Samsung Lands $16.5B Tesla Deal to Supply AI Chips for EVs

Vladimir Popescu
Samsung Musk Tesla AI chip deal
Source: Telegraph India

Samsung’s Tesla AI chip deal worth $16.5 billion has been announced as the largest single-customer contract in Samsung’s history, and this represents a major shift in the semiconductor industry right now. The eight-year agreement actually sees Samsung manufacturing Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chips at its Texas facility, which was confirmed by both companies on Monday. This Samsung Tesla AI chip deal marks what could be a pivotal moment for the tech sector.

Tesla AI Chip Deal Boosts Samsung’s Texas Foundry Ambitions

The Samsung-Tesla AI chip deal will be utilizing Samsung’s new Texas manufacturing facility, and this is part of a $40 billion investment that’s been supported by federal subsidies under the Chips and Science Act. Tesla CEO Elon Musk AI chip announcements were made on social media platform X, where he confirmed the strategic partnership.

Elon Musk stated:

“Samsung had agreed to allow Tesla to assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency and that he would walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress.”

The Samsung Texas chip plant is set to produce custom chips for Tesla’s autonomous driving systems along with humanoid robots. Musk also noted the Samsung Texas chip plant’s convenient location, saying:

“The fab is conveniently located not far from my house.”

Strategic Manufacturing Partnership

Samsung chip manufacturing facility under construction
Samsung chip manufacturing facility under construction – Source: MarketWatch

The Tesla autonomous driving chip production actually represents Samsung’s largest foundry win against competitor TSMC at the time of writing. Tesla autonomous driving chip technology requires advanced 2-nanometer processing, and the Samsung Texas chip plant will be providing this capability. This Tesla autonomous driving chip deal helps Samsung compete in the AI chip manufacturing USA market right now.

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Musk emphasized the deal’s importance, stating:

“The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate.”

The AI chip manufacturing USA initiative benefits from this partnership, as both companies are leveraging federal semiconductor subsidies. Also, AI chip manufacturing USA capabilities get expanded through Samsung’s Texas investment, and AI chip manufacturing USA competition is intensifying between foundries.

Kim Yang-paeng from Korea Institute of Industrial Economics and Trade said:

“Winning a big order from a global company can prompt other big tech companies to consider Samsung as an alternative to TSMC.”

Market Impact and Analysis

Tesla autonomous vehicle AI chip
Source: Financial Times

Samsung shares actually rose 6% following the Samsung Tesla AI chip deal announcement. The contract value equals 7.6% of Samsung’s 2024 revenue, and this also provides crucial revenue for Samsung’s struggling foundry business. Elon Musk AI chip strategy includes reducing dependence on Nvidia and AMD processors through custom silicon development.

Daniel Kim from Macquarie stated:

“Still meaningful regardless of its profitability, in that it will enable Samsung start operations of the Taylor fab and to gain experience in using its 2-nano process technology.”

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The partnership addresses Samsung’s foundry challenges while advancing Elon Musk AI chip ambitions for autonomous vehicles along with robotics applications.