Wolfspeed’s 1,200-Volt Devices to Power BorgWarner’s Upcoming 800-Volt Inverter
Key Facts
Wolfspeed announced on October 28, 2026, a multiyear supply agreement for silicon carbide devices to BorgWarner, supporting a next-generation 800-volt inverter platform based on the technology. Wolfspeed said the agreement is designed to provide continuous, uninterrupted access to its devices, without disclosing a financial value or supply schedule. BorgWarner uses Wolfspeed’s 1,200-volt silicon carbide devices in its 800-volt inverter platform. This distinguishes the voltage of the devices used from that of the platform they will serve; the two figures describe different components of the power system. The deal comes as electric vehicle sales expand, but market figures alone do not determine the size of demand the agreement will cover.
Wolfspeed says its Gen 5 silicon carbide technology was designed to meet the efficiency, performance and reliability requirements of next-generation automotive power electronics. The BorgWarner agreement concerns the supply of devices to support a new inverter platform; the company’s statement does not describe the devices as being integrated into the platform. The company said the agreement provides continuous access to its products, putting supply continuity at the center of the announcement. Wolfspeed linked this to its U.S. manufacturing capabilities, which have fully transitioned to 200 mm wafers. The company said this transition forms part of its case for meeting customer needs over the long term.
Matthias Buechner, Wolfspeed’s senior vice president of global sales and chief marketing officer, said the agreement brings together "advanced silicon carbide technology, proven quality and reliability, and large-scale manufacturing capabilities on 200 mm wafers." The executive linked these elements to supporting platform performance and supply confidence, pointing to the role the company assigns to manufacturing expansion alongside the product itself. The announcement does not give a figure for the volume of devices under contract or the sales expected from the agreement. Wolfspeed announced on October 15 an expanded silicon carbide wafer supply agreement with Infineon for 200 mm wafers. The BorgWarner announcement adds another supply agreement to the context of Wolfspeed’s move toward using larger-wafer capabilities in its commercial relationships.
The importance of these deals comes amid the global expansion of the electric vehicle market. The International Energy Agency said sales exceeded 20 million vehicles in 2025, up 20% from the previous year. Electric vehicles accounted for one-quarter of new cars sold globally that year, the agency said. Its exploratory scenarios project that electric vehicles could reach around 50% of global car sales in 2035, with outcomes varying by policy. These are sector-wide figures that do not determine demand tied to the Wolfspeed-BorgWarner agreement, but they place the supply of power electronics components in an expanding market. Wolfspeed cited the electric vehicle sector among those where it sees rising demand when presenting its manufacturing plan.
BorgWarner has a stated track record in developing high-voltage silicon carbide inverters. In January 2024, it said its latest 800-volt inverter uses silicon carbide Viper power modules. The company added that the modules reduce switching losses by up to 70% compared with silicon-based technology. Its product page also says silicon carbide technology in the inverter can increase an electric vehicle’s range by about 5% and enable faster charging compared with 400-volt systems available at the time. These are results and features BorgWarner describes for its products; Wolfspeed’s announcement does not measure the new agreement’s effect on vehicle range or charging time. In an earlier program announced in February 2023, BorgWarner said it would supply 800-volt silicon carbide inverters to a global automaker, with production planned to begin in 2025.
The new agreement comes as Wolfspeed continues to carry out its plan following a financial restructuring, after announcing on September 29, 2025, that it had emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings. The company said at the time that it had reduced total debt by about 70%, extended maturities to 2030 and cut annual cash interest expense by about 60%. It linked its growth plan to integrated 200 mm manufacturing facilities and a U.S. supply chain, and said it saw rising demand in sectors including electric vehicles. In the third quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, the company reported consolidated revenue of about $150 million, in line with the midpoint of its announced guidance range. Its financial statements showed revenue of $149.6 million for the three months ended June 28, 2026, compared with $197.0 million for the period ended June 29, 2025.
The companies’ shares closed the October 28 session at $26.64 for Wolfspeed and $55.93 for BorgWarner, according to EL7 data. These prices describe the session close and do not establish that the announcement caused a move in either stock. In August 2026, BorgWarner announced extensions to inverter programs with a major European company, covering plug-in hybrid applications and 800-volt electric vehicle programs, with production scheduled to begin in 2029. The company said the extension includes updated designs; it is a separate program from the Wolfspeed agreement. The published agreement does not disclose a specific date for the start of Wolfspeed device deliveries or production of BorgWarner’s new platform.