Intel kicked off its first Tech Tour in Arizona with big news about its 18A process node, TrendForce reports citing Commercial Times that says Intel started limited shipments to U.S. customers in Q3, with 18A wafers already in production and initial output of its own CPUs expected in Q4. TweakTown reports that Intel will show off its first in-house 18A processor, Panther Lake, on October 9 during the tour. The Economic Daily News notes that the Panther Lake AI PC chip should ship by year-end, with the 18A rollout backing Intel's next three CPU generations. By starting 18A mass production, Intel became the first among foundry competitors to bring backside power delivery to market, while its Arizona fabs becomes the first in the U.S. to hit 2 nm-class mass production.

Intel's Arizona expansion—Fab 52 and Fab 62—comes from a $32 billion investment launched in 2021. Fab 52 alone should reach 1,000-5,000 wafers per month by year-end, ramp to 15,000 in 2026, and eventually hit 30,000. Industry sources cited by Commercial Times say that, alongside U.S. chip tariff policies, Intel's Arizona fabs are becoming a key option for chipmakers. While 18A still falls behind in transistor density, its backside power delivery cuts routing congestion and boosts frequency performance, drawing interest from global tech giants.
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