Tata Electronics, under the leadership of Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, unveiled ambitious plans to revolutionise the semiconductor industry in India. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Tata Electronics' state-of-the-art chip manufacturing plant in Dholera, Gujarat, Chandrasekaran outlined a phased approach that aims to serve diverse sectors and generate around 72,000 jobs over the years.
The event, held on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for Tata Electronics' monumental Rs 91,000 crore chip manufacturing plant and Rs 27,000 crore chip assembly facility in Assam, marked a pivotal moment in India's technological landscape. Chandrasekaran said that the expansion of projects would occur only after the company achieves crucial milestones.
Tata Electronics' chips are poised to meet the demands of various sectors, including automotive, power, electronics, consumer goods, and medical devices, among others. Chandrasekaran acknowledged the strategic approach, stating, "There is a whole range of sectors that have a need for chips. Obviously, we can't produce all form factors on Day 1. It will happen in stages, but we will be serving all sectors."
Highlighting the technological capabilities of the chip plant, Chandrasekaran revealed that it is capable of producing wafers in the range of 28 nanometers (nm) to 110 nanometer nodes. While acknowledging the prevalence of smaller nodes like 3 nm, 7 nm, and 14 nm in high-tech gadgets such as smartphones and tablets, he assured that Tata Electronics would adapt to evolving market demands.
Underscoring the significant employment opportunities, Chandrasekaran expressed optimism about job creation. "This is only the start. There will be expansion. We are looking at 50,000 jobs here and at least 20,000-22,000 jobs in Assam. But, it will take time. We will further expand as we cross early milestones," he stated.
Chandrasekaran revealed an accelerated timeline for chip production, aiming to commence production by the calendar year 2026. "Typically, a fab takes about 4 years. Our goal is to produce chips in the calendar year 2026. Hopefully, in the latter part of the year. Assam may be done earlier. We may go into commercial production in Assam even in late 2025 or early 2026," he disclosed.
Tata Electronics' ambitious venture signifies a significant step towards enhancing India's self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing and fostering innovation across various industries. As the company embarks on this transformative journey, it heralds a new era of technological prowess and economic growth for the nation.