From TSMC 22ULL to GlobalFoundries 22FDX: Renesas Expands Foundry Options in $B Automotive Push

GlobalFoundries and Renesas Electronics Corporation announced an expanded strategic collaboration through a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing partnership that broadens Renesas’ access to GlobalFoundries’ technology portfolio, including FDX (FD-SOI), BCD, and feature-rich CMOS technologies with non-volatile memory options for system-on-chips (SoCs), power devices, and microcontrollers (MCUs).

Is GlobalFoundries' 22FDX FD-SOI process a better option compared to TSMC's 22ULL embedded MRAM? Renesas' move toward GlobalFoundries' 22FDX FD-SOI process suggests certain benefits. See the comparison table at the end of this article.

The agreement starts with manufacturing in the United States and extends to GlobalFoundries facilities in Germany and Singapore, as well as through its manufacturing partnership in China. The companies are also considering porting select GlobalFoundries process technologies into Renesas’ in-house fabs in Japan for additional capacity and resilience. Tape-outs under the expanded collaboration are scheduled to begin in mid-2026.

The partnership supports applications in intelligent and electrified vehicles and automated factories, including radar for advanced driver assistance system...