Cree Inc., Durham, N.C., announces plans for a $1 billion investment to its headquarters in Durham to expand the company’s silicon carbide materials capabilities and wafer fabrication capacity. Both moves will allow Cree to expand its semiconductor offerings in leveraging technology shifts taking place within the automotive, communications infrastructure, and industrial markets.
The project, which is scheduled for completion by 2024, marks Cree’s largest investment to date for its Wolfspeed silicon carbide and GaN on silicon carbide business. It will include $450 million to build out a production facility in an empty building on the Durham campus, expanding it to 253,000 square feet – 18 times more than currently available.
Additionally, the company will spend $45 million to convert a smaller lab into a second silicon carbide crystal growth facility. The expansion will be fully automotive-qualified and will create a yet-to-be-determined number of advanced manufacturing jobs. Cree plans to partner with state and local institutions to meet its hiring requirements.
