Japanese semiconductor maker Rohm is expanding its engagement with India's nascent semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, positioning the country as a potential future export base while initially targeting domestic automotive and industrial demand.
The company recently announced a strategic partnership with Indian OSAT firm Suchi Semicon aimed at developing backend semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in India. The initiative reflects a broader trend in which semiconductor firms are exploring localized manufacturing frameworks as supply chains evolve.
Makoto Terada, managing director at Rohm Semiconductor India, said the move was driven partly by shifting global dynamics around localized semiconductor production.
"Across many countries and regions, the concept of local production for local consumption has gained importance, and semiconductors in particular are increasingly regarded as strategic materials," Terada said. "In this context, building a stable supply and manufacturing framework for the Indian market became one of Rohm's key challenges."
The partnership follows Rohm's evaluation of India's emerging semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. According to Terada, the company began assessing potential outsourcing partners around 2024 as part of its manufacturing strategy.
"Through this process, Rohm determined that Suchi Semicon and Tata Electronics each offered strong compatibility and complementary strengths, and entered into partnerships with them respectively," he said.
Although initial discussions centered on backend manufacturing collaboration, particularly assembly and testing processes, the partnership expanded to include joint marketing and business development efforts targeting the Indian market.
"As a result, Rohm and Suchi Semicon aligned on a shared vision, leading to an agreement to establish a strategic partnership," Terada said.
Automotive ramp expected in 2026
Within Rohm's global manufacturing network, India is expected to initially play a role in supporting domestic supply for local customers, particularly in automotive applications.
The company already established a design and development center in Pune in 2020, where products are developed based on the requirements of Indian customers.
"Looking ahead, Rohm's initial priority is to establish a stable product supply framework within India," Terada said.
The company is targeting automotive products this year.
"As a first step, Rohm aims to begin mass production shipments of automotive products in 2026," Terada said. "Over the longer term, Rohm also envisions the possibility of supplying products manufactured in India to global markets, depending on market demand and readiness," he added.
India push driven by domestic demand
Unlike some semiconductor supply chain diversification initiatives aimed at redistributing manufacturing risk across regions, Rohm's India strategy is primarily driven by local market demand.
"The primary objective of this partnership is not to rebalance Rohm's internal supply-chain risk across regions," Terada said. "Rather, it is to respond to the growing demand from Indian customers for locally manufactured products and to contribute to the development of India's semiconductor ecosystem."
Requests for locally produced components are currently coming largely from Indian customers, aligning with the country's "Make in India" policy, though Rohm is also building capabilities with potential global demand in mind.
"At present, many requests are coming from Indian customers who are seeking locally manufactured products in line with the 'Make in India' initiative," Terada said. "At the same time, Rohm is mindful of the potential for future demand from global customers and is building capabilities with a long-term perspective.
Talent pool seen as key structural advantage
Beyond policy incentives, Rohm sees India's engineering talent base as one of the country's strongest advantages for semiconductor manufacturing.
"Government incentives are certainly effective during the initial investment phase, but they were not the sole reason Rohm evaluated India positively," Terada said.
"One of India's greatest strengths is its large pool of highly trained engineers," he added, noting that semiconductor packaging, testing, and application engineering require specialized technical skills.
India's expanding domestic electronics demand and improving logistics connectivity also contribute to its long-term competitiveness.
"India offers advantages in terms of logistics connectivity, market access, and expanding domestic demand," Terada said. "As the local supply chain and related industries mature, Rohm expects these factors to further enhance India's longterm cost competitiveness."
Meeting global automotive quality standards
A key challenge in building semiconductor manufacturing capacity in India will be maintaining the stringent reliability and quality standards required for automotive and industrial applications.
"For companies like Rohm that supply power semiconductors for automotive and industrial applications, compliance with international standards such as AECQ certification and long-term reliability testing is essential," Terada said.
To ensure global consistency, Rohm is working closely with local partners, including Suchi Semicon and Tata Electronics, to align manufacturing processes with international quality benchmarks.
Broader ecosystem role emerging
Looking beyond manufacturing, Rohm sees opportunities to deepen its presence in India across engineering support, power electronics design collaboration, and ecosystem development.
"As the semiconductor ecosystem here continues to evolve, there are opportunities for deeper engagement across several areas," Terada said.
"Strengthening local application engineering teams could help us support Indian customers working in electric mobility, renewable energy systems, and industrial electronics."
The company has been investing heavily in next-generation power semiconductor technologies globally, particularly silicon carbide devices.
"Rohm has been making significant global investments in next-generation power semiconductor technologies, particularly silicon carbide devices, and we believe these technologies will play an important role in future energy and mobility systems," Terada said.
As India expands its electric vehicle and electronics manufacturing ecosystems, closer collaboration in power electronics design and local supplier development could help strengthen the country's semiconductor value chain.
"Over time, such engagement can help build a stronger semiconductor value chain in India while supporting Rohm's long-term growth in power electronics markets," Terada said.
Article edited by Jack Wu
