Wolfspeed announced on October 28, 2026 that it has signed a multiyear supply agreement to provide its 1200V silicon‑carbide (SiC) devices to BorgWarner for the Tier‑1 supplier’s next‑generation 800V SiC‑based traction inverter platform. The deal, described by Wolfspeed as a strategic partnership, aims to give BorgWarner long‑term access to Wolfspeed’s Gen‑5 SiC technology and to Wolfspeed’s scaled U.S. 200‑mm manufacturing capacity.
Deal details and technical context
Wolfspeed’s press release (dated Oct. 28, 2026) says BorgWarner will leverage Wolfspeed’s 1200V SiC devices in an 800V inverter architecture; Wolfspeed highlights that its Gen‑5 technology and 200‑mm wafer production are intended to meet the efficiency, power density and reliability needs of next‑generation EV power electronics. The company also pointed out that EVs represented about 25% of new car sales globally in 2025 and cited the IEA’s projection that EVs could account for roughly half of new car sales by 2035. No contract value, device volumes or an explicit delivery schedule were disclosed in the announcement.
Industry outlets summarising the release described the agreement as an extension of a longstanding collaboration between Wolfspeed and BorgWarner and emphasised the role of 1200V SiC dies in supporting 800V inverter platforms used by automakers pursuing faster charging and higher efficiency powertrains. These reports note the absence of publicly released volumes or financial terms.
What this means for the market
For the automotive supply chain, the Wolfspeed–BorgWarner agreement secures a long‑term channel for a critical semiconductor input used in high‑voltage EV inverters. Wolfspeed’s emphasis on 200‑mm wafer production and Gen‑5 device readiness aims to reduce a historical bottleneck for SiC devices — a component increasingly required as OEMs and Tier‑1s migrate to 800V and higher architectures. That shift matters to Central and Eastern Europe because many OEM assembly and battery‑module activities in the region depend on reliable Tier‑1 supply chains for power electronics and cells; having a major SiC device supplier commit to multiyear supply reduces one supply‑side uncertainty for inverter makers and, indirectly, for assembly hubs and Tier‑2/3 suppliers across Europe. (This inference draws on Wolfspeed’s statement and industry reporting that link SiC device supply to EV inverter programmes.)
