Samsung Puts the Brakes on Exynos Auto, Future Uncertain

Samsung’s push into automotive semiconductors may have hit a major roadblock. The company has reportedly temporarily suspended development of its next-gen automotive SoC under the Exynos Auto brand. It has also begun reorganizing the dedicated team within its System LSI Division. Analysts believe these moves could signal an exit from the business altogether.

Samsung halts automotive SoC development, team dismantled after reshuffle

According to the Korean media, Samsung has halted development work on upcoming Exynos Auto chips. An industry official said the System LSI Division recently communicated internally that the Exynos automotive business has been suspended and is effectively in an “exit” phase. The decision allegedly comes amid profitability concerns combined with internal organizational restructuring.

Samsung has viewed automotive processors as a next-generation growth engine since the mid-2010s, aiming to diversify beyond its mobile-centric semiconductor portfolio. It officially launched the Exynos Auto brand in 2018 and has built a lineup of automotive processors focused largely on In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems. Along the way, Samsung secured notable customers, including BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Tesla, and Ferrari.

However, warning signs had emerged over the past few years. Development timelines slipped, next-generation designs faced delays, and some customers began walking away. Some of its recent products, like the Exynos Auto V920, never entered mass production. The chip was officially announced in 2023, with plans to deploy it in vehicles this year.

This lack of clarity led some top clients to end partnerships. BMW had been sourcing Exynos Auto chips but chose not to proceed with follow-up development. While the German carmaker was reportedly willing to continue cooperation, Samsung’s delays and changing development plans ultimately derailed the partnership. Hyundai was also supposed to use the Exynos Auto V920 in some flagship models, but that’s not happening anymore.

Samsung is not laying off the engineers from the automotive team

Since the internal decision to halt the automotive program, Samsung has reportedly posted internal job openings within the System LSI Division, primarily focused on a newly formed Custom SoC organization. It’s currently accepting applications, suggesting that it plans to redeploy engineers from the automotive team rather than lay them off.

A company spokesperson acknowledged internal hiring related to the Custom SoC organization. However, they denied that the automotive development team is being dismantled or absorbed into mobile AP groups. This isn’t surprising, though. Samsung won’t immediately acknowledge that it is abandoning automotive chips entirely, even if it is.

“The automotive business is still ongoing,” the spokesperson said, adding that the situation does not amount to a reduction or shutdown of the auto organization. Still, with development paused, leadership reassigned, and resources shifting back toward mobile and custom silicon, industry watchers see Samsung’s automotive SoC ambitions at a crossroads. Whether Exynos Auto can recover or quietly fade out, we shall find out soon.