SK Hynix's 8-inch wafer subsidiary, SK Key Foundry, announced plans to launch its silicon carbide (SiC) compound power semiconductor business in the first half of 2026.
According to South Korean media outlets Businesspost and ET News, the company aims to expand process technologies for high-voltage and high-efficiency applications, including electric vehicle (EV) drive systems, industrial power converters, and new energy inverters. SK Key Foundry plans to deliver SiC MOSFET 1200V process technology by the end of 2025 and begin SiC power semiconductor foundry services in early 2026.
Building tech competitiveness through integration
To support this new business, SK Key Foundry has enhanced process optimization and reliability evaluation workflows, while also establishing a dedicated organization to develop customized SiC solutions.
Notably, the company utilized its semiconductor manufacturing process capabilities and intellectual property (IP) as a foundation to acquire SiC power semiconductor maker SK Powertech in 2022, thereby strengthening its technological competitiveness.
SK Key Foundry CEO Lee Dong-jae noted that the company will integrate SK Powertech's core R&D strengths to advance high-efficiency SiC power semiconductor processes and introduce related products.
Rising global demand for SiC power devices
Compared with conventional silicon, SiC offers superior stability and reduced power loss under high-temperature and high-voltage conditions. The global adoption of compound power semiconductors, particularly SiC, is accelerating in EVs, energy storage systems (ESS), 5G infrastructure, and data centers.
According to market research firm Omdia, the global SiC market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 24% from 2025 to 2030. SK Key Foundry views the SiC power semiconductor segment as a new growth engine and plans to broaden global partnerships to increase its market share.
Expanding automotive applications
Before entering the SiC sector, SK Key Foundry had already established a foothold in the automotive semiconductor market. The company developed high-performance automotive chip processes and began producing power chips for Tesla in the second half of 2024.
As reported by Seoul Economic Daily, citing industry sources, SK Key Foundry began manufacturing Tesla EV power management ICs (PMICs) at its 8-inch wafer fabrication plant in Cheongju, South Korea, in July 2024.
Article translated by Willis Ke and edited by Jack Wu
