India’s accelerating electric vehicle revolution could create a major new market for locally manufactured power semiconductors, but Japanese precision equipment specialist HORIBA says critical supply chain weaknesses threaten progress. As automakers adopt advanced chips to improve power conversion, efficiency and charging performance, domestic semiconductor manufacturing is becoming increasingly important. The HORIBA EV Chips opportunity centres on silicon carbide and other compound materials, alongside the equipment needed to manufacture them reliably. However, HORIBA India President Dr. Rajeev Gautam warns that raw materials, precision testing and skilled workers remain major hurdles. India’s ambition, he argues, depends on building an entire industrial ecosystem.
HORIBA sees strong demand for Indian EV power semiconductors, especially silicon carbide, but says local raw materials, measurement systems, suppliers and specialist talent must improve before manufacturing can scale.
Why SiC and GaN Matter for EVs
Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are promising alternatives to conventional silicon in selected power electronics applications. Their electrical properties can enable faster switching, higher efficiency, and more compact systems when properly designed.
SiC is particularly relevant to EV traction inverters and high-voltage charging equipment; GaN offers potential in suitable charging and power conversion designs.
For the HORIBA EV Chips story, the key distinction is that HORIBA supplies manufacturing technology, not finished automotive chips. Its tools support gas flow control, particle measurement, analysis, and process consistency across semiconductor production lines.
Four Gaps India Must Close
Gautam identified raw material dependence as a major obstacle, warning that India still relies heavily on China for important inputs. Semiconductor factories need dependable access to purified materials and consistent production conditions.
- Raw materials: High-purity gases, chemicals, and semiconductor substrates need reliable sourcing and processing.
- Precision control: Tiny variations in fabrication can reduce yields or reliability, especially in demanding power applications.
- Equipment ecosystem: More local system integrators, instrumentation suppliers, and technical support are needed around fabs and outsourced assembly and testing facilities.
- Skilled workforce: Engineers and technicians require specialized experience in compound semiconductors, metrology, and manufacturing processes.
HORIBA’s India Expansion Plans
HORIBA has invested approximately ¥10 billion, around ₹618 crore, in India, with roughly 40% of products sold locally manufactured or assembled domestically. It began producing mass flow controllers at its Pune facility in 2024 and has reported an approximately 60% global share in this equipment category.
In January 2026, the company acquired Gujarat-based Pristine Deeptech, adding lab-grown diamond research relevant to advanced semiconductors and measurement technologies.
HORIBA expects further Indian equipment manufacturing over the next three to five years, conditional on semiconductor fabrication and assembly plants reaching sufficient commercial volumes.
What Happens Next?
Government incentives can attract investment, but dependable chip production requires material purification, metrology, industrial partnerships and training.
The HORIBA EV Chips outlook therefore reflects an opportunity for India’s EV industry, not an announced launch of domestically made automotive chips.
Successful localization could eventually strengthen supply resilience and support more efficient electric mobility. For the HORIBA EV Chips market, execution will matter more than announcements.
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