Mitsubishi Electric Expands SiC Power Module Supply with Investment in Coherent

The Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is in charge of the Alliance 2030 business strategy for the rest of the decade. That is, to say, that the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has placed the MMC as the first automaker to come out with a new model to expand the lineup. As the current auto market stands today, gasoline engines still reign supreme, but over the course of the decade, that is about to change with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) making up a large part of the game plan for just about every automaker. That means a lot of shaking hands and making investments with third-party companies to secure resources, and the latest investment by Mitsubishi Electric with Coherent to supply the company with Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices is one prime example of this.

Mitsubishi Electric is a subsidiary of the MMC and a major player behind many of the new features added to Mitsubishi Motors vehicles. From a household name to major constructds, Mitsubishi Electric already has a strong foothold when it comes to SiC power devices. For instance, Mitsubishi Electric has been a leader in SiC power modules for high-speed trains since 2016, becoming the first supplier of a full SiC power module for Shinkansen. For over a decade, Mitsubishi Electric has also been known for powering home appliance since launching the world’s first SiC power modules for air conditioners in 2010. The company is also a leader in supplying SiC power modules for high-voltage industrial applications.

With all this experience behind it, Mitsubishi Electric is destined to charge (no pun intended) the expansion of the Mitsubishi Motors BEV lineup over the next few years. Its latest investment of $500 million in a new SiC business from Coherent to expand its supply of SiC substrates. SiC power devices are undoubtedly one of several emerging applications highly sought after for the global expansion of the BEV auto market. Known for offering lower energy loss, higher operating temperatures and faster switching speeds than conventional silicon power devices, SiC power devices is just one factor that can benefit future Mitsubishi BEV models. Like many other automotive groups, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance also wants to reduce its carbon footprint and reach carbon neutrality, if not a zero carbon output, within the next few decades. SiC power devices are known to contribute significantly to global decarbonization and green transformation.

“Demand for SiC power semiconductors is expected to grow exponentially as the global market for electric vehicles increases in line with the transition to a decarbonized world.” – Dr. Masayoshi Takemi, Executive Officer, Group President, Semiconductor & Device of Mitsubishi Electric

This new investment by Mitsubishi Electric is simply an addition to its already solid partnership with Coherent. Procuring high-quality 150mm SiC substrates from Coherent for many years, the two companies aim to develop new high-quality 200mm SiC substrates with this new investment, which will result in stronger power devices for future BEVs. At this time, Mitsubishi has not released any news about an electrified vehicle, aside from its rebadged Renault Clio, the 2024 Mitsubishi Colt. The Renault-Nissan-Alliance as a whole is working on five new BEV platforms for its upcoming lineup of BEVS, with the goal of applying the platforms to at least 15 models by 2030. This is just a fraction of the 35 new BEVs planned for production.

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Photo Source/Copyright: Mitsubishi Electric