AMSTERDAM, June 11 — Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, privately addressed workers and leadership at ASML, the world’s primary supplier of materials needed to produce semiconductor chips, ahead of SpaceX’s highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO).
Musk called into ASML’s annual technology conference, as reported by CNBC and confirmed by the company, in a move that highlights the importance of ASML’s technology to SpaceX’s future plans. The event was private, so it’s unclear exactly what Musk said during the exchange, but his recent praise for ASML is well-documented.
Musk has championed the company, writing that ASML “should be treasured and supported” and describing it as “arguably the greatest company in Europe”.
This endorsement comes as SpaceX prepares to go public, with a record-setting IPO aiming to raise $80 billion in funding. SpaceX’s need for semiconductor chips is set to increase significantly, particularly with its recent merger with Musk’s xAI and an agreement with Claude creator Anthropic to provide additional compute power through its Colossus 1 data center.
ASML is the only manufacturer of High NA, an advanced machine used to produce semiconductors, which is also used by TSMC, Intel, and Samsung to produce their popular chips.
ASML’s technology is crucial to SpaceX’s plans, and Musk’s private address to the company’s workers and leadership suggests a strong interest in securing a stable supply of semiconductor chips. With SpaceX’s IPO on the horizon, the company’s ability to meet its promises and demand will depend on its access to these chips. The deal with Anthropic is just one example of SpaceX’s efforts to expand its capabilities, and its merger with xAI is expected to drive further growth and innovation.
As the company prepares to go public, its relationships with key suppliers like ASML will be closely watched. As SpaceX’s IPO approaches, investors and industry watchers will be keenly interested in the company’s plans for securing the semiconductor chips it needs to drive its growth.
With ASML’s High NA machine at the heart of the global semiconductor supply chain, Musk’s praise for the company and his private address to its workers and leadership suggest a deep understanding of the importance of this relationship to SpaceX’s future success.
Looking ahead, investors can expect timely and in-depth updates on SpaceX’s progress as it prepares to go public, including its efforts to secure the semiconductor chips it needs to meet its promises and demand. As the company navigates this critical period, its relationships with key suppliers like ASML will be under close scrutiny.
