Musk says Tesla’s next AI chips will be split between Samsung Foundry and TSMC (台积电), with one run on U.S. 2nm capacity
What Musk announced
It has been reported that Elon Musk told investors and followers that Tesla’s next-generation AI chips — dubbed AI6 and AI6.5 — will be manufactured by two different contract foundries. According to the report, AI6 will be produced by Samsung Foundry (三星代工), while AI6.5 will be made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台积电) using U.S.-based 2nm capacity. The claim, if accurate, signals Tesla’s continuing reliance on external fabs even as it doubles down on in‑house chip design for driving and data‑center workloads.
Why split production?
Why split one product line between two foundries? There are obvious reasons: capacity, redundancy and risk management. Samsung and TSMC are the world’s leading advanced-node manufacturers; tapping both could help Tesla secure scarce cutting‑edge process slots and accelerate rollout. It also spreads risk across suppliers at a moment when foundry lead times and equipment bottlenecks remain acute.
Geopolitics and U.S. 2nm capacity
The U.S. angle is important. The mention of “U.S. 2nm capacity” comes against a backdrop of tighter export controls and Western efforts to onshore advanced semiconductor production — driven by national security concerns and the CHIPS Act subsidies. Running production in U.S. fabs can insulate critical supply lines from geopolitical friction and export restrictions, a material consideration for a company with global hardware and software ambitions.
What it means for Tesla and the industry
If confirmed, the move would underline Tesla’s pragmatic approach: design chips in‑house but outsource manufacturing to the best external partners. It would also underscore how automakers and AI companies are reshaping supply chains to secure access to the most advanced nodes. Reportedly, more technical and timing details remain unclear, and observers will be watching for official confirmations from Tesla, Samsung and TSMC.