturers that make small basic ICs, due to high inventory and weak demand in the main IT and consumer electronics industries, which include diodes and MOSFET. XSemi has deployed in the power management IC (PMIC), silicon carbide (SiC), and silicon-based IGBT (Si IGBT) fields, according to sources. Additionally, XSemi has successfully entered the supply chain for electric bus power modules as part of Foxconn's system, sources added. Other Taiwan-based power component makers are also actively working with the MIH platform. Diode makers are also focusing on increasing deployments in the automotive and industrial control sectors, as well as reducing their dependence on the consumer electronics applications market. Sources pointed out that inventory pressure on consumer low-voltage MOSFET products is fairly high and lower-end diodes have also been affected by inventory adjustments. Operations for Taiwanese diode makers have remained relatively stable, attributed to major IDMs focusing on the short supply of automotive MOSFETs and Si IGBTs, resulting in the continued shortage of some midrange and high-end power components. Additionally, Taiwanese power component makers are gradually entering the automotive electronics peripherals field, and demand for power components and modules for industrial control and green energy remains stable. Taiwanese diode companies pointed out that many international tier-1 suppliers, including Foxconn/MIH platform, are related customers, and they are optimistic about the "10-year trend" of EVs. Eris's consolidated revenue totaled NT$186 million (US$5.82 million) in September for a sequential increase of 1.2%. Combined revenue from January to September reached a record-high NT$1.66 billion, an on-year increase of 10.2%. TSC's September revenue amounted to NT$1.34 billion for a sequential decrease of 0.91% and an on-year increase of 8.7%. Third-quarter revenue and revenue from January-September both set new company records for the same period. Annual growth in 2022 has already surpassed 20%. Pan Jit's September revenue reached NT$1.05 billion. Performance from January-September remained relatively flat. A-Power, the largest shareholder of XSemi, saw accumulated revenue from the first three quarters of 2022 reach NT$3.21 billion, roughly the same as in 2021. In the future, A-Power expects to play a critical role in the group and is already deploying in the MOSFET, IBGT, and SiC power component sectors.