Tesla Reportedly Ordering New Processors; Could Hint At Self-Driving Development

At Tesla Inc's TSLA autonomy day in April, the company detailed the progress on its full self-driving software.

The automaker also released information about the custom-built computer chip that would run the software to its full potential, called Hardware 3.0, or the full self-driving computer. There was also a brief mention of the next jump in performance, simply called Hardware 4.0.

Now a new report out of China makes mention of TSMC making an initial run of processor production with Tesla near the end of 2020. These new chips will use TSMC's 7nm fabrication process.

Tesla's Hardware 3 computer was made with Samsung. 

Electrek makes mention that this could be the beginning of production for Tesla's Hardware 4.0 computer, since it is expected to be in mass production by the end of 2021, but the original source makes no mention of that.

Benzinga's Take: Tesla looks to be fully integrated, whether it's the seats they produce, computer hardware or even providing the means to produce energy for your vehicle in the form of solar panels.

Apple AAPL made a similar move last year when it ditched Intel INTC in favor of its in-house designed chip.

Hardware 4.0 also seems a possibility as Tesla's next vehicle, the Cybertruck, is expected to launch around the same time that this new TSMC chip is reportedly planned for mass production. 

Photo courtesy of Tesla.