GaN Systems and SPARX advance GaN in Electric Vehicles

Key Takeaways

  • SPARX Group Mirai Creation Fund II has made an investment in GaN Systems.
  • Mirai fund’s LP investors include Toyota Motor Corporation as Toyota made known in their public release.
  • GaN Systems continues to establish a strong position in the automotive industry with additional customers and strategic investors realizing the value proposition of GaN and using the transistors in EV power train applications, namely, Traction Inverter, On-Board Charger, and DC-DC converter.

OTTAWA, Ontario, December 17, 2019 GaN Systems today announces that SPARX Group "Mirai Creation Fund II (“Mirai fund”)" has made an investment in GaN Systems. Mirai fund provides capital to companies with the goal of accelerating innovation, Vehicle Electrification being one of the major targets, to generate a "new power" that will shape the future and impact our world. The goals and principles of the fund align well as the automobile industry as a whole is shifting toward a "mobility company" in this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation. Mirai fund’s LP investors include Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) as Toyota made known in their public release.

At the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show this October, the All GaN Vehicle was revealed. Developed by Nagoya University Institute for Future Materials and Systems and Toyota Advanced Power Electronics Research Division, the All GaN Vehicle features multiple applications of GaN (gallium nitride) in an electric car: in the traction inverter, where GaN improves efficiency by 20 percent extending the driving range of the car on one battery charge; in the DC-DC converter, which allows a 75 percent reduction in size of the system, in the On-Board Charger, and in the LED lighting, where GaN lights the road during night driving. The All GaN Vehicle has been spotted driving in and around Tokyo recently which was confirmed in videos playing during the Tokyo Motor Show.

GaN Systems continues to establish a strong position in the automotive industry with additional customers and strategic investors realizing the value proposition of GaN and using the transistors in EV powertrain applications, namely, Traction Inverter, On-Board Charger, and DC-DC converter.

“The combination of confidence in our best-in-class device performance, the release of the industry’s highest current rated devices, and our device reliability exceeding the AEC-Q101 automotive industry standards, has contributed to more and more automotive OEMs and Tier 1 companies investing in our company and using our devices,” said Jim Witham, CEO for GaN Systems. “It’s great to see so many automotive companies taking advantage of the benefits of our GaN as the industry shifts from internal combustion engines to Electric Vehicles.”  

“After evaluating a variety of power semiconductor technologies and designs, GaN has emerged as a critical building block for power in automotive applications and our investment in GaN Systems complements our vision to shape the future and impact our world,” said Shuhei Abe, President and CEO of SPARX Group.

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About GaN Systems

GaN Systems is the global leader in GaN power semiconductors with the largest portfolio of transistors that uniquely address the needs of today’s most demanding industries including data center servers, renewable energy systems, automotive, industrial motors and consumer electronics. As a market-leading innovator, GaN Systems makes possible the design of smaller, lower cost, more efficient power systems. The company’s award-winning products provide system design opportunities free from the limitations of yesterday’s silicon. By changing the rules of transistor performance, GaN Systems is enabling power conversion companies to revolutionize their industries and transform the world. For more information, please visit: www.gansystems.com or on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Key Takeaways

  • SPARX Group Mirai Creation Fund II has made an investment in GaN Systems.
  • Mirai fund’s LP investors include Toyota Motor Corporation as Toyota made known in their public release.
  • GaN Systems continues to establish a strong position in the automotive industry with additional customers and strategic investors realizing the value proposition of GaN and using the transistors in EV power train applications, namely, Traction Inverter, On-Board Charger, and DC-DC converter.

Quotes

“The combination of confidence in our best-in-class device performance, the release of the industry’s highest current rated devices, and our device...
Jim WithamCEO, GaN Systems
“After evaluating a variety of power semiconductor technologies and designs, GaN has emerged as a critical building block for power in automotive a...
Shuhei AbeCEO, SPARX Group

Related Bios

Jim Witham
GaN Systems CEO
Jim Witham’s career has focused on bringing new technology, like GaN Systems’ world’s best performing power transistors, to the Electronics market.

Witham joined GaN Systems from Neoconix, a manufacturer of high density, miniature connectors. As CEO of Neoconix, he successfully implemented strategic changes which dramatically increased revenue and resulted in the company’s acquisition by Unimicron Technology. Prior to Neoconix, Witham was CEO of Fultec Semiconductor, where his team made circuit protection devices using high voltage silicon, silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN) transistors. Fultec was acquired by circuit protection market leader Bourns. Witham has also held VP Sales & Marketing positions at Aegis Semiconductor, a tunable filter semiconductor manufacturer and Genoa, a semiconductor optical amplifier manufacturer.

Other notable career highlights include senior executive positions at Raychem, including General Manager of the Raychem Interconnect Division and Director of Asia Sales & Marketing, based in Japan, for the Raychem Circuit Protection Division. As an Engineering Specialist at General Dynamics’ Space System Division during the eighties, Witham designed fluid systems for the Space Shuttle and was on Mission Control for interplanetary missions. Witham holds an MBA from Harvard and both M.S. and B.S. with distinction in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford.
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Contacts

Mary Placido
mary@triercompany.com
4152183627
Media Contact - Trier and Company for GaN Systems