CURRENT NEWS
Terafab · Chips · Tesla & SpaceX
“Let there be ZERO doubt”: Musk says his companies, not TSMC, will build and run Terafab
A week after calling TSMC talks “just discussions,” Musk caps the chipmaker’s possible role at subleasing space. Intel says it’s staying in.
Terafab is the planned Tesla–SpaceX “gigantic chip fab” in Texas meant to make AI chips at a scale Musk says the world’s current supply can’t meet. Overnight, Musk answered an X post that said the most likely outcome was TSMC owning and running it.
“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.” — Elon Musk on X, Oct. 7, via Reuters
Last week Musk confirmed there had been talks with TSMC about cooperating on the project (“Just discussions, but something may come of it”). Any TSMC role could squeeze Intel, which joined as Terafab’s development partner in April. On Wednesday, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan told Bloomberg News that Intel will keep working on the venture. TSMC and Intel didn’t immediately comment to Reuters.
Sources: Reuters (via The Star) · Reuters / Bloomberg (Investing.com) · CNBC-TV18
Also today
SpaceX · Financing · Nvidia
SpaceX reportedly lines up $40 billion of debt to buy Nvidia chips
The Financial Times reports that SpaceX is seeking about $10 billion in bank loans and $30 billion in investment-grade debt to pay for Nvidia AI chips. Apollo Global Management is expected to lead and place the debt, and Pimco is among the lenders in talks. The deal is a proposal, not a completed transaction, and it’s targeted to close in 2027.
Musk said in September that the Colossus 2 cluster could more than double its Nvidia chip count by the end of 2026.
On the market, SPCX added 0.49% Tuesday to $171.92 after Monday’s 7.6% jump, its highest close since mid-June. Benzinga notes that options pricing points to a slow grind rather than a quick run back to June highs.
Tesla · Energy · Product
Model 3 and Model Y can now power your house
Tesla turned on Powershare Home Backup for new Model 3 and Model Y cars ordered Oct. 1 or later, paired with a Powerwall 3 and a Wall Connector. Tesla says it adds “over two days” of backup for a home using 30 kWh a day; Cybertruck adds three-plus.
“Choosing a Tesla is no longer just a decision to buy an EV. It’s a decision to invest in home energy resilience.” — Colby Hastings, Tesla Residential Energy
Electrek points out that Ford and GM have offered vehicle-to-home backup for years.
NASA · SpaceX · Crew-12
Crew-12 undocks this morning
Dragon is targeted to leave the ISS at 7:05 a.m. CT today with Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev aboard. Splashdown off California is set for about 10:34 a.m. CT Thursday, ending 237 days in space. The plan depends on the weather.
Tesla · Software
Update 2026.38.3: Emergency Drive Away
The new update lets drivers shift into Drive while still plugged into a Supercharger, for emergencies only, since Tesla warns it damages the car and the charger. It also adds Halloween Mode, arrival-energy targets from the app and Supercharger site maps.
Tesla · Cybercab
Cybercab goes to Paris; Houston lot fills up
Tesla will show a U.S.-fleet Cybercab and Optimus Gen 2 at the Paris Motor Show, Oct. 12–18 in Hall 7.1. In Houston, spotters count close to 200 Cybercabs staged at the Robotaxi lot, but Tesla hasn’t announced service there; paid rides are still Austin-only.
Briefs · Calendar
Starship Flight 15: no earlier than Oct. 19
Air-traffic planning documents put Flight 15 (Booster 22, Ship 42) no earlier than Oct. 19 from Starbase Pad 2. SpaceX hasn’t announced a date or confirmed a ship catch.
Stores: quiet
There are no new drops. SpaceX’s shop has only had stock changes since the Oct. 2 Terafab hoodie and tee, and the Tesla, xAI and Boring Company stores have nothing new. Tesla’s Powershare launch is the product news of the day.
Coming up
The Tesla Roadster demo is Oct. 15, Starship Flight 15 is no earlier than Oct. 19, Tesla’s Q3 earnings are Oct. 21, and SpaceX reports Q3 earnings in late October.
From Tuesday’s edition (context)
Tuesday’s edition led with SpaceXAI skipping the NYC Council hearing and the Council’s plan to go to court, plus Musk’s return to trillionaire status and NPR on the Meridian ethics questions.