October 31, 2005 – Infineon Technologies AG, a German semiconductor manufacturer, will soon begin beefing up its automotive chip operations in Japan, reports Asia Pulse Businesswire. The company will establish in Tokyo a specialized lab to ensure thorough quality management of semiconductors for automobiles. The company will also add sales and support staff.

Infineon Technologies will aim to raise annual automotive chip sales in Japan in fiscal 2010 to 30 billion yen (US$260 million), triple its current tally. The firm’s Japanese arm, Infineon Technologies Japan KK, plans to build an analysis lab in Tokyo around the beginning of next year. The new 100 million yen lab will be outfitted with testing and other equipment designed to detect inferior products and promptly trace the source of any problems.

The new lab will allow Infineon Technologies to comply with the strict quality standards of domestic automobile manufacturers such as Toyota Motor Corp. In doing so, it aims to boost sales to these automakers.

In addition, Infineon Technologies Japan will raise its quality management staff from 15 at present to about 20 after two years. In addition, the Japanese unit will double its applications engineering staff, who handle sales and customer support, from the current 10 members.

Infineon Technologies will also promote speed sensors, tire air pressure sensors, power semiconductors used in motor controls, and other products in Japan. The company will provide products made at its own factories in Germany, Austria, Malaysia and other locations to the domestic and foreign plants of Japanese automakers.