Samsung Electronics is accelerating preliminary work on the second phase of its Taylor, Texas wafer fab, issuing certification requests to multiple equipment suppliers even before fab specifications have been finalized—a clear signal of its strong intent to expand advanced-node production capacity in the United States.

According to South Korean tech media outlet ZDNet Korea, Samsung Electronics has recently asked key semiconductor equipment partners to obtain SEMI certification in advance for equipment destined for the Taylor Phase 2 fab. SEMI certification is an industry standard for evaluating semiconductor equipment safety and a prerequisite for equipment export. A semiconductor equipment industry source said: “Although the specific specifications for the Taylor Phase 2 fab have not yet been determined, the response speed of Samsung Electronics’ foundry division has exceeded expectations,” adding that concrete plans are expected to gradually take shape by the end of this year.

Samsung Electronics officially announced during its second-quarter earnings conference call on the 30th of last month that it plans to begin construction of the Taylor Phase 2 fab by the end of this year, targeting mass production by 2030, in order to “respond promptly to growing customer demand.”

The Taylor fab is Samsung Electronics’ core facility dedicated to mass production of its most advanced foundry process nodes. The Phase 1 fab is currently in the equipment move-in and installation stage, targeting operational status by the end of this year, with the industry’s most advanced 2nm process as its primary production node.

Tesla is currently the most widely cited anchor customer for the Phase 1 fab. Samsung Electronics and Tesla signed a semiconductor foundry contract worth 22.76 trillion won (approximately $15.9 billion) in the third quarter of last year, after which the construction timeline for Taylor Phase 1 accelerated noticeably. Prior to that, the project had been delayed multiple times due to difficulties in securing customers and a deteriorating market environment.

Large Customer Lock-In Remains Key to Phase 2 Progress

Although preliminary work has already begun ahead of schedule, whether the Taylor Phase 2 fab can proceed on time still hinges on securing large-scale customers. Industry insiders note that whether Tesla’s order volume expands further or new anchor clients are brought on board will directly shape the overall roadmap for Phase 2—from cleanroom construction to production line rollout.

Samsung E&A, Samsung Electronics’ construction subsidiary, is reportedly moving forward with plans to dispatch dozens of personnel to the Taylor project site to support Phase 2 fab construction. However, the aforementioned industry source emphasized: “If Samsung Electronics wants to rapidly advance production line construction after the cleanroom is completed, it must lock in large-scale customers in advance.”

Samsung Electronics’ move to require suppliers to complete SEMI certification before Phase 2 fab specifications are even finalized is being interpreted by the industry as a clear signal of its investment commitment to the project. SEMI certification is a prerequisite for equipment export, and advancing this process early means Samsung Electronics is reserving a time window for rapid equipment deployment down the road.

Key milestones for the Taylor project are as follows:

Project PhaseTimelineProcess NodeStatusPhase 1 fabOperational by end-20262nmEquipment move-in and installationPhase 2 fabGroundbreaking end-2026UndisclosedPreliminary prep; equipment certification initiatedPhase 2 mass production target2030UndisclosedPlanning stage

Note: Phase 1 has a signed 22.76 trillion won foundry contract with Tesla; Phase 2 process specifications and customer structure remain to be clarified.

Investment Commitment Signal and Market Focus

The industry source said: “This shows that Samsung Electronics is actively preparing for investment, and the outline of specific plans will gradually become clear before the end of this year.” For investors tracking Samsung Electronics’ foundry business progress, large customer acquisition developments will be the core indicator for judging whether Phase 2 can proceed as scheduled.

From a strategic perspective, Samsung Electronics’ expansion of advanced-node capacity in the United States is consistent with its broader push in recent years to capture a larger share of the global foundry landscape. The Taylor fab serves as Samsung’s core US hub for its most advanced process nodes. Phase 1 accelerated significantly thanks to the Tesla mega-order; whether Phase 2 can replicate this trajectory will depend on Samsung’s ability to secure the next strategic customer with sufficient order scale in the near term.

Industry analysts believe that the early initiation of SEMI certification reflects a pace of progress on Phase 2 that is notably faster than conventional workflows. Typically, equipment suppliers begin certification procedures only after fab specifications are finalized. Samsung’s approach signals its intent to run fab construction and equipment preparation on parallel tracks, compressing the overall project timeline. This “certify-while-building” strategy also underscores the urgency Samsung feels about its advanced-node capacity footprint on US soil.

As the regionalization trend in the global semiconductor supply chain intensifies, demand for advanced-node foundry capacity in the US market continues to rise. Samsung Electronics’ expansion plans at Taylor will not only bear on the global competitiveness of its own foundry business but will also have far-reaching implications for the North American semiconductor supply chain landscape.