Tesla's next generation FSD hardware will be manufactured by TSMC
Tesla
As Tesla continues to send out the latest FSD Beta, 10.69.3.1, the next generation of Tesla's FSD computer will be using chips manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC). Although you may be familiar with this company, there may be a product in your hand now that uses its technology. Apple is a significant customer of TSMC.
Tesla is reportedly dropping Samsung to go with TSMC for the next generation of the Full Self Driving computer. The current computer, Hardware 3, is already a major force. But there are reports that Tesla is preparing a Hardware 4 computer. It's believed to be about three times faster than the current computer.
These TSMC chips are considered the most sophisticated available at 4-nanometer and 5-nanometer processes. They have increased speed and reduced power consumption compared to the previous 7-nanometer process.
A report published by the Taiwan Economic Daily and China's IT House states (translation provided by Electrek): TSMC is receiving orders for vehicles, and it is reported that it has replaced Samsung and won a large order for Tesla's new generation of fully automatic driver assistance (FSD) chips, which will be produced at 4/5 nanometers. Tesla is expected to become one of TSMC's top seven customers next year. It is the first time that TSMC's main customer has a pure electric car factory, which will help resist the impact of consumer electronics boom adjustments.
While TSMC, one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, is no stranger to the high demand and popular products, this would be the first time it is supplying to an electric vehicle company. Samsung may have lost the chip deal, but it will still be a big part of Tesla's future. In addition, Samsung is producing the advanced cameras that Tesla requires now that FSD relies on Vision only for its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
Tesla used Nvidia hardware before switching to the Samsung chip in 2019. The launch of hardware 3.0 increased the frames processed by 21 times. But Elon Musk has stated a new chip has been in the works for years. FSD Version 11 is right around the corner, and it includes a single technology stack to support city and highway driving. So it seems the next big advance will be in the hardware.
Tesla revealed hardware 3.0 and its capabilities during its Autonomy day in 2019. Tesla may hold another event next year to show off the latest hardware.
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For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.
Price Increase
The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.
The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series.
The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.
Free Lifetime Supercharging
For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.
There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.
We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.
Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.
Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.
Optimus is Blind
Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer.
Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.
Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips.
What’s Next?
Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.
Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.
There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.
We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.
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