Overview
- Tesla and Samsung signed a multiyear $16.5 billion contract on July 28 to produce Tesla’s next-generation AI6 automotive processor at Samsung’s Texas facility through December 2033 with an initial annual volume of about $2 billion.
- Elon Musk pledged to personally oversee production efficiency on-site, emphasizing hands-on involvement to maximize chip output at the new fab.
- The agreement marks a rare foundry victory for Samsung over dominant rival TSMC and bolsters Samsung’s effort to reclaim market share in advanced automotive logic chips.
- In response to Tesla’s order, Samsung has fast-tracked equipment installation at its long-delayed Texas fab and revived plans for a U.S.-based advanced packaging plant.
- Samsung is positioning its 2 nanometer Automotive SF2A process chips at roughly one-third below TSMC’s wafer prices to attract additional foundry customers.