TSMC Calls Intel a “Formidable Competitor” But Says There Are No Shortcuts in Foundry

TSMC has tried to lower any overconfidence about Intel’s progress in the foundry business. During its first quarter 2026 earnings presentation, CEO C.C. Wei described Intel as a “formidable competitor,” but made it clear that entering this market takes more than ambition or announcements. It requires technology, strong execution, customer trust, and, above all, time.

This message is important. In recent months, Intel has been pushing its roadmap and technologies like EMIB while trying to attract major clients to Intel Foundry. TSMC does not deny this progress, but it insists that large-scale chip manufacturing is a long-term race. According to Wei, building a factory takes two to three years, and then it takes another one to two years to scale production properly.

TSMC Acknowledges Intel as a Strong Rival

TSMC also pointed out an interesting fact: both Intel and Tesla, despite their own ambitions, are still customers of TSMC. This shows that TSMC’s leadership is not only about technology, but also about strong business relationships and proven execution that cannot be matched quickly.

Beyond the competition, TSMC also shared updates about its own roadmap. The N2 node entered high-volume production in the fourth quarter of 2025 and is scaling well at its facilities in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung. The company expects this family of processes to have a long life thanks to versions like N2P and A16, driven by demand from mobile devices, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence.

Wei also spoke about EMIB, calling it an “attractive” technology, but noted that TSMC already offers some of the largest packaging solutions in the industry.

Looking ahead, TSMC shared early details about its A14 process, planned for 2028. This node is expected to bring 10% to 15% better performance at the same power, or 25% to 30% better efficiency at the same speed.

The message from TSMC is clear: Intel could become a stronger competitor, but leadership in the foundry business is not achieved with promises alone. At a time when the industry is focused on artificial intelligence, TSMC wants to remind everyone that it still holds a strong position.