Musk launches' Terafab 'chip plan: 20-25 billion yuan aimed at terawatt level computing power

1、 Terafab core parameters: Terafab level computing power, full chain integration, dual line layout of heaven and earth

The Terafab project is positioned as the world's first terawatt level computing chip super factory, with highly disruptive core indicators and production capacity planning

Computing power target: Annual output of 1 terawatt (1000 gigawatts) of computing power, equivalent to about 50 times the current global annual production of AI chips, with a planned annual production capacity of 100 billion to 200 billion chips using advanced 2-nanometer processes.

Capacity allocation: 80% of computing power is directed towards serving the space industry, used for aerospace scenarios such as SpaceX starships, AI satellites, and orbital data centers; 20% of computing power is supplied to the ground, supporting businesses such as Tesla FSD autonomous driving, Optimus humanoid robots, Cybercab unmanned taxis, etc.

Production mode: Integrate the entire process of logic chip and storage chip manufacturing, advanced packaging, and testing within a single factory area, achieve closed-loop iteration of design, production, and testing, and create the world's first integrated chip manufacturing base of this kind.

Investment and Progress: The total investment is 20-25 billion US dollars, located in Austin, Texas, USA. It will be constructed in two phases. The first phase is expected to start production in the second half of 2027, and the first batch of chips will be mass-produced in 2028. The second phase will be fully completed by 2030.

2、 Strategic intention: Break the supply chain bottleneck and build a closed loop of "chip rocket space computing power"

Musk launches Terafab with the core goal of resolving the contradiction between the explosive demand for chips in his business and insufficient external supply, while building a collaborative computing ecosystem between heaven and earth

Get rid of outsourcing dependence and control core computing power: The demand for customized AI chips for Tesla FSD, Optimus robots, SpaceX starships, and space satellites is growing exponentially. The annual computing power demand for Optimus robots alone reaches 100-200 gigawatts, and the existing OEM production capacity and delivery pace are difficult to match. Terafab will achieve self-developed and self-produced chips, completely breaking its dependence on external supply chains such as TSMC and Samsung.

Supporting space strategy and building an orbital computing power network: 80% of production capacity is invested in space, which is the core layout of Musk's "space computing revolution". The space class reinforced chip produced by Terafab is sent into orbit through a starship to build a computing system of space solar energy+orbit data center, break through the physical upper limit of earth energy and computing power, and provide the underlying support for deep space exploration and satellite Internet.

Vertical integration to reduce costs and reshape industry rules: Musk proposed a disruptive production concept, abandoning traditional ISO1 cleanrooms and adopting "wafer isolation" technology (sealed nitrogen boxes to protect wafers). The goal is to compress the construction cycle from 5 years to 3 years, reduce costs by 30% -40%, and reconstruct the cost and cycle logic of chip manufacturing with extreme scale and efficiency.

3、 Industry Impact: Stirring the Global Chip Landscape, Challenging the Traditional OEM System

The landing of Terafab will have a profound impact on the global semiconductor industry:

Rewrite the production capacity pattern: 1 terawatt of annual production capacity will make Tesla SpaceX one of the world's largest chip computing power suppliers, directly impacting the market position of chip giants such as NVIDIA and AMD, as well as foundries such as TSMC and Samsung.

Promote the integration of "heaven and earth computing power": create a new computing power model of "ground manufacturing+space deployment", accelerate the deep integration of space economy and AI industry, and give birth to new tracks such as orbital data centers and space AI services.

Forcing industrial technological innovation: Its innovative concepts such as "no clean room" and full chain integration may drive changes in chip manufacturing processes and production models, triggering a new round of exploration in the industry for low-cost, large-scale chip production.