Samsung Plans Austin Production of Chips for SpaceX’s Starlink

Samsung plans to make some of the STM32V8 microcontrollers used in SpaceX’s Starlink satellites at its Austin, Texas, plant, adding a U.S. production site for a chip that supports communications between satellites.

Samsung and STMicroelectronics developed the chip together. Production currently takes place at STMicroelectronics’ facility in Crolles, France, with some production planned to shift to Austin. The STM32V8 is built using an 18-nanometer fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) process.

Samsung is investing $1.9 billion to expand the Austin facility as part of a broader commitment of about $37 billion across Texas. The company’s Texas plans include up to $4.745 billion in federal subsidies under the CHIPS Act.

Operational capacity at the Austin facility is targeted for 2030. The site will focus on specialty chips for aerospace, defense and automotive customers. Samsung’s separate facility in Taylor, Texas, focuses on advanced AI chips for clients including Tesla and Nvidia.