轻视中国市场，Wolfspeed“死不足惜”

Core Viewpoint - Wolfspeed, a leading player in the global silicon carbide industry, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to insurmountable debt issues, with its stock price plummeting over 57% in after-hours trading [1] Group 1: Company Background and Market Position - Wolfspeed, formerly known as Cree, was a pioneer in silicon carbide (SiC) applications, launching the first SiC-based blue LED in 1989 and going public in 1993 [5][6] - The company transitioned from a strong LED business, which accounted for two-thirds of its revenue in 2017, to focus on compound semiconductors, particularly SiC substrates and devices, due to declining profitability in the LED market [7][8] - The saturation of the global LED market and the rise of Chinese competitors significantly impacted Wolfspeed's market position, leading to its eventual decline [9][10] Group 2: Strategic Missteps and Market Dynamics - A critical factor in Wolfspeed's downfall is its failure to establish a strong presence in the Chinese market, which is essential for growth in the semiconductor industry [3][4] - The company’s decision to focus on high-end 8-inch substrates, while neglecting the more mature 6-inch production lines, resulted in higher costs and lower competitiveness [20][21] - Despite initial success driven by Tesla's adoption of SiC technology, Wolfspeed faced challenges as Tesla announced plans to reduce its use of SiC transistors by 75% due to cost pressures, leading to a significant drop in Wolfspeed's stock price [24][25] Group 3: Financial Performance and Future Outlook - In 2023, Wolfspeed struggled with low capacity utilization, reporting only 20% utilization at its Mohawk Valley plant, and a 14.9% year-over-year revenue decline to $200 million in Q2 of fiscal 2024 [28] - The company’s gross margin fell to a historic low of 1.2%, with a net debt level 4.5 times its equity, indicating severe financial distress [28] - Wolfspeed's lack of a localized supply chain in China and slow response to market demands led to lost orders to competitors like Infineon and Sanan Optoelectronics, exacerbating its financial collapse [29][30]