Tesla signed a contract with Samsung Electronics for the supply of chips worth $16.5 billion. Information confirmed Elon Musk after Samsung released a regulatory notice without specifying the customer. The agreement will last until December 31, 2033, informs CNBC.
Elon Musk noted that the new Samsung plant in Texas will specialize in the production of the AI6 chip for Tesla. Samsung currently manufactures the AI4, while the AI5 will be manufactured by TSMC, first in Taiwan and later in Arizona. Musk also added that Tesla will participate in the optimization of production, and he will personally monitor the process to speed up development. According to him, the actual value of the contract may exceed the declared value.
Samsung declined to disclose Tesla’s name in official documents until the deal expires in 2033, citing requirements to protect trade secrets. The company also warned investors about the possibility of changes or termination of the contract. Against this background, Samsung shares rose by 5%.
Samsung is currently the second largest custom chip maker in the world after TSMC. In April, the company announced the start of mass production of 2nm chips, which it is likely to also order from Qualcomm, in particular. In the production of HBM memory for AI, Samsung is currently behind SK Hynix and Micron. Hynix already supplies HBM chips to NVIDIA, while certification of Samsung products in this segment is ongoing.
