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 initial public offering (IPO). The call was made to ASML’s annual technology conference, as reported by CNBC and confirmed by the company, marking a significant moment for both companies. Musk recently expressed his admiration for ASML, writing that the company “should be treasured and supported” and is “arguably the greatest company in Europe”.
SpaceX recently filed a record-setting IPO with a goal of raising $80 billion in funding, and the company’s need for semiconductor chips is expected to increase significantly as it prepares to go public and meet its promises and demand.
The company’s recent merger with Musk’s xAI and its agreement with Claude creator Anthropic to provide additional compute power through its Colossus 1 data center are likely to drive this demand. ASML is the only home to High NA, an advanced machine used to produce semiconductors, making it a crucial partner for companies like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, which all use ASML’s machine for their own popular chips.
With SpaceX looking to get in on the action, the company’s relationship with ASML is likely to be closely watched.
He called into the conference, but the details of what Musk said during the exchange are unclear, as the event was private. Despite the lack of specifics, the fact that Musk took the time to address ASML’s workers and leadership suggests a strong interest in the company and its technology.
As SpaceX prepares to go public, its need for semiconductor chips is likely to become a major focus for the company, and its relationship with ASML will be crucial in meeting this demand.
With the IPO on the horizon, investors and industry watchers will be closely monitoring the company’s progress. Looking ahead, the next few months will be critical for SpaceX as it navigates its IPO and works to establish itself. As the company continues to push the boundaries, its ability to secure the semiconductor chips it needs will be essential to its success, making its relationship with ASML a key factor to watch.
