Samsung Electronics has asked its equipment suppliers to secure safety certification for tools destined for a second chip plant in Taylor, Texas, as it attempts to fast-track the build schedule even though the factory's specifications have not yet been finalized. The company is aiming to hit a 2030 production date while AI chip demand continues to outstrip supply.

Certification requested ahead of schedule

Samsung is requesting a SEMI certification from its equipment suppliers, a standard industry safety check that equipment must pass before it can be shipped to another country. Suppliers typically begin the certification process only after a factory's specifications are finalized, but Samsung has told several of its tool suppliers to obtain the certification ahead of the planned second Taylor plant's launch, a move designed to save time and allow faster installation later.

That kind of early preparation can matter in semiconductor projects because the most time-consuming steps often happen before a single tool reaches the site: suppliers need clear specs, export-ready documentation, and coordination with the fab's layout and utility plans. Even so, concrete plans for the factory are expected to become clearer by the end of the year, with production targeted for 2030.

The first Taylor factory already counts Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) as a major customer. Tesla signed a foundry contract worth about 22.76 trillion Korean won ($14.09 billion) with Samsung last year, a deal that revived a Taylor timeline which had been delayed several times due to weak demand and a lack of customers.

The first factory is set to open this year and will begin trial production as early as next month, focusing on 2-nanometer manufacturing.

The second factory does not yet have a customer of its own. Industry sources say its timeline depends on whether Tesla expands its orders or a new large customer signs up. Samsung's construction unit, Samsung E&A, is reportedly preparing to send dozens of staff to the Taylor site to support the work.

Progress on the ground

In an interview, Taylor Mayor Jim Buzan said Samsung “put in the piers and foundation” for the second plant while it was still building the first. The mayor said Samsung “preplanned it several years back,” and he expects this head start to let Samsung move faster on the second factory than it did on the first.

Samsung's reported figures put its initial minimum Taylor investment at $17 billion, its biggest ever in the United States. The company has owned the land for its Taylor chip site since 2021 and has it zoned for as many as 10 factories.

Around 100 Samsung employees have already moved to Taylor, and the total number of newcomers is likely to reach several hundred once partner company staff arrive.

Mayor Buzan also said Samsung has not received any of the $4.745 billion in CHIPS and Science Act money awarded to it in 2024. These funds are usually tied to milestones such as finishing construction or starting commercial production, and the city has no information on when, or if, the federal government will release them.

Sources: Korea Times, Korea JoongAng Daily, Samsung Semiconductor – Taylor