Continental Device India Pvt. Ltd (CDIL), renowned as India’s oldest semiconductor assembly and packaging company, has embarked on the production of silicon carbide devices at its manufacturing facility located in Mohali. This significant step marks CDIL as the pioneering Indian company in the production of silicon carbide devices, a vital component in the fields of electric vehicles (EVs), power management devices, and solar panels.
During the inauguration of its expanded facility, CDIL’s management disclosed that the unit is capable of producing 100 million silicon carbide devices annually, following a substantial investment of ₹30 crore. This expansion significantly boosts CDIL’s total production capacity to 600 million devices.
CDIL’s journey in semiconductor manufacturing commenced in 1964 through collaboration with Continental Device Corp. of Hawthorne, California, which was later known as Teledyne Semiconductor Co. Over the years, the company has actively pursued research and development (R&D) efforts in silicon carbide technology, recognizing its potential in delivering enhanced efficiencies and power-handling capabilities. This technology is especially valuable in high-power charging applications and battery management systems, aligning with the growing demand for auto-grade devices in both domestic and global markets.
Previously, CDIL exported 70% of its production to countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, and Egypt until 2015. However, a surge in local electronics production since 2016 has shifted the balance, with approximately 65% of CDIL’s output now catering to the domestic market.
CDIL has also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), a research institute in Mohali operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The collaboration aims to establish a comprehensive framework for leveraging SCL’s specialized knowledge and wafer fabrication facilities to produce indigenous wafers for discrete semiconductor devices using proprietary manufacturing processes.
This collaborative effort is expected to significantly contribute to India’s semiconductor ambitions and promote self-reliance in the semiconductor industry. The Indian government has committed to investing over $2 billion to modernize SCL with the intention of commercializing it.
Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, encouraged CDIL to consider establishing a discrete semiconductor fabrication unit in India, further supporting indigenous chip manufacturing. He emphasized the government’s objective of making SCL an R&D hub for advancing the semiconductor ecosystem in India, positioning the country as a key player in the semiconductor industry.
CDIL’s foray into silicon carbide device production is a notable development for India’s semiconductor landscape, aligning with the country’s push for self-reliance in technology manufacturing and catering to the surging demand for advanced electronic components, particularly in the EV and renewable energy sectors.