On July 31, Renesas announced the phased closure of its Takasaki Factory in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, over the next two to three years. The 6-inch wafer line will be gradually discontinued, with customer demand reviewed and sufficient inventory secured to minimize supply impact.

The decision follows structural supply chain changes – consumables and spare parts for legacy equipment are increasingly difficult to source – compounded by aging facilities and declining production stability. Renesas President Hidetoshi Shibata noted that the factory has been operating for over 50 years, and continued maintenance posed unreliable supply risks to customers. All production will be transferred to 8-inch or larger wafer lines, which offer better parts availability and operational reliability.

The fab site's R&D center – focused on analog and discrete power semiconductors – will be strengthened and upgraded as a core hub for automotive and data center power chip development.

Employee placement will prioritize job security, with internal transfers and external support options.

From ICgoodFind: The 6-inch era is ending – Renesas is reallocating capacity where it matters. Closing an aging line is a signal that power R&D and 8-inch production are the real priorities for automotive and compute silicon.