Wolfspeed and BorgWarner Sign Multiyear Silicon Carbide Supply Agreement for Next-Generation EVs
Wolfspeed, Inc.a global leader in silicon carbide technology, has announced a multiyear supply agreement with BorgWarner to support the development of next-generation electric vehicle (EV) power electronics. Under the agreement, Wolfspeed will supply silicon carbide devices for BorgWarner’s next-generation 800V silicon carbide-based inverter platform, strengthening the companies’ longstanding strategic partnership.
The agreement is intended to provide BorgWarner with reliable, long-term access to high-performance silicon carbide technology as automakers continue to develop more efficient electric vehicles and advanced power conversion systems. By combining Wolfspeed’s semiconductor expertise with BorgWarner’s experience in automotive propulsion and power electronics, the companies aim to support the growing technical requirements of next-generation EV platforms.
The partnership comes at a time when the automotive industry is accelerating its transition toward electrification. Automakers are investing in higher-voltage electrical architectures, improved energy efficiency and advanced power electronics to enhance vehicle performance, charging capabilities and overall system efficiency. Silicon carbide semiconductors are becoming increasingly important in this transition because of their ability to operate efficiently under demanding high-voltage and high-temperature conditions.
Growing Demand for Advanced Electric Vehicle Technology
The global electric vehicle market continues to expand as governments, automakers and technology companies invest in electrified transportation. According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicles accounted for approximately 25% of new cars sold worldwide in 2025. The agency’s Global EV Outlook 2026 also projects that EVs could represent approximately half of global car sales by 2035.
This anticipated growth is encouraging manufacturers to develop new vehicle platforms capable of delivering greater efficiency, improved performance and competitive ownership costs. Power electronics play a central role in these developments because they manage the conversion and distribution of electrical energy throughout an electric vehicle.
In battery-powered vehicles, inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity from the battery into alternating current (AC) electricity used by electric motors. The efficiency of this conversion directly influences how effectively a vehicle uses its stored energy. Improving inverter performance can therefore help automakers optimize driving range, thermal management and power delivery.
Traditional silicon-based semiconductor devices have supported automotive power electronics for many years. However, as vehicle architectures evolve toward higher operating voltages and increased power density, silicon carbide technology is attracting greater attention from manufacturers.
Silicon carbide, commonly known as SiC, is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material that offers several advantages over conventional silicon in high-power applications. Its electrical and thermal characteristics allow devices to operate at higher voltages, switch efficiently and withstand elevated temperatures.
These properties make silicon carbide particularly suitable for advanced EV inverters, onboard charging systems, DC-DC converters and other power conversion applications. Wolfspeed’s agreement with BorgWarner reflects the industry’s growing interest in semiconductor solutions designed specifically for the requirements of next-generation electric vehicles.
Supporting BorgWarner’s 800V Inverter Platform
A central element of the new agreement is BorgWarner’s next-generation 800V silicon carbide-based inverter platform. The platform is designed around an 800-volt electrical architecture, which is increasingly being considered for high-performance electric vehicles and other advanced automotive applications.
Higher-voltage vehicle architectures can offer several engineering advantages. For a given power level, increasing voltage allows electrical current to be reduced. Lower current can help reduce resistive losses and may allow manufacturers to optimize the size and weight of certain electrical components and cabling.
An 800V architecture can also support high-power charging systems, depending on the vehicle’s battery design, charging hardware and thermal management capabilities. These advantages make higher-voltage systems an important area of development for automakers seeking to improve EV performance and charging convenience.
However, higher operating voltages also place demanding requirements on semiconductor devices. Inverters must manage substantial electrical power while maintaining efficiency, thermal stability and long-term reliability. The selection of appropriate semiconductor technology is therefore a critical consideration in inverter design.
Wolfspeed will provide its 1200V silicon carbide technology for BorgWarner’s 800V inverter platform. Semiconductor devices with a 1200V rating provide voltage-handling capability suited to demanding high-voltage power electronics, subject to the system’s electrical design and operating requirements.
By incorporating silicon carbide devices into its inverter technology, BorgWarner can address the power conversion demands associated with next-generation electric propulsion systems. The agreement provides a long-term supply framework for the semiconductor components needed to support the platform.
The companies have not disclosed the financial terms of the agreement or specific supply volumes in the announcement.
Wolfspeed’s Gen 5 Silicon Carbide Technology
Wolfspeed’s Gen 5 silicon carbide technology is designed to meet the efficiency, performance and reliability requirements of modern automotive power electronics.
The development of advanced semiconductor generations is important as automakers seek to improve the performance of electric drivetrains without unnecessarily increasing system size, complexity or energy consumption. Semiconductor characteristics can influence inverter switching losses, heat generation, power density and the overall efficiency of an electrical system.
In automotive applications, these factors must be considered alongside durability, manufacturing consistency and the ability to operate reliably over extended service periods.
Wolfspeed’s Gen 5 technology is intended to support these requirements in demanding high-voltage environments. Its application in BorgWarner’s inverter platform demonstrates how semiconductor suppliers and automotive technology companies are working together to integrate advanced materials into production-oriented vehicle systems.
Silicon carbide devices can help reduce certain switching and conduction losses compared with appropriately selected silicon-based alternatives. The actual benefits depend on device design, switching frequency, operating conditions, circuit configuration and the wider power electronics system.
For automakers, the potential benefits extend beyond the semiconductor component itself. Improved power conversion efficiency can contribute to better utilization of battery energy, while effective thermal performance may help engineers optimize cooling requirements and component packaging.
These considerations are particularly important as vehicle manufacturers introduce electric platforms with higher power outputs, faster charging capabilities and increasingly sophisticated electrical systems.
Long-Term Supply Reliability and Manufacturing Capacity
In addition to technology performance, the agreement emphasizes the importance of reliable semiconductor supply. Automotive manufacturers and their suppliers need consistent access to qualified components to maintain production schedules and support vehicle programs over multiple years.
Supply disruptions can affect manufacturing operations, component availability and the timing of new vehicle launches. For this reason, long-term agreements between semiconductor manufacturers and automotive suppliers have become an important part of planning for complex electrification programs.
The Wolfspeed-BorgWarner agreement is designed to provide BorgWarner with consistent, uninterrupted access to Wolfspeed silicon carbide devices. This arrangement reinforces Wolfspeed’s position as a long-term technology and supply partner for the automotive sector.
The agreement also aligns with Wolfspeed’s expanded manufacturing capabilities in the United States. The company has transitioned its manufacturing operations to 200-millimeter wafers, representing an important development in its silicon carbide production strategy.
Wafer diameter is a significant factor in semiconductor manufacturing because larger wafers can accommodate more individual devices during a production cycle, depending on die size, process yield and manufacturing conditions. Moving to 200mm wafers can support manufacturing scale and cost-efficiency objectives when production processes are optimized.
For automotive customers, manufacturing scale is important because vehicle programs can require substantial volumes of semiconductor components over extended periods. Consistent production processes, quality controls and dependable delivery schedules are essential for meeting automotive industry requirements.
Wolfspeed’s manufacturing transition is intended to support its broader commercial strategy as demand develops across automotive, industrial and other power electronics markets.
Automotive-Grade Quality and Reliability
Automotive semiconductor components must meet demanding performance and durability expectations. Unlike some consumer electronics applications, automotive power electronics may be exposed to wide temperature variations, vibration, electrical stress and challenging operating environments throughout a vehicle’s service life.
High-voltage inverter systems must also manage heat generated during power conversion. Effective thermal management is essential to maintain performance and protect sensitive electronic components.
Wolfspeed states that its silicon carbide solutions are engineered for demanding high-temperature and high-voltage environments. The company’s emphasis on automotive-grade quality aligns with the requirements of vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers developing advanced electrification technologies.
Reliability is particularly important for inverter platforms because these systems form a critical part of an electric vehicle’s propulsion architecture. Semiconductor performance can affect how effectively electrical energy is delivered to the motor, while component durability is essential to the long-term operation of the vehicle.
Automotive qualification, process control and manufacturing consistency help suppliers meet the industry’s technical expectations. The new supply agreement combines these considerations with the objective of maintaining dependable access to silicon carbide technology.
The companies’ longstanding relationship provides a foundation for continued cooperation as BorgWarner develops its next-generation inverter platform and Wolfspeed advances its semiconductor manufacturing and product capabilities.
Strategic Importance for Wolfspeed
For Wolfspeed, the multiyear agreement represents an opportunity to strengthen its role in the expanding electric vehicle supply chain.
The company specializes in silicon carbide technology, a market that serves applications requiring efficient conversion and management of electrical power. As electrification spreads across passenger vehicles, commercial transportation, industrial equipment and energy infrastructure, semiconductor suppliers are competing to deliver products that combine performance, reliability and manufacturing scale.
Securing long-term automotive supply relationships can help semiconductor manufacturers align product development, production planning and customer requirements. These agreements may also provide greater visibility into future demand, although actual volumes and financial outcomes depend on the terms of individual contracts and broader market conditions.
Matthias Buchner, senior vice president of global sales and chief marketing officer at Wolfspeed, emphasized the importance of combining technology leadership with long-term customer partnerships.
He explained that the agreement with BorgWarner brings together advanced silicon carbide technology, established quality and reliability capabilities, and scaled 200mm manufacturing. These elements are intended to provide BorgWarner with the performance and supply confidence required for its next-generation electric vehicle platform.
The comments highlight Wolfspeed’s focus on supporting customers through both semiconductor innovation and manufacturing capability. In the automotive market, technological advantages must be accompanied by the capacity to deliver qualified components at the volumes and consistency required by production programs.
BorgWarner’s Electrification Strategy
For BorgWarner, access to advanced silicon carbide devices supports its work in automotive propulsion systems and power electronics.
Automotive suppliers are adapting their product portfolios to meet the needs of manufacturers developing battery-electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and other electrified transportation technologies. Inverters and related power electronics remain essential components in these systems because they regulate electrical energy between batteries and electric motors.
The move toward higher-voltage platforms creates additional opportunities for semiconductor technologies capable of handling demanding electrical conditions. Silicon carbide is well positioned for applications where efficiency, voltage capability and thermal performance are important design considerations.
A dependable supply of semiconductor devices can also help automotive suppliers plan product development and production more effectively. The multiyear arrangement with Wolfspeed is intended to support BorgWarner’s access to the components needed for its 800V inverter platform.
The agreement does not, by itself, establish the number of vehicles that will use the technology or the precise timing of production deployment. Nevertheless, it demonstrates continued collaboration between semiconductor manufacturers and automotive suppliers as the industry advances toward more sophisticated electrified vehicle architectures.
Silicon Carbide in Electric Mobility
The growing adoption of electric vehicles is creating demand for power electronics that can deliver high efficiency, reliable operation and compact system designs. Silicon carbide is expected to remain an important technology in this area because of its advantages in high-voltage and high-power applications.
As automakers expand their EV portfolios, they will continue evaluating semiconductor technologies according to cost, performance, availability, reliability and compatibility with vehicle architectures. Manufacturers must balance the benefits of advanced components with production economics and the practical requirements of bringing new vehicles to market.
Long-term supply partnerships can help address some of these challenges by connecting semiconductor development with automotive platform planning. They also highlight the importance of manufacturing capacity as the EV market develops across multiple vehicle segments and regions.
Wolfspeed’s agreement with BorgWarner illustrates this relationship between semiconductor innovation, automotive engineering and supply-chain planning. By supplying Gen 5 silicon carbide devices, including 1200V technology for BorgWarner’s 800V inverter platform, Wolfspeed aims to support the next stage of electric vehicle power electronics.
The agreement also reinforces the importance of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and automotive-grade reliability in the development of advanced electric mobility solutions.
As the global automotive industry continues its transition toward electrification, collaborations between semiconductor specialists and automotive technology suppliers will play an important role in shaping future vehicle platforms. The Wolfspeed-BorgWarner partnership represents another step in that process, bringing together high-performance silicon carbide technology and long-term supply planning to support the evolving requirements of electric vehicles.
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