Tesla Boosts 2nm AI6 Chip Production with Samsung Electronics
Tesla is wrapping up talks with Samsung Electronics to really ramp up how many of its next gen AI6 chips they make. Tesla's top purchasing folks are meeting with Samsung's leaders this week to lock in more capacity for the 2nm production. It is all part of Tesla's plan to get its supply chain in order and back its massive $20 billion AI infrastructure investment.
The big thing they are talking about is ordering way more wafers. Tesla wants to go beyond what they already have planned to make sure they have enough chips for their new hardware
- Current Amount 16,000 wafers each month
- Extra They Want Another 24,000 wafers each month
- Total 40,000 wafers each month once the deal is done
This increase should really get things moving at Samsung Electronics’ new factory in Taylor, Texas. By using the Texas plant, Tesla gets its hands on the newest 2nm chips right here in the US so they dont have to depend as much on shipping from overseas.
The AI6 chip is made to be a do it all super powerful processor that will be better than the previous ones. It is going to be used in three key areas of Tesla’s plan for 2026
- Self Driving Running the next version of their Full Self Driving FSD for regular cars and robotaxis
- Optimus Robot Being the main brain for Tesla’s robots
- AI Data Centers Working in groups to handle the jobs that the Dojo supercomputer used to do
Tesla is depending on Samsung’s Texas factory to stick to its No China No Taiwan rule for buying parts. This plan is about avoiding problems that could come from tensions between Taiwan and China and between the US and China. By moving the production of these important 2nm chips to the US Tesla is making sure its most critical AI parts are safe from any trouble in those regions.
The partnership has gotten much stronger since 2019. Samsung made the 14nm HW3 and the 5nm HW4 chips. Tesla split orders for the AI5 between different factories but they are back with Samsung as their main partner for the AI6. Besides just making chips the two are working together on 5G modem tech which should show up first in Tesla’s robotaxis in Texas in the first half of this year.
The current eight year deal between them worth 22.8 trillion won should be worth even more since the number of wafers is almost tripling. Tesla is putting about $20 billion into this every year double what they used to spend so the partnership with Samsung is now a key part of Tesla’s move from just making cars to being an AI and robotics company.
