Singapore's Newest 300 mm Fab Clears Risk Production With First Wafers Yielding Above 99 Percent

Just 22 months after breaking ground, VisionPower Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Pte. Ltd. (VSMC) has completed construction of its first 12-inch fab in Tampines, Singapore, and entered risk production.

The company reports that its first sample lot was successfully processed with yields exceeding 99 percent, keeping the project on schedule for volume production in the first quarter of 2027. VSMC, a joint venture formed in September 2024 by Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS, TPEx: 5347) and NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXP, NASDAQ: NXPI), celebrated the grand opening of the facility on September 28, 2026. The fab is the company's first 300mm site.

Government and Industry Figures Attend the Ceremony

The opening drew senior Singapore officials, including Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry); Mr. Png Cheong Boon, Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB); and Ms. Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive Officer of JTC Corporation. Representatives from TSMC and other partners joined customers, suppliers, industry associations, government agencies, and management teams from VSMC, VIS, and NXP at the event.

What the Fab Will Make

The Tampines facility will offer process technologies from 130nm to 40nm, supporting mixed-signal, power management, analog, and interposer applications across the high-performance computing, mobile, automotive, industrial, and consumer end markets.

Operations follow a fully automated smart manufacturing model that integrates artificial intelligence and digital management technologies, which the company says will improve operational efficiency and the quality of customer service. When it reaches full capacity in 2029, the fab is expected to produce approximately 44,000 12-inch wafers per month and to create around 1,600 jobs.

What the Venture Partners Are Saying

Rafael Sotomayor, President and Chief Executive Officer of NXP, described the joint venture fab as an important milestone in strengthening NXP's manufacturing base and its ability to support long-term customer demand.

He said that building on decades of operations and investment in Singapore, VSMC enhances NXP's geographic resilience, supply control, and cost competitiveness while advancing the company's differentiated hybrid manufacturing strategy.

NXP's planned manufacturing capacity at VSMC, he noted, remains unchanged, supporting sustainable growth and the delivery of technologies enabling the next generation of intelligent edge and Physical AI systems. VSMC and VIS Chairman Leuh Fang said the ceremony marks a significant milestone for VSMC and reflects VIS's long-term commitment to deepening its Singapore presence while expanding its global footprint.

Since the joint venture was established in 2024, he said, the partners have worked closely with NXP and others to complete the first 12-inch fab, and with the fab now officially operational, the company is better positioned to meet growing customer demand for specialty IC manufacturing, strengthen the resilience of the global semiconductor supply chain, and contribute to the growth of Singapore's high-tech industry and semiconductor ecosystem.

Singapore's Economic Development Board Weighs In

Ms. Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President of the EDB, said the fab reflects the strong confidence that global companies continue to place in Singapore as a global node for advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor value chain.

Beyond adding new capabilities and capacity to the country's semiconductor ecosystem, she noted, VSMC's collaborations with institutes of higher learning will equip the local workforce to contribute to technologies shaping industries and trends. Koh also highlighted the company's efforts across carbon abatement, energy efficiency, and water recycling as evidence of its commitment to more sustainable manufacturing practices in Singapore.

Green Design and a Talent Pipeline

VSMC says sustainability shaped the facility from the start: the fab was designed and constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Singapore's Green Mark standards. By incorporating renewable energy solutions and green manufacturing practices, the company says it continues to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact as it works toward a fab that delivers manufacturing excellence alongside environmental responsibility.

Talent development is a parallel priority. VSMC is strengthening industry-academia collaboration and has signed memoranda of understanding with leading universities in Singapore. Through internship and professional training programs, the company says it is cultivating semiconductor talent and building a sustainable pipeline for the industry's future growth.

The Venture Behind the Fab

VSMC is a specialty semiconductor foundry joint venture established by VIS and NXP in September 2024 and headquartered in Singapore. It provides specialty foundry services on 12-inch wafers, supporting mixed-signal, power management, analog, and interposer technologies for automotive, industrial, consumer, mobile, and high-performance computing applications.

Its first fab, located in Tampines, is designed to deliver manufacturing solutions to customers worldwide. With the opening ceremony complete, the venture that began two years earlier has moved from construction milestone to operational fab, with volume production now set for the first quarter of 2027.