Tesla is looking to expand its chip supplier base and has turned attention to Intel foundry services after striking agreements with TSMC and Samsung. Elon Musk signaled that Tesla requires “gigantic” chip production volume across its partners and suggested a relationship with Intel could make sense, saying it is “probably worth having discussions with Intel”. If a deal proceeds, Tesla would join a short list of customers sourcing semiconductors from Samsung, TSMC and Intel.
The likely technical focus for any initial Intel work would be the 18A node, which the article cites as Intel Foundry Services’ most competitive offering. Intel’s 18A process is being produced at the Arizona Fab 52 facility and is presented as a U.S.-based counterpart to TSMC’s N2 and Samsung’s SF2. The story notes that Intel has struggled to secure meaningful external volume despite the competitiveness of 18A, making Tesla a potentially attractive customer. Musk also emphasized that even optimistic production estimates from existing suppliers would not meet Tesla’s needs.
The report recalls earlier rumors that Intel might provide advanced packaging for Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer, a venture that stalled after the Dojo project was shut down. With Dojo no longer a driver, the conversation has shifted toward a semiconductor foundry relationship, which the article frames as a more substantial opportunity for Intel. Tesla is also reportedly searching for “2nm suppliers” for its next-generation Artificial Intelligence6 chips, though details of any Intel-Tesla arrangement remain unclear because Musk has not provided specifics.
