According to South Korean media ZDNet Korea, Samsung Electronics is preparing to bring its second-generation 2nm process technology (SF2P) into mass production by 2026. The company has already secured major partners, including Tesla and several Korean AI chip design firms, who will adopt the SF2P node for their next-generation semiconductors.

The SF2P process represents a significant upgrade over Samsung's first 2nm generation (SF2), which is scheduled for mass production in late 2025. Compared with SF2, the SF2P delivers 12% higher performance, 25% lower power consumption, and an 8% reduction in chip area. The design infrastructure, including process design kits (PDK), is already in place, and Samsung is actively promoting SF2P to global technology companies and chip designers.

One of the biggest milestones is a 22 trillion KRW ($16 billion) foundry deal with Tesla. The collaboration focuses on manufacturing Tesla's high-performance "AI6" chip, which will power its next-generation Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, robotics, and data centers. Initial samples of the AI6 will be produced in Samsung's Korean fabs, with large-scale production to follow at the company's new fab in Taylor, Texas, which is set to begin equipment installation by late 2025.

Beyond Tesla, several Korean AI semiconductor companies are also betting on SF2P. DeepX recently announced a partnership with Samsung Foundry and Gaonchips to co-develop the DX-M2, a generative AI chip built on SF2P, with pilot production expected in 2026 and volume production in 2027. Other projects, including collaborations with ADTechnology, Arm, and Rebellions, will also leverage SF2P for next-generation AI platforms.

Industry analysts emphasize that the success of SF2P will be critical for Samsung's competitiveness in the advanced foundry market. While yield rates are still stabilizing, Samsung expects significant progress by late 2025 through ongoing R&D and optimization, ensuring the technology will be ready for mass adoption in 2026.