
August 7, 2025
As a paradigm-shifting step for semiconductors and automobile industries, Tesla Inc. has concluded the $16.5 billion agreement over a multi-year period together with Samsung Electronics to build the company’s advanced AI6 chips in Samsung’s cutting-edge plant located in Taylor, Texas. The announcement was made in the presence of Tesla the CEO Elon Musk on the X platform, the agreement is in effect from the 26th of July from 2025 to 2033, is a step beyond chip manufacturing which is an important move towards advancing Tesla’s AI-driven plan of autonomous vehicles as well as robotics and energy technology while boosting Samsung’s foundry business. The potential for this partnership to exceed the initial $16.5 billion value the partnership could transform supply chains across the globe and amplify the competition to win AI the top spot.
Fueling Tesla’s AI Vision
In the heart of this collaboration lies The Tesla AI6 chip, a next-generation processor for inference specifically designed to support Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, Optimus humanoid robots, as well as high-performance AI learning systems for data centres. Contrary to its predecessors–the AI4 chip currently being manufactured by Samsung and the AI5 that is planned for manufacturing in TSMC factories located in Taiwan and Arizona — the AI6 was designed for a wide range of applications. It boasts unbeatable quality and efficiency in energy use essential for advancing Tesla’s goals in robotaxis that is autonomous, smart grids of energy and humansoid robots that are able to tackle demanding jobs.

The AI6 chip utilizes Samsung’s innovative 2nm gate all-around (GAA) procedure, which is which is a major leap over the 4nm and 5nm processes that Tesla’s previous chips. The new technology is anticipated to decrease latency within FSD devices, increase efficiency of energy use in Tesla’s Megapack storage systems that allow real-time decisions to Optimus robots. Musk explained the price as being a “baseline, not a limit,” which suggests it can be significantly increased based on manufacturing results.
One of the unique aspects of this agreement is the fact that Tesla has a direct hand in enhancing Samsung’s manufacturing processes. Musk stated the fact that Tesla engineers will be working directly at Samsung’s Texas factory to increase manufacturing yields for chips as well as speed up timelines. “I’ll be on the ground myself, overseeing operations,” Musk stressed, highlighting his commitment to the alliance’s achievement. The partnership could establish the standard for future automotivefoundry collaborations by combining Tesla’s AI capabilities and Samsung’s manufacturing capabilities in order to solve the issue of a constant yield.
A Lifeline for Samsung’s Foundry Division
In the case of Samsung for the first time, winning the Tesla contract represents a crucial victory for the company’s foundry that has been struggling to stay ahead of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Samsung’s Taylor, Texas facility, one of the $35 billion U.S. investment, faced delay and lack of large clients. the initial plan to open in 2026. The Tesla deal alters the narrative by securing a prominent supplier and affirming Samsung’s commitment in the 2nm GAA technology. The early reports have yields that exceed 40%, which is an encouraging indicator for the massive production.
The $16.5 billion deal, which is equivalent to 7.6 percent of Samsung‘s 2024 revenues total of $217.7 billion, is as one of the biggest single-client contracts for its foundry in history. After the announcement, Samsung Electronics’ shares surged 6.8 percent during Seoul trading to reach the highest since September 2024. Meanwhile, companies like Soulbrain Co. saw gains as high as 16 percent. subsidies and tax incentives in CHIPS and Science Act. CHIPS and Science Act, Samsung’s Texas facility is now an integral part in the U.SAn initiative to boost U.S. chip manufacturing amid global supply chain disruptions and rising geopolitical tensions surrounding Taiwan.
Strengthening Supply Chains and Geopolitical Alignment

This alliance is aligned with the objectives of both firms. For Tesla the production of AI6 chips at its facility in Texas helps reduce dependence on other foundries, reducing the risks of disruptions to supply chains around the world. In the midst of negotiations between it is the case that U.S. and South Korea discuss trade agreements in order to deal with the proposed tariffs of 25 The deal places Samsung as a key supplier to help strengthen North American supply chains. The move is in line with Tesla’s vertical integration plan that was first introduced in 2019, when the company switched to Nvidia GPUs to its own FSD chips that give it greater control over the company’s AI technology.
In addition to automotive use Beyond automotive applications, AI6’s AI6 chip has the potential to create opportunities for new revenue streams at Tesla. The chip’s performance and scalability are ideal to power data centers for AI education, which is consistent with Musk’s concept of Tesla as an multi-faceted AI firm. Furthermore, its ability to reduce latency could help Tesla’s Megapack energy storage solutions and optimize energy distribution to create green infrastructure, and possibly speeding up commercialization before 2027.