Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Wistron inaugurated its first-ever U.S. factory on July 22, marking a landmark expansion of Taiwan's tech supply chain onto American soil — and drawing NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who used the occasion to declare that Taiwan's manufacturing identity has permanently shifted from cheap labor to advanced technological capability.
The facility, called the D1 AI Smart Factory and located in Dallas, Texas, represents a nearly $700 million investment spanning approximately 324,000 square feet. It has already produced the first NVIDIA GB300 compute substrate manufactured on American soil — a milestone Huang underscored by signing one of the boards at the ceremony.
Wistron D1 Produces the First U.S.-Made NVIDIA GB300 Substrate
The opening drew a notable cross-Pacific roster of guests. Taiwan's representative to the United States, Alexander Yui, attended alongside NVIDIA Executive Vice President of Operations Debora Shoquist and Fort Worth Economic Development Director Jessica Rogers. Huang brought his daughter Huang Min-shan to the event as well.
Wistron Chairman Lin Hsien-ming officially unveiled the facility, framing D1 not as an endpoint but as a foundation. He said the company is already planning a second Texas plant — designated D2 — expected to reach at least double the scale of the current factory.
"D1 is just the starting point," Lin said, adding that Wistron intends to continue building a localized supply chain and developing advanced production lines on U.S. soil.
Jensen Huang Draws a Line Between Cost-Efficient and Low-Cost
Speaking to reporters at the ceremony, Huang pushed back on a longstanding characterization of Taiwan's supply chain — that its chief appeal was cheap production. When asked how Taiwanese suppliers should adapt as U.S. manufacturing costs rise, he offered a direct reframe.
"Taiwan no longer represents 'cheap' — it represents 'advanced,'" he said, speaking to Taiwanese workers and executives in the room. "As Taiwanese, you should be very proud."
Huang was deliberate in distinguishing two related but different qualities. Taiwan, he said, remains highly "cost-efficient" — capable of delivering sophisticated products at competitive value — but it is no longer simply "low-cost." The distinction reflects not cheaper labor, but superior engineering depth and manufacturing expertise that other markets have yet to replicate.
He acknowledged real headwinds for manufacturers expanding in the United States: higher labor costs, higher living expenses, and a domestic supplier ecosystem that has not yet fully matured. But with the AI market in a phase of rapid growth, he said the moment for investment is now regardless.
Taiwan Is NVIDIA's Biggest Trading Partner, Huang Tells the Crowd
In broader remarks, Huang described the strategic weight Taiwan carries — both for his company and for the global AI industry. Officially, Taiwan ranks as the United States' fourth-largest trading partner. For NVIDIA, he said, the ranking is different.
"For NVIDIA, Taiwan is the biggest trading partner," he said.
He also praised the wave of Taiwanese companies — including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Foxconn, and Wistron — that have expanded to the United States in recent years, calling their moves a meaningful achievement in Taiwan–U.S. cooperation and a critical step in sustaining the global AI supply chain.
"America should be very grateful," Huang said. （Related： Nvidia Bets on Taiwan With 4,000 Hires and a Blunt Message to the World ｜ Latest ）
