Samsung Electronics has become the world’s largest supplier of automotive memory semiconductors for the first time, overtaking longtime market leader Micron Technology amid surging demand for high-performance chips used in electric and autonomous vehicles.
According to a report released by S&P Global Mobility on May 31, Samsung’s global automotive memory market share rose to 40% last year from 35% in 2024, allowing the company to claim the top position in the industry.
Micron, which previously led the market, saw its share decline from 40% to 36% over the same period, dropping to second place.
Industry analysts said Samsung’s rapid expansion in China’s fast-growing electric vehicle market played a key role in the shift. China has emerged as the world’s largest EV market, with automakers aggressively adopting advanced infotainment systems and autonomous driving technologies that require larger amounts of high-performance memory.
As vehicles become increasingly software-driven, demand for automotive semiconductors has surged. Modern vehicles now rely heavily on artificial intelligence-based driver assistance systems, high-resolution displays and real-time data processing, significantly increasing memory requirements per vehicle.
Samsung strengthened its position by supplying advanced low-power DRAM (LPDDR) and Universal Flash Storage (UFS) solutions optimized for automotive applications. These products are designed to deliver high-speed performance while minimizing power consumption, a critical factor for electric and autonomous vehicles.
The company is also believed to supply automotive memory chips to major global clients including Qualcomm, Bosch, Tesla and Denso.
Automotive memory had long been viewed as a relatively low-margin business within the semiconductor industry because of the sector’s conservative supply chain structure and long product replacement cycles, which often span seven to eight years.
Automakers traditionally prioritized durability and reliability over cutting-edge performance, making it difficult for new suppliers to enter the market. However, the rise of autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles has transformed automotive memory into a strategic growth segment for chipmakers.
Samsung began targeting the automotive semiconductor market in earnest in 2015, focusing on low-power memory solutions tailored for next-generation infotainment and autonomous driving systems.
Since then, the company has expanded into automotive solid-state drives (SSDs) and graphics DRAM products, strengthening its presence in the premium automotive market.
Industry observers expect the automotive semiconductor business to become an increasingly important growth engine for Samsung as demand for AI-powered vehicles continues to rise globally.
“Vehicles are rapidly evolving into mobile data centers,” an industry official said. “High-performance memory is becoming a core component that directly affects autonomous driving and AI capabilities, and Samsung has successfully positioned itself at the center of that transition.”
