Elon Musk Launches $20 Billion Terafab Chip Facility Venture in Austin to Power Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI

Mar 23, 2026
Engadget
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Summary

Elon Musk launches Terafab, a $20 billion joint chip manufacturing venture between Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI in Austin, Texas, targeting a terawatt of annual computing power to fuel self-driving, robotics, and space applications.

Key Points

  • Elon Musk announces Terafab, a joint venture between Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, aiming to build what he calls the largest chip manufacturing facility ever, with an estimated cost of at least $20 billion.
  • The facility, starting in Austin, Texas, targets producing a terawatt of computing power annually to meet the companies' growing chip demands, as existing manufacturers currently supply only about two percent of their future needs.
  • Terafab plans to produce two types of chips — one for terrestrial uses like self-driving and robotics, and another high-powered chip for space applications, though Musk's track record of overpromising on projects raises questions about delivery.

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