No—TSMC said it was not discussing a joint venture with Intel or any other company. On April 17, 2025, TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei denied talks involving a joint venture, technology licensing, or technology transfer and sharing. The reported Intel-factory arrangement was speculation, not an announced or completed deal.
What did TSMC say about the Intel joint-venture reports?
On TSMC’s April 17, 2025 first-quarter earnings call, Wei said: “TSMC is not engaged in any discussions with other companies regarding any joint venture, technology licensing, or technology transfer and sharing.” The statement directly addressed the kinds of arrangements described in media reports.
Bloomberg reported that the denial followed speculation about TSMC’s possible involvement in Intel’s U.S. factories, including an Information report alleging an initial agreement to operate Intel’s chip plants. Those were media claims; TSMC did not confirm an agreement.
What was reported, and what was confirmed?
- Reported: Possible TSMC involvement in Intel’s U.S. factories, including operating or investing in them.
- Confirmed by TSMC: Wei’s April 17 statement denying discussions about a joint venture, licensing, or technology transfer and sharing.
- Later company position: On September 26, 2025, TSMC again said it had never entered talks with any company about a joint venture or technology sharing, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
There is no confirmed signed, approved, or completed TSMC-Intel transaction in these accounts. The September statement is a later reiteration of TSMC’s position, not evidence that a deal had been reached.
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When did the reports and denials happen?
- February–April 2025: Media speculation circulated about TSMC helping operate or invest in Intel factories.
- April 17, 2025: Wei denied discussions on TSMC’s first-quarter earnings call. That day, TSMC reported first-quarter revenue of NT$839.25 billion and net income of NT$361.56 billion; net income was up 60.3% year over year.
- September 26, 2025: TSMC repeated that it had not entered talks about a joint venture or technology sharing, as reported by Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
Why did the Intel-factory story sound plausible?
TSMC was expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint, which provided context for speculation about Intel’s U.S. factories—but does not substantiate the reported partnership. In its April 2025 earnings-call transcript, TSMC described a planned total U.S. investment of US$165 billion, including three additional wafer fabs, two advanced-packaging fabs, and an R&D center.
TSMC also said its first Arizona fab had entered high-volume production in the fourth quarter of 2024 using its N4 process. Its second fab was complete and being prepared for volume production. Those were TSMC’s own Arizona expansion plans, distinct from the unconfirmed reports about Intel facilities.
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