Samsung Electronics is gearing up to commence crucial equipment test runs at its highly anticipated Taylor, Texas, semiconductor plant in March, a move that signals the beginning of production for Tesla’s upcoming AI5 chip later this year. This development was reported by Sina Finance, citing sources familiar with the project.
The report indicates that Samsung is set to kick off trial operations of its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment at the Taylor facility in March. EUV tools play a pivotal role in advanced chip manufacturing, and the successful activation of these tools would represent a significant milestone for the plant. These tests are expected to support the full-scale production of Tesla’s AI5 chips starting in the second half of 2026.
Situated on approximately 4.85 million square meters, the Taylor factory represents Samsung’s first wafer fabrication facility in the United States. Construction is nearing completion, with reports suggesting that around 7,000 workers are currently engaged at the site, including approximately 1,000 staff already operating from the facility’s office building. Samsung is also preparing to apply for a temporary occupancy permit, allowing limited production to commence before the plant is fully operational.
This timeline aligns neatly with Tesla’s ambitious AI hardware roadmap. CEO Elon Musk recently mentioned that the AI5 chip design is nearly finalized, with early work on its successor, AI6, already underway. AI5, also known as Hardware 5, is anticipated to deliver a remarkable 50x improvement over the current AI4 hardware powering Full Self-Driving. Tesla aims for a roughly nine-month development cycle for future AI chips beyond AI5.
Previous reports have indicated that both Samsung and TSMC will manufacture versions of Tesla’s AI5 chip, with TSMC handling a 3nm variant and Samsung targeting an even more advanced 2nm process. Additionally, Tesla has secured a substantial $16.5 billion deal with Samsung for the production of the AI6 chip in the U.S., a chip that Musk has described as potentially the best AI chip available.
In addition to AI processors, Samsung is expanding its collaboration with Tesla, including plans to provide 5G modems for the company’s Robotaxi fleet. With EUV testing on the horizon, Samsung’s Texas plant is poised to play a crucial role in Tesla’s AI future.