Samsung Wins $16.5B Tesla AI6 Chip Manufacturing Deal

Samsung Electronics has signed a US$16.5 billion contract to manufacture Tesla’s next-generation AI6 chips, cementing a long-term collaboration in autonomous driving technology.

The chips will be produced at Samsung’s Taylor, Texas facility until 2033, powering Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. This deal follows Tesla’s decision to shut down its Dojo supercomputing team, indicating a strategic shift toward deeper reliance on external chip partners. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the company will prioritize development of its AI5 and AI6 custom processors while scaling back separate in-house chip projects.

Key Highlights

• Samsung to manufacture Tesla’s AI6 chips in Texas through 2033
• Tesla shuts down Dojo supercomputing team, shifts to external partners
• Partnership boosts Samsung’s role in autonomous driving tech

Bloomberg reported that Tesla’s Dojo engineers have been reassigned, and the EV maker will lean more on major players like Nvidia, AMD, and Samsung for its high-performance computing needs.

Samsung chair Lee Jae-yong has been in the US since late July and may meet Tesla executives to discuss broader technology partnerships. Industry sources highlight that chip foundries, including Samsung, are increasingly collaborating closely with customers in chip design as well as manufacturing.

“Partnering with industry leaders like Tesla allows us to push the boundaries of semiconductor innovation and accelerate advancements in autonomous driving,” said a Samsung representative.

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This multi-year partnership positions Samsung as a core contributor to Tesla’s AI-driven vehicle technology, reinforcing both companies’ leadership in next-gen mobility and semiconductor innovation.