In a significant development for the global semiconductor industry, Huawei has reportedly doubled the production yield of its advanced AI chips, achieving a nearly 40% yield rate. This improvement has rendered the company’s Ascend chip production line profitable for the first time, marking a notable milestone in China’s pursuit of technological self-sufficiency.
According to sources, Huawei’s latest AI chip, the Ascend 910C, has seen its production yield increase from 20% to almost 40% over the past year. The company aims to further enhance this yield to 60%, aligning with industry standards for similar chips.
This advancement is particularly significant given the challenges posed by U.S. export controls, which have restricted China’s access to certain semiconductor technologies. Despite these hurdles, Huawei’s progress underscores its commitment to bolstering China’s capabilities in the AI chip sector, reducing reliance on external suppliers.
The Ascend 910C chip, produced using Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation’s (SMIC) N+2 process, features 53 billion transistors and utiliSes a chiplet architecture. This design enhances performance and efficiency, positioning Huawei as a formidable competitor to established players like NVIDIA.
Looking ahead, Huawei plans to produce 100,000 units of the Ascend 910C and 300,000 units of the Ascend 910B in 2025. This represents a significant increase from 2024, where 200,000 units of the 910B were produced, with no production of the 910C.
These developments highlight China’s rapid advancements in the AI chip sector, challenging the dominance of U.S. companies and signaling a shift in the global technology landscape.
For a visual overview of Huawei’s AI chip advancements, you can watch the following video: