Samsung will postpone the opening of its Texas micro‑manufacturing plant until 2027, at the expense of Tesla

What is happening with Samsung’s new plant in Taylor (Texas)

ItemSummary of the eventWho is involved?U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean giant Samsung Electronics.PurposeWhy it matters?The chip law signed by Biden encourages Samsung to build more advanced factories in the U.S. than those near Austin.Current status of the projectThe new “manufacturing site” is already operating in test mode. Mass production of chips here is not expected until the start of 2027. A detailed schedule will be released closer to June this year; the company plans to complete preparations for mass production by the end of 2026.Technological stepSamsung recently raised its goal: instead of the original 4‑nm chips, it now targets 2‑nm. Preparation for 2‑nm technologies is underway simultaneously in the U.S. and South Korea (in Pyeongtaek). The first 2‑nm SF2P line is expected to appear this year, but deployment dates in Taylor remain uncertain.PurposeWhy it matters for Samsung?The company aims to bring its contract chip manufacturing business to break even by the end of this year and plans to capture at least 20 % of the global market share for contract manufacturing services by 2027.Clients and projectsAmong key customers is Tesla, which signed a long‑term contract for AI5/AI6 chips for robots, autopilot, and AI infrastructure. The AI6 chips (2‑nm production) are slated to launch in mid‑2028.Regulatory environmentSouth Korea has no restrictions on exporting advanced lithography technologies, giving Samsung the opportunity to outpace TSMC in launching 2‑nm production in the U.S.

ConclusionThe new Samsung plant in Taylor is already ready for testing, but mass chip production is scheduled only for 2027. The company is working toward a transition to 2‑nm technology and aims to strengthen its position in the contract manufacturing market to meet growing demands from clients such as Tesla and achieve its market share goals by 2027.