Samsung has begun early production at its Taylor, Texas fabrication plant to manufacture Tesla chips under a $16.5 billion deal with the carmaker. Earlier reports had indicated the factory would be operational by November, but Samsung appears to have moved forward the start of operations.
Tesla chips production timeline
Samsung conducted an equipment move-in ceremony at the Taylor site in April. The tape-out was completed in July, a process in which chip design is handed over to actual wafer fabrication. Prototype production and verification typically follow tape-out.
Korean media reported that Samsung has pulled the mass production schedule forward to keep pace with surging AI chip orders. Its foundry lines at the main Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek factories in South Korea are already running at full capacity.
If Samsung is to meet current demand for 2 to 4nm chipmaking, it needs to accelerate production at Taylor. Full effective utilization could be achieved by year’s end.
