Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) has claimed the top spot in the global automotive memory chip market for the first time, a segment long known for its high entry barriers. The company also widened its lead in the global DRAM market in the first quarter of this year, solidifying its dominant position. Analysts say Samsung has demonstrated its "ultra-gap" leadership in the memory sector, capitalizing on surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips and the rapid evolution of autonomous driving technology.
According to S&P Global Mobility on Wednesday, Samsung Electronics topped the global automotive memory chip market last year with a 40% share. The figure marks a 5 percentage point rise from its 35% share in 2024. Meanwhile, U.S.-based Micron, the previous leader, fell from 40% to 36%, ceding the top position to Samsung.
Automotive memory was once a low-value-added market that drew relatively little attention in the chip industry. Replacement cycles ran seven to eight years, and the required technology level was modest. The conservative supply chain management typical of automakers also made new entry difficult.
The mood shifted, however, as autonomous driving technology and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems rapidly emerged. As high-performance, high-capacity memory became essential, demand grew steadily for Samsung's low-power, high-performance advanced products such as low-power DRAM (LPDDR) and Universal Flash Storage (UFS). As a result, the company is reported to have secured global automakers and parts suppliers including Tesla, Qualcomm, and Bosch as key customers.
Samsung Electronics is said to have recorded annual average revenue growth exceeding 40% in the automotive memory market over the past five years. S&P analyzed that the decisive factor in surpassing Micron was the rapid increase in market share in China, a high-growth market.
Samsung is also tightening its grip on the top spot in the DRAM market. According to global market research firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics held a 38% share in DRAM revenue in the first quarter of this year, cementing its leading position. The figure represents a 2 percentage point increase from 36% in the previous quarter, the fourth quarter of last year. SK hynix, ranked second, saw its share slip to 29% in the first quarter of this year from 32% in the fourth quarter of last year.
As a result, the gap between the two companies widened from 4 percentage points in the fourth quarter of last year to 9 percentage points in the first quarter of this year. After fierce competition for the top position throughout last year, during which Samsung was at one point overtaken by SK hynix, the company is seen as having firmly seized momentum since reclaiming the throne in the fourth quarter of last year. Micron maintained third place with a 22% share.
The shifts in memory chip rankings have unfolded amid an explosive expansion of the overall DRAM market. Total global DRAM revenue in the first quarter surged 80% from the previous quarter to $97 billion (about 146 trillion won), setting a new all-time high. Demand for high-performance products such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and LPDDR5, driven by the buildout of AI data center infrastructure, triggered supply shortages and led to unprecedented price increases.
However, the aggressive pursuit by China's Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT), climbing in the fourth-place ranks, is a key variable. Absorbing smartphone and server demand within China, CXMT's market share rose to 8% in the first quarter of this year, more than doubling from 3% a year earlier. Combined with rising unit prices, CXMT's first-quarter revenue surged more than 700% from a year earlier. The company has also signaled its entry into the HBM market through large-scale fundraising via a future initial public offering (IPO).
