Samsung wants everyone to know Tesla’s shiny new AI5 chip is real and nearly ready for the factory floor.
Samsung Foundry has wrapped the tape-out of Tesla’s first 3nm chip, the AI5, and Elon Musk has already lobbed a thank-you at the South Korean firm for the teamwork. Now the chatter is that Samsung is closing in on mass production.
A report claims Samsung has finished preparations at its Taylor, Texas, fab and will hold a ceremony on 24 April 2026 to mark the delivery of major equipment. The guest list is packed with suits, including Samsung Foundry president Han Jin-man and a mix of local and international suppliers.
Once the tools are installed and the trial runs stop misbehaving, full operations are expected in the second half of 2026. Tesla’s AI5 is tipped to be the first chip out of Taylor, with a 2nm-based AI6 lined up further down the road.
Taylor broke ground in November 2022 with production initially pencilled in for the second half of 2024, then reality arrived. Samsung’s timetable slipped as it struggled to lock in enough foundry orders, then it hit the turbo button after landing a $16.5 billion Tesla deal a few months ago.
Samsung has reportedly pushed yields on its 2nm node to nearly 60 per cent in recent months, which is progress in the way a limp handshake is progress. TSMC is said to be sitting around 70 to 80 per cent, and foundry customers tend to prefer wafers that work.
