February 12, 2026 /SemiMedia/ — Samsung Electronics has received temporary approval to begin limited operations at parts of its Taylor, Texas semiconductor plant, bringing the company closer to producing Tesla’s next-generation AI chips in the United States.

Local officials confirmed that around 88,000 square feet of Samsung’s first fab building has been granted a temporary certificate of occupancy, with additional areas expected to be cleared in stages. Samsung plans to start volume production in the second half of this year, initially focusing on Tesla’s AI5 chips, with AI6 products expected to follow.

The Taylor site is central to Samsung’s US advanced manufacturing push. The company is preparing to start testing extreme ultraviolet lithography tools next month, a key step toward rolling out 2nm processes. Samsung expects to complete about 6 million square feet of construction by the end of this year, with further expansion planned through 2028.

Rising demand for AI and high-performance computing chips is driving Samsung to broaden its US customer base. Company executives have said they aim for more than 130% growth in 2nm orders this year, with the Texas fab playing a major role.

Industry sources said Tesla’s AI chip program is seen as a key test for Samsung’s advanced-node ramp-up in the US. Rival TSMC is also expanding its Arizona operations and is reported to be considering multiple additional fabs, as both companies compete for advanced AI chip production on American soil.