Tesla Terafab Hires Former Intel Factory Manager for Major Chip Manufacturing Project

Tesla has reportedly hired a longtime Intel manufacturing executive to help lead its Terafab semiconductor project, a planned chip production effort linked to Elon Musk’s growing ambitions in AI, robotics, vehicles, and space technology.

Gary Jiang, who spent nearly 18 years at Intel, has listed his new role as Director of Tera Fab at Tesla. The position began in June 2026 and is based in Austin, Texas. His appointment gives the project an experienced semiconductor manufacturing leader at an early stage, especially as Tesla and SpaceX prepare for what could become one of the largest chip fabrication investments in the United States.

Terafab is expected to support custom chip needs across Tesla, SpaceX, AI infrastructure, autonomous systems, and robotics. The project is said to involve Intel as a manufacturing partner through its future 14A process technology.

Intel Experience Could Help Tesla Build Terafab Faster

Jiang’s background makes him a notable hire for a project of this scale. During his time at Intel, he worked in factory management and helped prepare Arizona facilities for advanced chip production.

He also had experience overseeing high volume manufacturing for Intel’s older 22nm and 14nm process nodes. That knowledge could be valuable as Tesla moves from planning toward building the facilities, supply chain, process controls, staffing, and production systems needed for Terafab.

The project appears to be far more ambitious than a typical corporate chip design program. Tesla already develops custom silicon for products such as its Full Self Driving hardware and AI systems, but Terafab could give the company greater influence over manufacturing capacity as well.

Terafab Could Become a Major US Semiconductor Investment

Public planning documents linked to the project reportedly describe a multi phase semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing facility. The first stages could involve around $55 billion in capital investment, while later expansion could bring the full amount close to $119 billion.

That scale would place Terafab among the largest semiconductor projects planned in the United States. Building advanced chip factories is expensive and slow, requiring specialised equipment, trained workers, long term supply agreements, and years of process development.

Tesla and SpaceX are expected to need increasing amounts of custom silicon as they expand AI data centres, autonomous vehicles, robotics platforms, satellite systems, and high performance computing operations.

Intel Partnership Could Be Important for Terafab

Intel’s role could be one of the most important parts of the project. The company is reportedly working with Tesla and SpaceX through its 14A manufacturing technology, which is expected to be one of Intel’s future advanced process nodes.

Jiang’s Intel background could help create smoother communication between the two companies. He understands Intel’s manufacturing culture, factory systems, production planning, and process development approach, which may reduce some of the complexity involved in launching a new large scale fab initiative.

Intel CEO Lip Bu Tan has also expressed interest in working with Musk, arguing that global semiconductor manufacturing capacity has not kept pace with the fast growth of AI demand.

Tesla Faces a Long and Difficult Road Ahead

Hiring an experienced factory manager is an important first step, but Terafab still faces a long path before it can produce chips at scale. Advanced fabs take years to build, and even longer to reach stable production yields.

Tesla will also need to compete for equipment, engineering talent, packaging capacity, advanced memory, and supply contracts at a time when AI companies are already placing huge pressure on the semiconductor industry.

Still, the hiring of an Intel veteran suggests that Terafab is moving beyond early discussion and beginning to form a leadership team capable of handling one of the most ambitious chip manufacturing projects in the industry.