Driving the Next Era of Electrification: Wolfspeed’s Nimble, Customer-Centric Approach

When Bret Zahn talks about the future of mobility, he doesn’t mince words.
“As an industry, we’re at an inflection point,” says Zahn, Vice President and General Manager of Wolfspeed’s Automotive business. “The companies that will win are the ones that understand their customers, move fast, and execute with precision. Wolfspeed has all the fundamentals to do exactly that.”

After more than a decade leading power semiconductor businesses—including overseeing automotive powertrain programs at Onsemi—Zahn joined Wolfspeed to help write its next chapter. He sees a business with every ingredient needed for success in this industry: deep silicon carbide (SiC) expertise, full vertical integration, and a team ready to compete to win.

Fundamentals That Fuel Confidence

Even amid a challenging financial period, Zahn says Wolfspeed’s technical foundation never wavered.

“The capabilities that make Wolfspeed special—crystal growth, wafer fabrication, device engineering, and module development—are all still here,” he explains. “The fundamentals didn’t go away. Now, we have a strong financial and leadership foundation that will enable us to leverage the critical SiC expertise to take us to our next chapter of growth.”

For Zahn, the key ingredient for success in the automotive space is customer centricity. Automotive customers demand assurance of supply, and Wolfspeed’s “powder-to-power” vertical integration gives them exactly that. From raw materials to finished die, Wolfspeed controls every critical step—anchored by a secure, U.S.-based manufacturing corridor that minimizes risk and maximizes agility.

“We don’t have wafers or devices flying around the world,” Zahn says. “Everything’s compact, connected, and efficient. That’s what allows us to move faster than our competitors.”

Meeting Customers Where They Are

Today’s automakers and Tier-1 suppliers are increasingly taking module design into their own hands, seeking flexibility and cost control as the EV market matures. Zahn sees that shift not as a challenge—but as an opportunity.

“Most OEMs won’t make their own SiC die, but many want to design and manufacture their own power modules,” he says. “That’s where Wolfspeed can be a co-development partner, not just a supplier.”

Through the company’s Fayetteville, Arkansas, technology center, Wolfspeed helps customers design, test, and optimize modules to meet their specific needs—without being constrained by excess back-end manufacturing capacity. The result: faster design cycles, closer collaboration, and more tailored solutions.

Zahn’s team recently introduced the Whole Supply Plan Program (WSPP)—a model that enables customers to co-develop custom modules with Wolfspeed, manufacture through their preferred OSAT partners, and still benefit from Wolfspeed’s engineering expertise and quality assurance.

“It eliminates margin stacking, protects IP, and gives customers the flexibility they’ve been asking for,” he explains. “We’re enabling them to innovate on their terms, while ensuring Wolfspeed remains their primary SiC supplier.”

Agility, Scale, and Assurance

That combination of partnership and performance is what’s fueling Wolfspeed’s momentum with the world’s top automakers. Facilities like the Mohawk Valley Fab—the world’s first and largest 200mm SiC fabrication facility—showcase the company’s ability to deliver automotive-grade quality at scale.

“Mohawk Valley’s automation and consistency are world-class,” Zahn says. “Every customer who’s seen it says the same thing—it’s a glimpse into the future of power electronics manufacturing.”

Coupled with faster “cycles of learning” across Wolfspeed’s integrated development network, the company can move from design to validation with unprecedented speed—turning insights into innovations that customers can deploy faster.

The Mindset of a Comeback

For Zahn, Wolfspeed’s story isn’t just about technology—it’s about mindset.
“We’ve reorganized around the customer, not the product,” he says. “That shift unlocks a completely different level of energy and clarity. Everyone understands why we’re doing what we’re doing: to help our customers succeed.”

He believes that culture of humility, accountability, and action will define Wolfspeed’s future.
“All the fundamentals are here. Now it’s about execution,” he says. “If we stay humble, move fast, and deliver on our commitments, Wolfspeed will not just participate in the automotive transformation—we’ll drive it.”