Reports indicate that Rapidus intends to begin construction of a second factory in Hokkaido in 2027, with the goal of starting production of 1.4 nm chips in early 2029. According to Nikkei, the project is described as a central part of a trillion-yen initiative backed by substantial government funding. The timeline in the report positions the Hokkaido facility as a follow-up to Rapidus’s initial manufacturing expansion in Japan and as a continuation of a multi-year push to advance node scaling and domestic chip capacity.
The article notes that Rapidus’s first plant in Chitose remains on schedule to begin mass production of 2 nm chips by late 2027, and that the company reportedly plans to begin intensive research on 1.4 nm technology in 2026. The report credits ongoing collaboration with IBM for providing the technological foundation for Rapidus’s roadmap and development work. These steps are presented as sequential, with research and development activities supporting future fabrication milestones.
Update 16:00 UTC: a Rapidus spokesperson contacted the publisher to say that recent media reports regarding construction and operation of a 1.4 nm-node semiconductor factory are speculation and did not originate from the company. The spokesperson said Rapidus does not comment on rumors or speculation and that any updates to its roadmap will be announced directly by the company if it decides on developments that should be made public. The article therefore frames the 2027 and 2029 timelines as reported plans rather than confirmed company statements.
