Elon Musk has clarified that Tesla and SpaceX will retain control of the proposed Terafab semiconductor manufacturing facility in Texas, following speculation that TSMC could take a leading role in operating the project.
Responding to suggestions that TSMC could own and operate the facility, Musk wrote on X on 7 October:
“No, we will build and run the fab. Let there be ZERO doubt about that. Maybe TSMC subleases part of the Terafab if they want, but nothing more than that.”
The comments follow Musk confirming earlier this month that discussions were taking place between his businesses and TSMC over potential involvement in Terafab.
The initial reports raised the possibility of TSMC providing manufacturing expertise or taking a more substantial role in running the planned facility.
Musk's latest comments appear to rule out the latter, while leaving the door open to TSMC occupying part of the site.
$16.8bn first phase
Terafab is being developed by Musk's companies to provide semiconductor capacity for their growing requirements in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, robotics and space-based computing.
The project was announced in March, with Tesla, SpaceX and xAI planning a facility capable of producing more than one terawatt of AI computing capacity annually once fully developed.
The first phase of the Texas project is estimated to cost around $16.8bn, with total investment across multiple phases potentially reaching $119bn.
SpaceX confirmed the Grimes County site last August and made a $10m payment under a tax-abatement agreement, with civil works expected to begin shortly.
The company also secured a 100% property tax abatement for its planned Terafab semiconductor facility, following a 4-1 vote by county commissioners.
The scale of the proposed facility means semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure will be a major component of the project, including the highly controlled cleanroom environments required for advanced chip production.
Intel remains involved
TSMC's potential involvement has also raised questions over the position of Intel, which joined the Terafab project in April.
Intel is expected to contribute its 14A manufacturing process to the project and has been involved in the development of the technology, design, construction and packaging elements.
Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan confirmed this week that the company will continue working with Musk on Terafab despite the discussions with TSMC.
TSMC's possible involvement therefore appears to be developing alongside, rather than replacing, Intel's existing role.
For TSMC, a sublease arrangement could provide a route into the large-scale Texas development without taking control of the wider facility.
The company is already expanding its US semiconductor manufacturing footprint, while Samsung is also developing advanced chip manufacturing capacity in Texas.
Terafab moves towards construction
Musk's decision to retain operational control means Tesla and SpaceX will take on responsibility for running a semiconductor fab, an area in which neither company has previously operated a full-scale manufacturing facility.
TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei has previously said that a new fab can take two to three years to construct and a further one to two years to reach full production.
The proposed Terafab is intended to address projected demand for chips across Musk's businesses, including Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots, Cybercab vehicles and autonomous driving systems, as well as SpaceX's planned data-centre infrastructure.
For now, however, the precise nature of TSMC's involvement remains subject to further discussions.
Musk's latest comments establish that any participation would take place within a Terafab facility built and operated by Tesla and SpaceX, rather than through TSMC taking control of the project.
