
Texas Instruments announces two new chip plants in the U.S.
Texas Instruments on Wednesday announced plans for two new chip factories, widening its ongoing U.S. chip manufacturing expansion.
Why it matters: The U.S. has been scrambling to ramp up chip production capacity after the pandemic exposed the country's over-reliance on imports as a national security issue.
Driving the news: TI plans to add two new semiconductor fabrication plants — or fabs — at its "megasite" in Sherman, Texas, "to support future demand."
It was not immediately clear whether the U.S. government would provide additional incentives for the projects after the Biden administration awarded up to $1.6 billion in Chips Act funding to the company in December.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently told Axios' Mike Allen that the Trump administration wants to squeeze more investments out of companies that received those incentives.
Lutnick issued a statement Wednesday hailing the announcement: "Our partnership with TI will support U.S. chip manufacturing for decades to come."
Context: TI has been expanding chip manufacturing in the U.S. for several years.
The company's first new fab in Sherman will begin production in 2025 after three years of construction. A second fab already underway there recently completed its exterior. The two new fabs announced Wednesday will follow those.
Separately, TI is ramping up production at a second fab in Richardson, Texas. And it's moving along with a wafer lab in Lehi, Utah, while also continuing construction on a second fab there.
What they're saying: Apple, Ford, SpaceX, Medtronic and Nvidia executives said in a statement that they're each partnering with TI in their respective capacities.

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