Infineon and Bosch sign a collaboration contract for power semiconductors
Neubiberg and Stuttgart, Germany – March 23, 2009 – Infineon Technologies AG and Robert Bosch GmbH are widening their cooperation to include power semiconductors.
The collaboration between the companies has two key aspects: First, Bosch is to license from Infineon certain manufacturing processes for power semiconductors – specifically, for low-voltage power MOSFETs (metal oxide silicon field effect transistors) – along with the requisite manufacturing technologies. Second, the collaboration contract between the two companies’ includes a second-source agreement. Parallel to Bosch’s own semiconductor manufacturing in Reutlingen, Infineon will produce components developed on the basis of these processes and will supply Bosch with these components. Going forward, the two companies will also work jointly on the development of enabling technologies for the production of power semiconductors. By working with Bosch, Infineon is not just expanding its share of the semiconductor market in the automotive segment, it will also be Bosch’s preferred supplier of power semiconductors.
Environmental regulations and new limits on fuel consumption and carbon emissions mean that every subsystem in a motor vehicle needs to consume less energy while continuing to deliver the same, or better, performance. This calls for the development of new breeds of generators, starter-generators, engine management systems, air-conditioning systems, and power steering, for example. Power semiconductors play an important role in meeting automotive energy-saving targets. They are the components that control the power consumed by electrical loads and enable smart energy management in engines.
“We are the world leader in power semiconductors and have carved out a significant and sustainable lead in this field of technology,” said Peter Bauer, spokesman for Infineon Technologies AG’s Management Board. “Together with Bosch, who are strong innovators, we want to continue to enhance the energy efficiency of electronic components in the automotive sector. Besides setting new standards in power semiconductors, a market that will grow in the long term, this collaboration will put the supply of Bosch power semiconductors on a much broader footing.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>
“By working with Infineon, we are strengthening our position as a manufacturer of electronic components, modules and systems for high-power control applications,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, Bosch’s Board of Management member responsible for automotive electronics. “In particular, this collaboration will enable us to expand our supply portfolio for new drive technologies in automobiles, including hybrid and purely electrical drive systems, to advance innovation, and to underscore our position as the world’s leading supplier of automotive technology.”
Infineon and Bosch have already been working together for many years, and Infineon has received the Bosch Supplier Award on four separate occasions. Bosch awards this prize since 1987 every two years and recognizes businesses for their exceptional performance as suppliers of products and services, above all for reliability and quality.
Additional information on Infineon’s power semiconductors and modules is available on the Web.
Industrial applications: www.infineon.com/power
Automotive applications: www.infineon.com/automotive.
Press contact at Robert Bosch GmbH
Thomas Knoll
Phone: +49 711 811-7088
E-mail: thomas.knoll@bosch.com
More information: www.bosch-presse.de
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, communications, and security. In the 2008 fiscal year (ending September), the company reported sales of Euro 4.3 billion with approximately 29,100 employees worldwide. With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the U.S. from Milpitas, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore, and in Japan from Tokyo. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX).
Information Number
INFATV200903.045