Samsung Electronics has asked multiple semiconductor-equipment suppliers to obtain SEMI certification in advance for tools intended for the second phase of its Taylor, Texas, fab, even though the facility's specifications have not been finalized. SEMI certification evaluates equipment safety and is required before semiconductor tools can be exported. Samsung said during its second-quarter earnings call that it plans to begin Taylor Phase 2 construction by the end of this year and target mass production in 2030, while a project timeline places groundbreaking at the end of 2026. Phase 1 is in the equipment move-in and installation stage, targeting operations by year-end with a focus on the 2-nanometer process. Tesla is the most widely cited anchor customer for Phase 1, having signed a 22.76 trillion won foundry contract with Samsung in the third quarter of last year; the value was initially reported at approximately $16.3 billion and is cited in the latest report as about $15.9 billion. Whether Phase 2 proceeds on schedule will depend on expanded Tesla orders or new large customers, with Samsung E&A reportedly planning to send dozens of personnel to the site. The early certification work allows equipment preparation and fab construction planning to proceed in parallel and signals Samsung's commitment to expanding advanced-node foundry capacity in the United States.