Samsung and Tesla Seal Billion-Dollar Deal for AI Chips in Texas
verenigde staten, dinsdag, 29 juli 2025.
Samsung will produce AI6 chips for Tesla products in a new factory in Taylor, Texas. The deal, worth over 14 billion euros, is a significant win for both companies. The project will aid Tesla in developing advanced AI functionalities, including the Full Self-Driving system and humanoid robots. Elon Musk emphasises the strategic importance of this collaboration, while Samsung secures a major customer for its US chip factory.
Strategic Importance for Tesla and Samsung
The deal between Samsung and Tesla, valued at over 14 billion euros, is of great strategic importance to both companies. Tesla will be able to accelerate the development of advanced AI functionalities such as the Full Self-Driving system and humanoid robots. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, highlighted that the strategic significance of this partnership is difficult to overstate [1][2]. For Samsung, the deal is a significant victory, especially given the company’s recent struggles with declining demand for AI applications and increasing competition in the AI chip market [1].
Production in the United States
Samsung will produce the AI6 chips not in South Korea, but in the United States. Production will take place in a new factory in Taylor, Texas. This factory has been largely without customers until now, making the deal even more significant [2][3]. Production is scheduled to begin in 2026, when the factory becomes operational [1][2].
Impact on the Market
The announcement of the deal has already had a swift impact on the stock prices of both companies. Samsung’s shares on the Seoul stock exchange rose by 5 percent, while Tesla’s shares also saw a significant increase [1][4]. Analysts view the deal as a positive development for Samsung’s contract manufacturing business, which has been operating at a loss until now [2][3].
Future Plans
In addition to the AI6 chips, which will be produced in the Texas factory, Tesla is collaborating with TSMC for the production of AI5 chips. These chips, primarily designed for the Full Self-Driving system, will first be produced in TSMC’s factory in Taiwan and subsequently in Arizona [2][3]. Samsung is currently producing the AI4 chips for Tesla, which support the Full Self-Driving system [2].
Personal Involvement of Elon Musk
Elon Musk has shown personal involvement in the deal. He announced that he will personally work to maximise production efficiency at the Taylor factory. “This is a crucial point, and I will personally walk the production line to speed up the pace of progress,” Musk wrote on X [2]. The location of the factory, not far from Musk’s home, is seen by him as an additional advantage [2].