BorgWarner to Invest $500 Million in Wolfspeed, Securing up to $650 Million in Annual Capacity for Silicon Carbide Devices

Rhea-AI Summary

BorgWarner has announced a strategic investment of $500 million in Wolfspeed to secure a capacity corridor for silicon carbide (SiC) devices, supporting its inverter growth plans. This agreement allows BorgWarner to purchase up to $650 million of SiC devices annually as demand rises. The partnership aims to accelerate technology development and innovation in electric vehicle solutions. BorgWarner aims for $4.5 billion in electric vehicle revenue by 2025, significantly up from under $350 million in 2021. This investment aligns with Wolfspeed's $6.5 billion capacity expansion plan.

Positive

• BorgWarner's investment of $500 million in Wolfspeed enhances its access to silicon carbide devices critical for its inverter growth.
• Ability to purchase up to $650 million in devices annually supports BorgWarner's increasing demand as it targets $4.5 billion in electric vehicle revenue by 2025.
• Collaboration with Wolfspeed may accelerate innovation and the global transition to electric vehicles.

Negative

• None.

• BorgWarner will participate in Wolfspeed's financing transaction announced earlier today to support Wolfspeed's multi-year capacity expansion plan
• Access to a dedicated supply of silicon carbide (SiC) devices is significant to BorgWarner's inverter growth plan and Charging Forward objectives
• Wolfspeed and BorgWarner are also exploring a deeper collaboration for the purpose of accelerating technology development

DURHAM, N.C. and AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), the global leader in Silicon Carbide technology, and BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA), a global product leader in delivering innovative and sustainable mobility solutions for the vehicle market, today announced a strategic partnership that calls for BorgWarner to invest $500 million in Wolfspeed's financing transaction, which was announced earlier today by Wolfspeed, in exchange for a silicon carbide device capacity corridor. Under the multi-year agreement between BorgWarner and Wolfspeed, BorgWarner will be entitled to purchase up to $650 million of devices annually as BorgWarner requirements increase. Details of the Wolfspeed financing can be found in Wolfspeed's separate press release and Form 8-K filed with the SEC earlier today. BorgWarner has also filed a Form 8-K disclosing its commitment to invest.

"Silicon carbide-based power electronics play an increasingly important role for our customers as our electric vehicle business continues to accelerate," said Frédéric Lissalde, President and CEO of BorgWarner. "We believe this agreement helps ensure that BorgWarner will have a reliable supply of high-quality silicon carbide devices, which are significant to the company's inverter growth plans. Building upon BorgWarner's world-class Viper power switches and inverter technology, we are excited about the opportunity to work jointly with Wolfspeed, the leader in silicon carbide, on the potential development of the next generation of silicon carbide products. We believe our relationship with Wolfspeed will drive innovation, accelerate the global transition to electric vehicles, and further BorgWarner's vision for a clean, energy-efficient world."

BorgWarner's Charging Forward strategy targets $4.5 billion of electric vehicle revenue for 2025, compared to less than $350 million in 2021. Based on new business awards and acquisitions announced as of the Company's third quarter earnings release, BorgWarner believes it is already on track to achieve approximately $4 billion of electric vehicle revenue by 2025. 

"Today's announcement demonstrates the creative solutions two collaborative and strategic partners are pursuing to better support the growing demand for silicon carbide devices. BorgWarner has been a strong partner with Wolfspeed for many years, and we are pleased to secure the investment from them which will be used to support our capacity expansion efforts and ensure we have a steady supply of product for their customers," said Gregg Lowe, President and CEO for Wolfspeed. "This agreement, combined with our most recent announcement of a multi-billion-dollar materials expansion in North Carolina, confirms the industry transition from silicon to silicon carbide is well underway."

Last month at the company's Investor Day, Wolfspeed outlined a multi-year, $6.5 billion capacity expansion effort which included the installation of additional tools at the company's state-of-the-art, 200mm Mohawk Valley fab and the construction of a 445-acre Silicon Carbide materials facility in North Carolina, which will expand the company's existing materials capacity by more than 10x. The first phase of construction is slated to be complete by the end of FY2024.

About Wolfspeed, Inc.:

Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide adoption of Silicon Carbide and GaN technologies. We provide industry-leading solutions for efficient energy consumption and a sustainable future. Wolfspeed's product families include Silicon Carbide materials, power devices and RF devices targeted for various applications such as electric vehicles, fast charging, 5G, renewable energy and storage, and aerospace and defense. We unleash the power of possibilities through hard work, collaboration and a passion for innovation. Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.

Twitter: @Wolfspeed
LinkedIn: @Wolfspeed 

Wolfspeed® is a registered trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc.

About BorgWarner:
For more than 130 years, BorgWarner has been a transformative global product leader bringing successful mobility innovation to market. Today, we're accelerating the world's transition to eMobility — to help build a cleaner, healthier, safer future for all.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements by Wolfspeed involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause Wolfspeed's actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk we may be unable to manufacture new products with sufficiently low cost to offer them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; the risk we may encounter delays or other difficulties in ramping up production of our new products; customer acceptance of our new products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Wolfspeed's products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Wolfspeed's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 26, 2022, and subsequent filings. For additional product and company information, please refer to www.wolfspeed.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as contemplated by the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that are based on the current outlook, expectations, estimates and projections of management of BorgWarner. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "continues," "could," "designed," "effect," "estimates," "evaluates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "guidance," "initiative," "intends," "may," "outlook," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "project," "pursue," "seek," "should," "target," "when," "will," "would," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Further, all statements, other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release that BorgWarner expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future regarding BorgWarner's financial position, business strategy and measures to implement that strategy, including changes to operations, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of BorgWarner's business and operations, plans, references to future success and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by BorgWarner in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors BorgWarner believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and BorgWarner's actual results may differ materially from those expressed, projected or implied in or by such forward-looking statements.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release or any earlier date cited above. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond BorgWarner's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, projected or implied in or by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, among others, include: the potential impact of limitations and conditions applicable to BorgWarner's entitlement to purchase silicon carbide devices under the agreement with Wolfspeed; supply disruptions impacting BorgWarner or its customers, such as the current shortage of semiconductor chips that has impacted original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") customers and their suppliers, including BorgWarner; commodities availability and pricing, and an inability to achieve expected levels of success in additional commercial negotiations with customers concerning recovery of these costs; competitive challenges from existing and new competitors including OEM customers; the challenges associated with rapidly changing technologies, particularly as relates to electric vehicles, and BorgWarner's ability to innovate in response; uncertainties regarding the extent and duration of impacts of matters associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including additional production disruptions; the difficulty in forecasting demand for electric vehicles and BorgWarner's electric vehicles revenue growth; potential disruptions in the global economy caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine; the ability to identify targets and consummate acquisitions on acceptable terms; failure to realize the expected benefits of acquisitions on a timely basis; the ability to identify appropriate combustion portfolio businesses for disposition and consummate planned dispositions on acceptable terms; the failure to promptly and effectively integrate acquired businesses; the potential for unknown or inestimable liabilities relating to the acquired businesses; BorgWarner's dependence on automotive and truck production, both of which are highly cyclical and subject to disruptions; BorgWarner's reliance on major OEM customers; fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; BorgWarner's dependence on information systems; the uncertainty of the global economic environment and potential for recessionary conditions in regional economies; the outcome of existing or any future legal proceedings, including litigation with respect to various claims; future changes in laws and regulations, including, by way of example, taxes and tariffs, in the countries in which BorgWarner operates; impacts from any potential future acquisition or disposition transactions; and the other risks noted in reports that BorgWarner files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in its most recently-filed Form 10-K and/or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. BorgWarner does not undertake any obligation to update or announce publicly any updates to or revisions to any of the forward-looking statements in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, circumstances, or assumptions underlying the statements.

Wolfspeed
PR contact:
Melinda Walker
+1 818-261-4585
media@wolfspeed.com

IR contact:
Tyler Gronbach
+1 919-407-4820
investorrelations@wolfspeed.com

BorgWarner
PR contact:
Michelle Collins
+1 248-754-0449
mediacontact@borgwarner.com

IR contact:
Pat Nolan
+1 248-754-0884

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SOURCE BorgWarner; Wolfspeed, Inc.

FAQ

What is BorgWarner's investment in Wolfspeed about?

BorgWarner is investing $500 million in Wolfspeed to secure a capacity corridor for silicon carbide devices, essential for its inverter growth.

How much can BorgWarner purchase from Wolfspeed annually?

BorgWarner can purchase up to $650 million of silicon carbide devices annually as its requirements increase.

What are BorgWarner's revenue targets for electric vehicles?

BorgWarner aims to generate $4.5 billion in electric vehicle revenue by 2025.

What is the significance of silicon carbide for BorgWarner?

Silicon carbide devices are crucial for BorgWarner's inverter growth and overall strategy in the electric vehicle market.

What is Wolfspeed's capacity expansion plan?

Wolfspeed is executing a $6.5 billion capacity expansion plan to increase its silicon carbide production significantly.