Project Bulletin: April 22, 2024

Apple’s operations in Singapore support over 60,000 direct jobs.

Rendering courtesy of Hassell Studio

A $250 million investment by Apple will look to promote collaboration between the company’s teams housed in Singapore’s northeast Ang Mo Kio district. Apple has operated here since 1981 and is now looking to grow its campus in the country with the redevelopment of two buildings near this site, which were acquired in 2022. Increased space enables the company to create new roles and advancements within artificial intelligence and other target areas. The announcement stated that construction would begin by the end of 2024 and will deliver a campus that runs on 100% renewable energy. Investment in Singapore is a strategic move on behalf of Apple, as the company aims to decrease reliance on China. “Singapore is truly a one-of-a-kind place, and we are proud of the connection we’ve built with this dynamic community of creators, learners and dreamers,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “With our growing campus, Apple is writing a new chapter in our history here. Our Singapore teams have played an important role in enriching the lives of our customers — and we can’t wait for many more decades of innovation to come.”

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Volkswagen is upgrading its operations in eastern South Africa.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen

Last week, Volkswagen Group Africa announced its Kariega, South Africa, operations and manufacturing portfolio would receive a significant boost. Upgrades to the company’s site will begin in December 2024. The $231 million investment will be used to increase automation technologies at the site’s body shop and introduce new press tooling at its press shop. In addition, Volkswagen will begin manufacturing a new SUV model using the same facility used to produce Polo and Polo Vino models. As a result, new training and upskilling opportunities will be offered by Volkswagen to ensure its workforce is prepared for future growth. As part of this announcement, the company said that it would begin its electrification journey this year in South Africa and Rwanda with Volkswagen’s ID.4 test fleet.

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Once producing 150-mm. and 200-mm. wafers, Renesas’ site is now dedicated to 300-mm. wafer manufacturing.

Photo courtesy of Renesas Electronics Corporation

To cater to the growing demand within the EV industry, semiconductor manufacturer Renesas Electronics Corp. has opened doors to its operations in Kai City, Japan. The site is located in southeast Yamanashi Prefecture and had previously closed in 2014, before reopening with a new vision in 2022. The company produces 300-mm wafers here currently and will begin producing Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) and more starting in 2025. “We are proud to announce a remarkable achievement of the Kofu Factory. After its closure in 2014, the Kofu Factory has gone through a transformation and emerged as a dedicated 300-mm wafer fab for power semiconductors, exactly a decade later,” said Renesas President and CEO Hidetoshi Shibata. “The power semiconductors produced at the Kofu Factory will help maximize the effective use of electricity, which will be in significant demand as EVs and AI continue to proliferate and advance.” The introduction of new product offerings will allow the company to double its semiconductor production capacity.

Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore, edited by Adam Bruns