INTC
TSLA
TSM
Terafab: still not dead
Intel is reportedly continuing work on Musk’s Terafab project, even though talks with TSMC are also part of the picture. Translation: the foundry soap opera is not over, and Intel is still trying to prove it can be more than just the company that used to make your laptop feel warm.
Why this matters
A deal like this is bigger than one customer. If Intel can land a high-profile manufacturing relationship tied to Musk’s orbit, it would be a loud little proof point for its foundry comeback story.
- It keeps Intel in the conversation for advanced chip manufacturing work
- It suggests the company is still courting major external customers
- It leaves the door open to a multi-player arrangement instead of a clean winner-take-all setup
The market takeaway
Investors have been watching Intel’s foundry push like it’s a reality show: lots of dramatic exits, mysterious negotiations, and occasional plot twists. A continued role in Terafab keeps the bull case intact, even if the final cast list is still being negotiated.
Big picture: for Intel, the name of the game is convincing the market that it can actually win the kind of strategic business that justifies all the capex. This story says that chase is still on.