Trending Now - Tesla's AI5 Chip Unveiled by Musk, Delayed by Two Years

WHO:

Electrek - Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla

Electrek - Tesla AI chip design team

Electrek - Intel, involved in the Terafab project

WHAT:

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - Tesla has taped out its next-generation AI5 self-driving chip.

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - The AI5 chip is nearly two years behind schedule.

[April 15th, 2026] - TechRadar - The AI5 chip is intended for the Optimus robot and Tesla's supercomputers first.

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - Volume production of the AI5 chip is expected to take 12 to 18 months after tape-out.

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - Tesla's Cybercab will launch on current-generation AI4 hardware due to delays in AI5 production.

WHERE:

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - The AI5 chip will be fabricated by TSMC.

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - The Terafab project is located in Austin.

WHEN:

[June 2024] - Electrek - Musk stated that AI5 would be in vehicles in the "second half of 2025."

[July 2025] - Electrek - Musk announced that the AI5 design was "finished."

[November 2025] - Electrek - Tesla pushed AI5 volume production to mid-2027.

[January 2026] - Electrek - Musk claimed the AI5 design was "almost done."

[March 2026] - Electrek - Tesla and SpaceX announced the $25 billion "Terafab" project.

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - The AI5 chip was taped out.

WHY:

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - The tape-out is a significant milestone in the chip design process, marking the transition to fabrication.

HOW:

[April 15th, 2026] - Electrek - A "tape-out" is when a chip's design is locked and sent to a semiconductor foundry for fabrication.

(UPDATED April 16, 2026 13:23 UTC)

Tesla has officially taped out its next-generation AI5 self-driving chip, marking a significant milestone in the chip design process as it transitions to fabrication. The AI5 chip, which is nearly two years behind schedule, is intended for use in the Optimus robot and Tesla's supercomputers first, with volume production expected to take 12 to 18 months after this tape-out. Due to delays in the AI5 production, Tesla's upcoming Cybercab will launch using the current-generation AI4 hardware.