The first U.S. factory to make A-series chips for Apple devices is expected to begin mass production as early as this quarter, a new report says.
This means that TSMC's test production has already begun, and Apple is reportedly in the final stages of validating the Arizona-made chips …
‘Made in America’ Apple Chips
Apple first announced its “Made in America” chip plan back in 2022, and the news was hailed as one of the success stories of the US CHIP Act, a government subsidy program designed to free the US from dependence on China for advanced chips and create jobs for American workers.
The initiative will see a number of TSMC chip factories built in Arizona, with some of the production reserved for Apple chips for older devices.
Initially, mass production was planned to begin in 2024, but the project fell behind schedule, delaying production until this year. Production of the smaller 2nm chips was later delayed until 2028.
There were claims that the first plant would be a paperweight, as production would have to be sent back to Taiwan for what is known as the “packaging” process, which involves encapsulating various circuit boards into a single chip. Apple later announced that it would commission another facility in the US to package the chips.
Controversy has surrounded TSMC's hiring for the plants, as many workers were brought in from Taiwan rather than hired in the US. The company initially said it was a temporary measure during the construction phase, but this was called into question when the situation remained unchanged last year. The lawsuit accused the company of “anti-American discrimination.”
First U.S. plant almost ready for mass production
A brief Nikkei report suggests that test production has already been completed and that mass production will begin soon.
Apple is in the final stages of testing its first cutting-edge “made in America” processor chips at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's Arizona plant. The first batch of commercial mass-produced chips is expected this quarter after quality assurance processes are completed, people familiar with the matter said.
Photo: 2×910 via Wikimedia/CC 4.0
