STMicroelectronics has begun mass production of STM32 microcontrollers manufactured locally in China. As the first shipments begin to be supplied to major Chinese customers, the expansion of the local production base is also accelerating.

ST announced on March 31 that it has begun supplying general-purpose STM32 microcontrollers manufactured in China. This initial shipment is based on wafers produced locally for ST by the Chinese semiconductor company Huahong and is currently being delivered to major customers in China.

The product that has just begun mass production is the STM32H7 series. This product family consists of high-performance general-purpose microcontrollers used in industrial systems, smart home devices with graphic displays, personal electronic devices, and medical devices. ST explained that it has already started mass production of some H7 models and plans to sequentially enter production of additional models by the end of 2026.

The scope of local production will be further expanded. ST also plans to begin mass production of the STM32H5 series, which features enhanced performance-oriented security functions, and the entry-level STM32C5 series by the end of 2026. H5 targets pluggable optical modules for data centers, home appliances, security systems, power converters, etc., while C5 targets various fields such as industrial automation, home appliances, motor control, medical devices, and wearables.

The production system is structured to connect processes within China. Huahong handles the entire wafer manufacturing process, while packaging and testing are handled by ST’s Shenzhen fab and local semiconductor assembly and testing partners. ST stated that it applies the same 40-nanometer embedded non-volatile memory technology and quality standards used at its global production bases to products manufactured in China.

The company explained that through this production, it has established a dual supply chain system for MCUs for the Chinese domestic market, combining local and overseas production. Chinese customers can choose between locally produced and overseas-produced products, and ST maintains that both product lines maintain the same design, technology, and quality standards.