Musk signals Tesla AI5 mass production delay to 2027, casting uncertainty over Samsung

During Tesla’s latest earnings call in late October, cited by CNBC, the company confirmed that Samsung and TSMC will both produce the AI5 chip, a win for the South Korean semiconductor giant. However, CEO Elon Musk tweeted earlier today that high-volume production is now expected in 2027, later than initially planned.

Musk also shared more on AI5 on X, noting that TSMC and Samsung will produce slightly different versions of the chip due to differences in translating designs to hardware, though the AI software will run identically.

As The Bell reported, TSMC will use its 3nm N3E process, while Samsung opts for 2nm on the orders. AI5 Production will reportedly take place at Samsung’s Taylor plant in Texas, and TSMC’s facility in Arizona, according to Musk.

Nonetheless, Musk’s latest comments hint at a potential delay in Tesla’s AI chip roadmap, a development that could concern Samsung. He wrote on X that while AI5 samples and limited units may arrive in 2026, full-scale production is slated for 2027. The next-generation AI6 chip, as per Musk, will use the same fabs, deliver roughly 2× the performance, and aim for mid-2028 volume production.

According to The Investor, Tesla’s AI5 chip was originally slated for mass production in 2026, with AI6 production set for 2027–2028 and continuing through 2033. In July, Samsung secured a $16.5 billion deal to produce the AI6.

For AI7, Musk noted that different fabs will be required due to its more advanced design.

Samsung pushes Taylor expansion despite Tesla timeline uncertainty
Though Musk’s latest update hints at a nearly one-year delay, Samsung has already accelerated its Taylor Fab expansion to meet rising 2nm demand for AI5 and AI6. The Bell suggests that Samsung Electronics is now set to bring its Taylor Fab online in Q3 next year, advancing the original end-of-2026 schedule. The company plans to install equipment ahead of time to accelerate operations, the report adds.

According to Korea Economic Daily, the company will receive its first high-NA EUV scanner (Twinscan EXE:5200B) later this year, with a second unit arriving in early 2026. Notably, as the report highlights, Samsung plans to use these machines for 2nm production, including the Exynos 2600 AP and Tesla’s next-gen AI chips.

Source: TrendForce, Taiwan.